Hello everyone, I was driving my 99 ranger today and it was running great. Stopped to get gas and it wouldn't start,had it towed to a shop and they told me it was stuck in the theft deterrent mode and I would have to bring it to the dealer to fix..anyone else ever heard or experience this,any info is appreciated

 

It does happen the older trucks had a separate module for PATS (theft mode) that can go bad or stop talking to the PCM or the ring around the lock cylinder can't read the key. The newer trucks have PATS integrated into the PCM to eliminate the module issue.

 

Any idea on how much it'll cost to fix?, it seems like ever since I hit 150,000 miles more and more issues are going on with the truck

 

Don't know a definite price the farthest I've ever gotten into it was replacing a lost key which cost me $112 bucks but if you can source the module yourself the mom and pop shop i used to work for charged an hour labor to reflash the modules. If you go to the dealer id bet no less than about $300. Also you can check the ring behind the cylinder yourself just pop the plastic of around the column just a couple screws and some wiggling and see if its cut or mangled to rule it out its very basic usually it either works or it doesn't id hate to send you throwing parts at it so id try to do a little diagnosis first to narrow down the issue. Also the keys themselves could be at fault.

 

Thanks fellas, it ended up being the key, 120.00 for a new key and programming.

 

was that price from the dealer or did you find another place to do it?

 

so did you give the truck back to its original owner?