98 contour svt, pats bypass, broken pats?

Hey everyone, first post over here. I've searched around, and haven't been able to find a PATS Bypass diagram for any of the older units (not the DIY ones). Why do I need it? Well, here's the deal.

The CSVT won't start; the PATS light flashes that the key is unacceptable all of a sudden. So, the car goes to Ford, who promptly replaces the transciever in the steering column and cuts new keys – only to find it doesn't work. They sat that the PATS unit itself won't accept any new codes, and more bizarrely, they can't empty the codes out of it like they should. Now, the only thing they HAVE figured out is there's a purple wire spliced into the PATS unit that shouldn't be there.

So, herein lies my enquiry: I know a previous owner had an alarm that was removed before I got the car. Did any of the older PATS Bypass units splice directly into the PATS module? If so, would it force the unit to retain a code, and disallow Ford from dumping them? If not, does anyone know why something would be spliced into the PATS box?

Thanks everyone, great forum!

If only an alarm was installed, there would be no need to get involved with the PATS at all. Only need to interface with that for a remote starter.

Do you think a remote starter was installed too, or just an alarm? A remote starter install involves making a few additional connections:

The brake wire, usually found at the brake pedal or running toward the rear of the car; a tachometer source, usually a fuel injector or coil, on the engine; as well as splicing into all (or nearly all) of the ignition/accessory wires at the keyswitch.

Following that logic, if you see evidence of previous connections in these areas, there probably was a remote starter installed. If not, there probably wasn't.

Also, on most (but not all) aftermarket car alarms, purple is the color to be connected to the car's positive-trigger domelight wire. When the domelight comes on, the car alarm senses a break-in, and goes into full trigger.

Where is this PATS part with the purple wire attached? At the keyswitch? Does the keyswitch have an illuminated ring around it that comes on with the door open? If all of the above is "yes," the installer probably just used this as his door trigger.

Can the Ford techs tell you exactly what the purple wire is connected to? I mean, what is the function of the factory Ford wire that's spliced into? If the tech's answer is to scratch is head, that wouldn't be good.

Scratching his head would have been better than what I got....

The PATS control module is mounted up behind the glove box. Turns it, it had gone wonky... I replaced the whole system, car's fine now. BUT, the idiots at Ford were following that mysterious purple wire. The wire terminated a few feet from where it was connected, and, more importantly, was connected to the KEYLESS ENTRY MODULE. The simple answer is the obvious one; Ford has no idea what they're doing, ever.