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HELP Starting Issue!!!!!!!!!!!Pats system Failure?

S

SvtFanatic

New CEG'er
Joined
Nov 17, 2009
Messages
9
Location
Mukilteo, WA
I hope someone can help me. Heres the story I own a 99 SVTC with 117k it runs and drives perfect. When I bought the car it had a Clifford Alarm and it worked perfect. Well after a few months the car didnt start on intial turnover. What you had to do was put the key in Auxillary and wait for the windshield wipers to go twice and the heat to turn on then the car will run with no problem. So, my mechanic took out the Clifford and installed the original keyless entry keyfob and it worked perfect for about 2 months. Now, its back to it again but it takes even longer for the car to start in auxillary because its cold. You put the key in Auxillary with the radio playing and wait for the windhsield wipers to go twice and then the car will turn on and runs perfect. This now is taking up to 40 minutes? Can anyone help is there any way to disconnect the PATS system or bypass it? I can explain the problem better if someone could Call me ASAP 425 329 9119
Greg
Thank you so much!!!
 
Apparently your story sounds so unbelievable nobody wants to reply. What happens if you let the windshield wipers make three wipes? :confused: Clearly this has less to do with what accessories you have running and more to do with the time taken to go through those exercises with the ignition on. What makes you think that PATS is to blame? There are probably some other posts that are PATS related for testing purposes if you search around for them. In the end you might have to bite the bullet and have a Ford dealer look at it.
Karl
 
This does not sound like a PATs system at all.

The system would disable starter, spark, and fuel pump. Also usally you would get a flashing light on the cluster, or around the factory clock area depending when in lock out.

I would get into the car, turn the key over to start and look for a flashing light. If none, or it comes one soild. I would say there must be something aftermarket installed inline with the starter wire or another supply wire. Also just turn the key to run, and make sure you have all the dashlights come one like airbag check engine so on, you should be able to turn on heat and radio and use power windows. If not, there must be some relay inline killing power. Or the electrical part of the switch itself is gone bad.. Really strange.

I have seen some systems where you have to turn on the wipers then start the car, or headlights. But again, PATs systems in this car never did anything like that.... Atleast not that I've heard of....
 
with the wipers doing what they are doing I would suspect a poor connection at the battery. check you battery and connections.
 
so does anyone know how to disable a PATS system? My mechanic thinks that is what it is. It has to do with the security system becuase the car has no electrical issues other then this, has no running issues? It worked perfect after we disabled the clifford alarm? but now went back to its old ways of not starting?
 
there is a blue light that blinks that is attached to the piece on the dash that says contour? I believe its attached to the PATS??I can explain it better if someone could call me?
 
That sounds like an aftermarket install to me. You should look around under the dash for a toggle switch... Maybe off to the left of lower kick panel.
 
BrApple said:
this is not a PATs issue .... the light would be blinking if it was.
Click to expand...

When the car doesn't want to start, the pats light constantly blinks, even when the key is twisted all the way into the cranking position.
When the car starts, the pats light goes completely off and the starter cranks no problem.

When the car doesn't want to start:
It acts just like you don't have the clutch pushed in, but also........
The heater fan doesn't work.
The wipers don't work.
The radio works.
All the lights on the dash work
Interior lights, headlights work.

If you leave the key in the "run" position and wait, when the car decides it's ready to start, a few things happen:
The heater blower comes on.
The wipers cycle twice (even with the wiper switch in the off position).
The pats light turns off.

The problem seems to be temperature related. When I got the car, it was warm weather outside. I never had an issue. The first time this problem occurred was when the weather started getting colder in the fall.
It seems to get progressively worse as the outside temp drops.
It used to take about 15 seconds before it would work.
Now it has taken as long as an hour!
 
still say its a battery issue as the wipers normally act up when the battery voltage is low or there is a bad connection.


and I should be clearer about PATs. when the system is working and the ignition is off the light blinks slowly. when you go to start the car the light should go solid then turn off. if PATs has been activated and has disabled the car the light will blink rapidly.
 
SvtFanatic said:
When the car doesn't want to start, the pats light constantly blinks, even when the key is twisted all the way into the cranking position.
When the car starts, the pats light goes completely off and the starter cranks no problem.

When the car doesn't want to start:
It acts just like you don't have the clutch pushed in, but also........
The heater fan doesn't work.
The wipers don't work.
The radio works.
All the lights on the dash work
Interior lights, headlights work.

If you leave the key in the "run" position and wait, when the car decides it's ready to start, a few things happen:
The heater blower comes on.
The wipers cycle twice (even with the wiper switch in the off position).
The pats light turns off.

The problem seems to be temperature related. When I got the car, it was warm weather outside. I never had an issue. The first time this problem occurred was when the weather started getting colder in the fall.
It seems to get progressively worse as the outside temp drops.
It used to take about 15 seconds before it would work.
Now it has taken as long as an hour!
Click to expand...

try switching the key back and forth from off to on a few times. Also give the area of the key cylinder a few taps with an open hand from under the colum. I'm wondering if you have a bad ignition switch. You could also check the ignition relay and maybe the diode in the central fuse box under the dash, it is the relay right above the fuses, put your finger on it and turn the car on and feel for it to click. Seeing the lights will come on and not dim down while trying to start and the radio comes on, I would rule out battery and connections. However main fuse junction under the hood could have something going on with a terminal, you could try banging on that as well. Ford has lots of problems with there connections having resistance problems, I've seen lots of connectors melt, and the terminals themself baked. Usally see this more with light circuits and heater blower. However it doesn't shut down while driving which is odd. I would look around under the dash and make sure there isn't any alarm system, regardless of what work you think was done. Make sure nothing is inline with the ignition switch wires. You should have no problem following them from the ignition switch with the lower cover removed.
 
There is a TSB for the Contour PATS system involving a no start issue when the wipers are left in the ON position at startup. The wiring for the wipers is routed too close to the ket reader module causing interference in some cars.
 
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