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1999 ranger anti thief trouble

R

ron miller

Member
Here lately getting worse shut off the truck then sometimes will not start .The thief light goes to flashing i have no clue it has been to a shop couple times now . Not sure of any other way to explain it. Any thoughts or idea's we have tried differnt keys thinking that may be it /could it be the door locks?
Not sure where to go from here /after it sets for a few hours it may start.
 
I don't know that the theft light has anything to do with it. We had a 2002 Explorer Sport Trac and the theft light would blink intermittently on that pretty much all the time when the engine was shut off.
 
We had a 2002 Grand AM that got to doing the same thing. Stranded my wife at the gas station 5-10 times. By the time I or a mechanic would get there the darn thing would start. Finally a local shop that specializes in GM stuff got it to act up for them and they found it was the sensor/module in the steering column. The repair was not cheap. Parts and labor was over $900 but it did fix it.
 
" sometimes will not start"

That's a bit VAGUE.

Fails to even crank?

Cranks, but fails to start?

NOT sure about a Ford, but with a Chevy, that could point to two entirely different issues.
 
(quoted from post at 17:42:48 02/04/18) We had a 2002 Grand AM that got to doing the same thing. Stranded my wife at the gas station 5-10 times. By the time I or a mechanic would get there the darn thing would start. Finally a local shop that specializes in GM stuff got it to act up for them and they found it was the sensor/module in the steering column. The repair was not cheap. Parts and labor was over $900 but it did fix it.
Click to expand...

JD, FWIW, if it ever happens again to you or an acquaintance with a GM vehicle of somewhere near that vintage, if there's a "tuner" in your area, simply have them edit out VATS from the ECM, which basically tells it it's OK to fuel the engine without the "Body Control Module" giving it the OK that a "good key-on" event has occured.

Cost $ 150 to $250, and eliminates the problem for the life of the car.
 
JD seller thinking it the same not sure i thought they looked in to it /the follow at a garge worked for a dealer know on his own. It does crank just took my 7/3 to get fixed today glow plugs we tow the ranger /i needed that while the other getting done
 
Looking on the net, no easy fix for this.

A couple easy things to check:

The battery voltage. If the battery is failing or has bad connections, it can cause computer confusion. Check the voltage after the truck has sat overnight, or when it is most likely to flash the theft light. Put a volt meter across the battery, turn the ignition on. If the voltage falls below 11 volts or so, try another battery.

Also clean the cables, look all the obvious connections over for corrosion or overheated connections. Removing the cables for cleaning "may" allow the computer to reset, worth a try...

Here is a link to a service bulletin. Gets pretty complicated, but maybe something you can pass on to the shop that has been working on it.

Apparently this is a common problem with no positive solution.
Diagnosis
 
May I offer a suggestion?
I replaced the PCM power relay located "under the hood" in the fuse box.
My 03 ford F150 had the same problem.
It coded a security problem for dealer attention. I did a little
research on my on and maybe I just got lucky.
I changed out this relay my self and my problem was solved.
Have had no further problems for past 3 years.
Good luck, jack
 
I will print off all of your comments so i can rember hoping the parts house can help / i have a guy that is coming to check for codes. It may not do it now
 
A friend had a similar problem with a dodge Dakota, he had accidentally ran the keys through the washer when he washed his jeans. Tried a different key and it started right up!
 
Have you retrieved codes for the PATS module (passive anti-theft system) yet? If the anti theft light is flashing rapidly then its going to set a code that will at least tell you why. If I was going to guess, I would say the Transceiver ring is going bad. This ring is what reads the pill in the key, it is mounted on the steering column and goes around the lock cylinder.
 
If the engine cranks, but doesn't start, it's not likely the anti-theft. On Fords of that era, the starter won't even crank if you either have an unchipped key, or if the system failed.
It's either ignition or fuel. I personally would guess fuel. One way to check is next time you try to start (assuming it cranks) and doesn't want to start, turn the ignition off, then turn it on without cranking and leave it on for a second or two, then shut it off...repeat this a few times and then try starting. If it starts, it's probably the fuel pump or relay crapping out. If it doesn't start, it still could be the fuel pump. When you turn the ignition on, have the door open and listen to see if the pump cycles...should do so every time you turn the key on.
 
If it has a remote on the key make sure the remote battery is good, low voltage/bad battery and the computer won't" recognize the key. My 07 Dodge wouldn't recognize the key intermittently and had the ecm reprogrammed to remove that function. You can always wire in a push button switch to the solenoid for the times it won't crank
 

If the theft lite is flashing real fast, the Issue is with THAT Key blank or the Halo sensor at the Ignition switch..
Might try your Other Key, Or get a new key Programed.
 
Wrong.

Been through this with both a 1997 and the 2000 that I drive.
When the theft light is flashing rapidly, it is indicating a problem with the security system. When that occurs, the PCM shuts off the fuel pump. Ignition and starter work normally. Engine will crank but not start due to no fuel pressure.
 
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