I have a 2000 F-150 with the 4.2l engine. I had to jump it off yesterday because I have been out off town for a while and it just sitting.

After I jumped it off the THEFT light came on the dash. I have jumped the truck off before and this has never happened.

Is there a way to get the light to go off. Is there any procedure to perform to make the light go off. Any advice or comments would greatly be appreciated.

The truck cranks and drives fine. The light just stays on 24 hours and I only have one key.

Thank You

 

???........ How about removing the positive battery cable.. turn on the light switch to clear any residual voltage, then reinstall the battery cable and see what happens......... This is similar to rebooting a computer.

 

Thanks for the reply. I will definitely give this a try. I have been reading up on this matter for a couple of days now and there seems to be various opinions on what to do when this occurs. Just don't know which one is correct though.

I have found out that some people who have blinking THEFT lights on could not even start there trucks.

Thanks again. I will let you know if it works.

 

yes, it is NORMAL that a blinking light will not start the truck.... It is ABNORMAL to have the light on constant and still let the truck start.

 

I think it has to do with the battery and jumping off the truck. The interior lights and the light underneath the hood were on, but it would not start.

​​​​​​ I hadn't started the truck in close to two weeks. I am thinking it did not get enough power to the anti-theft system. Or some kind of power surge happened when I jumped it off.

I am going to drive it around longer today and see if the light will eventually go off.

 

So, I left both the positive and negative battery cables off for 24 hours. Put them back on this morning and the THEFT light functioned like it was supposed to and went off.

Well I thought I had it whipped. I stopped got some gas got back in the truck, put the key in the ignition, started the truck and the THEFT light is on again. I drive it down the road a little ways and the THEFT light goes out. I would pull over periodically turn the truck off and start it back up. The THEFT comes back on solid. I drive down the road a ways and it goes off.

I finally get back home turn it off and this time the light flashed a couple times (no code like flashing) and the THEFT light stays on solid when the truck is not running. Start the truck drive just a few feet and it goes off. Come back on solid and stays on all the time.

I just want the light off where it will not drain the battery down when I am not driving It. I know taking the bulb our world be difficult and time consuming (or is it?). I am just tired off having to put on and and take off the battery cables every time I want to drive the truck.

Any suggestions. Please 😊

 

Just watched a YouTube video on removing the instrument cluster. I don't want to do all that. Is there a fuse you can pull (doubt it though). Anything to get this darn light off.

 

charge battery and check for good grounds

 

I came across the exact same video when I was researching this issue. I will take the battery out my Ranger and put it in the f150. The Ranger battery is almost new. If this solves the problem then I will just get a new battery for the truck.

I greatly appreciate all of your help.

 

Check cables and grounds and junction block connections on the fire wall... Look for any corrosion or damage.

 

Well I took the kick panel off on the driver's side. There was no corrosion what so ever. I put in a new battery and took it for a drive. It did the same thing. THEFT light comes on and goes off after you drive it for a while. Then you put it in park turn the truck off and the THEFT light stays on solid.

I don't know what else to do. The truck is in great shape for its age. It has low miles and runs great. I do not drive it every day. So I am afraid the light will constantly run the battery down.

I do know that I have 2 options. 1. Take the instrument cluster out and pull the bulb. I saw how to remove it. But I am afraid I will tear something up. 2. I could take it to a Ford dealership and get them to reset the light. But I don't want to have to send that much money.
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I just don't know what to do. I am limited to researching the issue on my phone. I can't get internet where I live.

I appreciate all your help and all the time you took helping me with this issue. I really appreciate it.

Thanks

 

Pictures of the my truck

 

Well I couldn't get them to load 😊

 

You can download Forscan app on your phone and use it to scan for codes that may show an issue. You would need a Windows computer to make any changes with Forscan.

 

How do you hook the phone to the truck? I have an ob2 scanner.