So I had a problem starting up the truck with the theft light on and its at the dealership. The dealership said they couldnt turn on the truck to pull codes, but they suspect that the connecting rod is broken form water intrusion. But I last time I went offroading there was close to no water and ive been driving it for like 2 weeks. Stealership quoted $5,791 for a new rebuilt engine! Seems outrageous to me. So what to do now?

 

is it locked up?

Did the check gauge or check engine light come up?

I locked my 3.0 last year due to the cam synchronizer gear self destructing

 

How does the dealer know for certain that the connecting rod is broken?

 

when i tried to start it, it sounded like it was locked up. and the dealer is just assuming that its the connecting rod. They said they wouldnt kno til they tore it apart. O and no lights came on that I know of besides the anti theft light.

 

They can turn the engine over manually to see of its locked up.

 

there trying to hose u, if the anti theft light is on THATS why it wont start....

if it was a rod u woulda known with the truck running....

 

They can turn it by the crank.

I doubt your connecting rod is broken...

 

thats what im thinkin that its not broken. Cause its been runnin strong for like 2 weeks after the meet. So I cant imagine anything that has to do with that. And its the theft light as stated by Hughes that is not allowing it to start. This dealership is retarded.

 

i'm determined it's an electrical short or cross somewhere (or like your said, a theft lock). i'll knock my brain at work and come up with some ideas, and call you later.

 

there not retarded at all, there hoping you however are.....like said, there tryin to hose u, theyd bill u for this **** and ud still have the same engine in the truck and theyd fix the anti theft light

 

Go to a different stealership.

 

do you guys think that if I disable the factory alarm it will disable it?

 

I think the PATS is on its own.

 

Did you try D/C the battery?

Pulling and checking your fuses?

Maybe your key got "disabled", do you have a spare?

Try resetting the computer...thats my bet!

 

I disconnected the battery, I checked all the fuses inside and under the hood, and I dont have a spare key so I how would I go upon getting another one? And how would i go to reset the comp.

 

To reset the computer you just DC the battery for however long the owners manual says, IIRC it's like 10 or 15 mins.

I am almost thinking it's your KEY. That would make you not be able to start your truck. I know this sounds stupid but is there anyone that could have put another ford key on, or you have someone elses keys? If I take my moms key (ford explorer), it will go in, but the theft light will stay solid and it won't let me start it until my key goes near (it wouldn't turn anyway with her key).

You may just have to have them reprogram your PATS system, which I don't know much about.

 

it could be the key, i haven had any other key in it but maybe somehow it needs to be reprogrammed or something.

 

huh when I tried in my truck with a key without the chip in it. It didn't even turn over, it did nothing lol

 

well there was never a loud noise when driving it b4 the truck never started.. so I really have no idea what it is now. The dealership write up was..

"C/S does not crank, anti theft light on. Tech found engine locked up, suspects engine has a broken connecting rod. Need to to tear engine down in order to know specifically."

 

Go to another dealership.

 

sounds like the engine is locked up if they cant turn it over manually, ask them to see them try to turn it manually with a breaker bark on the crankshaft.

Im still saying cam synchronizer gear

 

Def could be. But would that throw a theft light?

 

I don't know it will throw a cps code along with a check engine and check gauge.

I don't have anti theft light on my 98 and I did have a cam gear self destroy with no warning causing the engine to lock up instantly with no warning once so ever.

I highly doubt a connecting rod would cause the engine to lock up and you would know if you threw a rod.

I say get the truck home tear it apart maybe get a breaker bar on that crankshaft pulley asap and see if it really is locked up.

 

dang vic I wish I lived closer I can help you out. I'm doing more research on it now