I need help guys!
My 98 explorer will not start!!! The "Theft" light on the dash blinks constantly. I was able to start it once, after continuously turning the switch on/off; the theft light remained constant and I was able to start it. It has just been sitting in the driveway since then! Is there anything I can do to disable the anti theft system? Any wiresI could cut? Fuses? (securilock).

I called my local ford dealership he told all they had to do was "pull a wire loose"

Any ideas would help! (my only car/truck).
Thanks

 

Check the EEC power relay under the hood in the power distribution box. Its pretty common for that relay to go bad or for a bad connection to occur at the relay. If procesor gets no powerup then the theft light will flash and a no start condition will occur.

 

Did you get this problem fixed? I'm struggling with the exact same thing on my daughter's mustang.

Removed the eec relay and replaced it. Still wouldn't start (anti-theft light blinking). Came back a couple of hours later and started right up.

 

It could be something as simple as a battery going bad with an intermittent problem as well. Pats transciever going bad. On some mustangs you could have a bad constant control relay module.. CCRM.

I had an Expedition yesterday that was towed in.... the damned key was missing the transponder... they had dropped it and the cap came off and the chip simply had fallen out.

 

Ran a check on the Mustang. No DTC P1260 so is not supposed to be PATS related. TSB says "...check PCM power, ground, and VREF circuits for opens or shorts. The PCM may not be operating properly."

Did get a low voltage code previously. Replaced the battery but no effect. Car is four hour drive away so trying to diagnose through my daughter long distance.

 

Ask her if she hears a buzzing noise from the right front fender area when this happens. That is where the CCRM is located. Also on the mustang there is a ground connector near the battery, a black 2 pin connector that often will over heat and the pins inside the connector can cause a power failure to the CCRM. Ive found a few like that in recent past.

 

She's taking it to a local (Savannah Ga) shop Tuesday. I had her print out this thread.

Thanks for the help. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

I lived in Savannah for severl years in the Army, great little town.