idatalink programming on 2001 ford escape

right on and i'll be sure to let you know whenever i figure it out what is happening.

Alright so you have the connections done properly, otherwise if RX and TX were reversed the LED would flash red when the key is turned on. Secondly, I know this seems ridiculous, but the keys you are using are in fact 2 different ones? They can not emit the same transponder signal, so this technically could be where the problem lies. Perhaps both your keys, even though you have 2, are coded with the same transponder signal? Everything you have written confirms that you have connected the bypass correctly and are following the programming instructions correctly.

OK so tech support helped me out and even more surprising I was only on hold for maybe 5 min tops. Basically I had to program it as if it were a standard even though it is not. The quick run through(if anyone wants to know) is that you start the car with key 1 then as soon as the red LED goes out pop in key 2 and turn on the car then once red LED is out you remove the key and quickly press the programming button(solid red LED) and then you need to jump your 12volts to your main ign wire which finally makes the LED go green and it is all done. I knew it was some weird programming issue and as usual the instructions are a little vague but I must commend the customer service for their promptness. Maybe this will help someone else with the same problem.