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I have an 04 Eddie Bauer Explorer, approx. 140k miles. Seems a component on the PATS has failed, I know its not the key. Is there a way of bypassing it or am I left with taking it to the dealer??
I don't recall having ever read of the PATS module failing. Care to share a bit more details on your symptoms so we might be able to provide better troubleshooting support?
The PATS module will disable the vehicle if you remove it, and the PCM needs to see the correct PATS module coded to your vehicle in order to allow a start condition, there's no way to completely bypass it or to install another one (without reprogramming it to the vehicle with a dealer scan tool).
But I doubt the PATS module is the issue. Maybe the antenna around the ignition key cylinder or associated wiring is the problem, but again, not understanding your symptoms, it's just a guess.
Well I get a call from the dealer today, two blown fuses in the security system, its fixed, not really sure why it blew the fuses, but good to go, $150 and an hour later Im back on the phone with them, same thing happened again. Apparently they just put a bandaid on the prob. instead of tracing the short that caused the fuses to blow in the first place. So now Im out of a vehicle again till who knows when.
Final update, apparently the shop I had do some tranny work a few months back rerouted the O2 sensor wires which resulted in one of the wires chaffing through.