PATS Bypass on F-150

Sorry TJ, thought we were talking about PATS C (F150 Navigator) here. I missed that you had thrown PATS A (96 Taurus) in to the mix. "i have forgotten more tham you probally will ever learn been installin as a pro since 91" I think you underestimate my installation skills but that is neither here nor there. I'm not a professional installer, but that in no way effects my knowledge and training concerning the Ford PATS system which is the topic of this discussion.

So it's been a couple of days....how goes the epic battle with the truck?

Its hard to believe that not even Ford technicians can solve this problem???????   Its been more than 2 weeks.    Any info???

the technitians are only human like us the computer that they use is hust a process of elimination and they probally have to order each part one at a time to test a simple $10 pkf would have saved all this tj

No, the technicians are probably morons that are following a list of things to do off of thier computer. If one procedure doesn't fix it then they start over at step one of the same procedure, and repeat. THIS IS HOW DEALERSHIPS DO THINGS. I have seen the list for certain problems.Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

I promise to be good.

Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

Technicians at dealerships don't know how to troubleshoot. They just do what the book tells them. That usually means replacing modules and computers. A couple examples I have seen....Once a Kia dealership replaced 3 different airbag modules in a Sedona in an attempt to get an airbag light to shut off. The problem was a connector came lose in the drivers kick panel. A GM dealership replaced a BCM and fuse block for about $600 or so. Problem was a fuse terminal was spread too far apart so it wasn't making contact with the fuse anymore. A previous installer had used a fuse tap, and when it was later removed the fuse didn't complete the connection anymore. Once a Nissan dealer wanted to replace the window switch on a customers Quest because his drivers window stopped working.   Blamed it on a wire I had connected nearby for the doorlocks. Customer tried to put window down when it was frozen and a circuit trace melted. Told customer it was going to cost over $150. Customer called me and I told him to come in. I jumped a wire over the burnt trace on the circuit board....problem fixed. No cost. I hate dealers....its always the remote starters fault, unless of course it was installed at the dealership.

i had looked at a friends 1999 f150 that already had an avital remote start/keyless installed. his problem was that the locks wouldn't lock/unlock consistently. after trouble shooting a bit, i checked all connections, including the pats bypass. (or lack thereof)  i hope whoever put that thing in no longer installs because what they did to "bypass" the pats  was to  take the second master key and tape it to the antenna ring that they also removed from around the key cylinder. it was just lying atop the spaghetti of wires at the column! no zip ties, nothing.  the key was not grinded down or anything. so i put the antenna ring back around the key cylinder so that he would maintain the factory security and suggested that he buy a bypass(555-f) and that i would install it for him. after looking at his truck and all was put back together, it was time to go.........or should i say no go. the truck would not start. all i did was untape the original key from the antenna. typical pats doing its job, i guess. well, he had it towed to the dealership and $600.00 later, it was up and running. the dealership reperesented the truck and its remote start when it was sold to him initially, yet when it was time to warranty, sorry, pay up sucka, was all that was said. this was about a year ago and i still wonder if it was something i did. who knows how long that key had been taped to the antenna, but i can only speculate as to me untaping the key somehow made it lose code? anyways, i just thought i'd share this while we all wait to find out the outcome of "the shorting of the cluster wires".do it right the first time....less warranty work=more money!:)

I'm gonna be p!$$ed if after 5 pages and weeks of reading I don't find out the end to this story. How does the story end? mecpcert, unfortunately I see that type of install come in from other shops far too often.

Exactly, where the hell is the truck? and what dealership specifically? In this amount of time they could have put an entirely new harness, computers, interior, engine, suspension, etc.... Oh wait it didn't even take this long to build it.Certified Security Specialist

Always check info with a digital multimeter.

I promise to be good.

Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

I am curious too!!!!!  I find it hard to believe that the dealer is keeping the truck for so long.    I have seen a lot of people putting lots of efforts into to this thread (topic) in order to provide the owner of the f150 (f150 hiram) some sort of possible solution or explanation.    I hope that the owner of the f150 truck (f150 hiram (topic starter)), posts the outcome.    Then we can all learn something.    I have seen a lot of people starting a new topic with lots of question and then, once they are helped out, they dont even reply in the topic to say whether or not it helped them.    So please post results.