555U + 1999 Expedition - please help

I am currently on day 5 of installing an Avital 3300 on my 1999 Ford Expedition.  I have installed 2 alarms previously; even my first one only took about 3 hours or so.   All the connections have been made and are functional, but I can't get any PATS bypass modules to work.  I first used the 555F, but switched it out for a 555U.  The 555U is hooked up properly, only engaging with remote start, and I can hear the relay click, but the PATS antenna ring just won't read the code.   No matter what, it won't work.  If I hold the key up to the ignition cylinder it works fine, but it will not read the bypass module. 

Does anybody have any tricks I can use on this?  I'm not too keen on digging out the chip and sticking it on the side of the cylinder; I like having the PATS system and I'd like to keep it.

Is there any way I can splice the 555U wires directly into the PATS system, instead of relying on the antenna to pick up the signal?  That would solve my problem easily.

Thanks for helping me out - I have the next 3 days off.  If I can't finish it by then, I'm going to just throw the SOB away and forget about it.  It's not worth this much aggravation.

XXL

OMFG.  This is getting old.  Jeff's key system works - but now, if the wires are near each other, if they're near metal, if the key moves the slightest bit, etc., the POS won't work.  It makes no sense at all - it'll work, I'll shift the wires around under the dash, to try to route them where they'll stay, and the next time I hit remote start, the PATS won't get the signal.  Or, I put the plastic shroud back on the column, and the signal won't carry (and I'm not shorting any wires, either.  It's like some sick joke.

This is not worth the price of admission - I'd rather sell the truck than go through this again.  I'm thinking I should just ditch the remote start altogether - it's not worth the hassle.

XXL

UPDATE: I scrapped the remote start altogether.  It's not important enough for me to mess with it any longer.  Thanks to everyone for their help.  Now if I could just figure out my door trigger problem...

XXL

Hey XXL,

I recognize you from FTE Expedition. Did you look at the Ford factory PATS bypass for your alarm?

That's the one I'm working with now, but with about as much luck as your 555.

Hey TC.  I had zero luck with this thing, and I actually just cut it out of the truck and threw it away. 

Not worth the aggravation - I'll live with the Ford keyless entry.

Seeya on FTE

XXL

MattXXL,

Take a look at my post 'Ford PATS w/Remote Start'.

I believe that will help, the Ford Factory bypass works great.