Sorry for the edit but the truck is a F250 5.4 Gas Reg Cab. Xlt.

Hello everyone,
My name is Mike, and I have been visiting these forums for the past few months and I would like to thank all of you for the huge amount of information you have passed along to my self. The reason I am finally posting is to ask for help and suggestions, or stories of past experiences.

I bought my truck new in the last week of July 2010. Everything was awesome, I could not say one bad thing about the truck. Up until 2 weeks ago. 2 Weeks ago I was getting back into my truck, and it would not start or turn over, I immedialtey realized something was different, and it was that the anti theft light was blinking on the dash. At first I pulled out my trusty owners manual and read up on the subject, finding nothing that was too helpful, I started to try different things. I got out of the truck, locked it, unlocked it, got back in turned the key, and just did a few different things for about 5 minutes or so and finally she started. It went a few days with out any more problems so I wrote it off as a mere hick up thinking I may have accidentally set off the alarm or such while I was away from the truck (optimistic, I know, but I figured hey its brand new it must be user error). After the issue I went home and searched many different forums, including this one to find that there were two problems it could be, the key, and or the passive anti theft system.

I decided not to take further action, seeing as there was no longer a problem with the truck and I'm sure the dealer would give me the look when i tried to get them to fix something that is not broken. Well finally it happened again, but this time I could not get it to start so I called Ford's road side assistance. They ended up towing my truck the the dealership. Later that night they called and said that there was a problem with the plow wiring and they fixed the problem and its all set. I drove to the dealership, and asked how it could be a problem with the plow wiring when they are the ones who did the install, after getting the run around from the lady at the desk, one of the mechanics came out and explained to me that it was not in fact the plow but a bad ground that he traced back and assured me he had fixed. I immediately questioned this and he said, trust me kid its all set. I bit my tongue and told the lady at the front desk I would be seeing her in a week when the problem happens again.

Later that night I arrive home, all is well and my baby is once again running. At first I was skeptical but all seemed well when the truck would start up every time with out a hitch. The next day (Tuesday), I went and did my landscaping work, and after every account where my truck would start I grew more and more confident. Finally by the end of the day, I had removed MOST doubt in the truck and couldn't have been more relieved to once again have a reliable Ford truck. .

The next day (Wednesday), I was on my way to school, and all was great, truck started and ran awesome. I had an awesome day in class passed all my exams and couldn't wait to be out to go to work. Well, that is until I got out to my truck, which once again would not start. I called the dealership immediately and the lady told me to have it towed back. I ended up calling roadside assistance, to have them tow it again, but there was a problem I had work in 2 hours, so I packed up everything from my truck and made the walk home in the rain (at least it was down the hill and not up it).

Later that night I get a phone call from my new found friend at the front desk, she tells me that they diagnosed a problem this time and were ordering me a new PATS(Passive anti theft system) Module. At hearing this I was once again smiling ear to ear ( being optimistic due to the fact that they had found a true problem this time that they were going to replace). Well on Friday the part arrives and they get to work on my truck around 4'O clock. At 10 O'clock I get a call from the dealership, thinking my truck was ready I was excited to answer when the lady at the front desk tells me the bad news . "We replaced the part that was broken...But, the truck still does not run, so we just pushed it out of the shop and will have the head mechanic look at it and call you by noon on Monday."

Well its now Monday at 7:37p.m, and no phone call, I called them and they said they had yet to find the problem with the truck, but would give me a call as soon as they figure out the problem. I still haven't heard anything and I'm not very confident at this point.

Has anyone had something like this happen? Any solutions? Any help or advice or comments even would be greatly appreciated.

Cliff Notes (sorry for writing a book):
-Truck would not start
-Played with locks and keys, 5 min later truck starts.
-Few days go by-
-Truck won't start
-Tow it to dealer
-Dealer makes up problems and tell me conflicting things.
-Take the truck home anyway, runs great the next day.
-won't start yet again
Dealer Replaced : Passive anti theft system module. No success.
-Pushed truck into lot.


Thanks again.
- Mike.

 

Mike, although I can't offer any advice in your issue I understand your frustration. Hang in there. It can be frustrating waiting for something you rely on, and you rely on your truck heavily with your landscaping business.

On the other hand, if you keep getting the run-around it might be time for another dealer.

I am sure others will have more insight to offer.

 

yeah unfortunately i have to ageree with KC8QVO, cant offer any help but some dealers are better then others. i had the cats on my 2010 collapse ... and they wouldn't let me leave the dealer in the truck, so they got me a rent a car that ford happily paid for...may wana ask about something else to drive while they fix the truck... never hurts to ask. but good luck

 

Just be patient, they will figure it out eventually........maybe. There is also a sensor ring for the pats around the ignition lock, have them replace that as well, did you try another key to see if that is what it was? Another stupid question, do you park near a radio broadcast tower, one of my alarms would not work around a big one around here before.

 

They should only take so much time to diagnose the problem themselves. It seems that time is already gone. The next step is a phone call to Ford tech support, then the last step is for the regional rep to come and look at it.

Sometimes, they will skip the phone call to tech support if the scheduled visit for the regional rep is near.

 

Hey everyone I appreciate the input.

I have in fact the spare key and that did not work, also they tried to reprogram the keys at the dealer to see if that was a problem.

They did indeed give me a rental, a 2010 Ford fusion, which is better than nothing but they could not get me a truck.

I am going to take a ride by today to see whats going on with the truck, I will be sure to mention the sensor ring on the ignition for the PATS system.

Once again thanks for your input its really appreciated, hopefully we can get this figured out so I can have my truck back and get back to work.

 

I have a F250 XL I bought in Feb. and don't think I have 'PATS'. Feel bad for you. I have also been reading here for months and don't recall many 2010 problems being posted.

 

with problems with 2010 i haven't seen many, but like in my last post i said i had problems with my cats. a few weeks after that incident i got a letter from ford saying they are now warrantied for a long time lol, but i have the v10. just putting in my $.02

 

Okay, well for anyone following my problems here is an update. Yesterday I showed up at the dealer to poke my head in and see whats going on. I spoke to a new gentleman at the service desk, who was awesome, no jerking me around, no BS kinds of guy. So we start talking about how much of a headache my truck has been blah blah blah, and the mechanic who has been focusing on my truck will be on at 4pm and he will give me a call shortly after that and talk about whats going on. Well a little after 4 He calls, and lets me know that they are now working on the truck again trying to find a problem, and that he is calling corporate to ask if they have any suggestions. Around 8pm I get a call saying they have no clue whats going on but corporate suggested switching out the instrument panel as a last ditch effort, the part will be here thurs or friday, and they will let me know as soon as the part arrives.

 

Well I have good news, they just called telling me tomorrow I can pick my truck up, they replaced the instrument panel and the truck started right up! I'm ecstatic, thank you all for your support, and all the information you have shared in this thread and in the forum! It's much appreciated.



- Mike

 

well hopefully that was teh source of the issue..

 

As I said earlier, a call to tech support was overdue.

 

It sounds like Ford's tech support staff have their heads screwed on right. I would be curious as to what the behind-the-scenes experience was with the dealer talking to tech support. I've been in that position in my line of work, its nothing but for reasons I can't talk about. Drives me bonkers.

Glad your problem is fixed and you have your truck back! Keep us posted if any issues return.