So this is definitely a different kind of problem. I bough my 97 Ford expedition with a 4.6 motor 4x4 about 7 years ago. Now since day one I've had one issue after another. Mainly shorts in the electrical. The other week I went out to a junk yard found a 1997 exspdition. Everything worked on it. So I began removing every part I needed. When done I reinstalled all the parts to my truck. Everything worked great. Then everything stopped. I mean everything. Got my tester out and it said the PCM wasn't working. So I pulled it out and ran the numbers. He's where it gets weird. It's a 1997 exspdition with a PCM for a 1999 exspdition. Lost and confused. I tracked down the first owner. He told me he lost all power got tired of looking for the cause of the problem. So he went to the junk yard and pulled steering column including the pats theft system and key and the pcm from a 99 exspdition. Different years. I didn't know this was possible. Said he didn't have to have anything reprogrammed. Just basically plug and play. Well knowing that I went back and started replacing new parts with old. Til I got the system working again. Figured since it had a 99 system in it instead of a 97. It couldn't read the 97 parts I installed. And sure enough that fixed it.now I've lost my keys. And the theft system activated. ive called every dealership and locksmith. Price between 300-400 to get me mobile. I I do can't afford that. So could I do what the first owner did. And go back to the junkyard and pull the steering column including the keys and PCM out of the same year make and model. put them in my truck and make it work. With out programming. I'm thinking it should work. As long as I get the steering column and PCM since they already talk to each other. And put them in my truck they should let me start it no issue.

 

Welcome to FTE

In theory, it sounds right. But, the best place to ask this question is in the "Misc: section, under Electrical Systems and wiring. Or maybe in the Newer Truck section where the 97 and 99 both reside.

Don't forget to check out your state chapter too.

 

You have way more skills than I do, but if it were me, if you know you can have a working vehicle for $400 and no more headaches (hopefully), I’d scrounge up the money and be done with it

 

I tend to agree with seville009, especially if it is a daily driver. You might find yourself with all of the junkyard parts in and still the same issue.

Welcome aboard!