Hi.

I want to add a blinking LED to either my dash or my OHC.....and wire it up to that flashing PATS light. What I'm using is a blue/red flashing 5mm LED....is the power to that THEFT light constant?? Or is it a on/off/on/off/on/off type of deal??

What wires to splice into?? I assume it's part of that cluster of wires behind the radio bezel, to the left.

Also...

What have you guys done?? I know people have added those NightRider security things, and i know someone on here has LEDs flashing in their headlight housings. Basically, I want no switch, and want it to flash when the engine is not running and the truck is just sitting there...just like the THEFT light.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Shane

 

2001~2003 Rangers have a constant B+ power source to the LED. The PCM makes it flash by supplying ground momentarily every few seconds when the key is off or during bulb proveout. A detected theft makes it flash more rapidly.

All you need to do is mimic the same setup. Wire the + side of the new LED to a constant hot - the wire used by the theft LED is white/yellow from fuse 26 to the back of the cluster.

Then tap the negative side of the new LED to the dark blue/green wire that runs from PCM pin 30 to the back of the cluster.

As with any LED installation, if your LED does not have a built in current limiting resistor, you would need to add one of the correct value. Check out John's LED tutorial.

I've been using this method to power 2 flashing LED lock indicators for about 3 years without problems.

 

i might have to do this........i would love to put in the LED locks, but it would take some wiring changes for my '97.....

 

The Theft light was wired differently in 2000 and earlier Rangers. This makes it more complicated to add additional LEDS to the Theft light circuit. When I swapped to the 99 Explorer electrics, I had to temporarily disconnect my LEDs because the Theft light in a Gen2 Ex is wired like your Ranger. One of these days, I'll sit down and figure out how to make it work with the earlier setup.

 

what about the 07+ rangers?

 

Power and ground for the Theft LED in 07/08 are right off the cluster microprcessor board and the actual circuitry is undocumented in the Ford Wiring Manual. So without a truck to experiment on, it's anyone's guess.

 

thanks bob!!! I love Grigg's domain......i've done the cruise, fog, 4x4, headlight switch LED mods using his domain.

Bob...Have I ever told you that you are the man??

 

that will be a no go then, :(

 

07Sport is it just you and me that think the 2007 and above are the blacksheep of the ranger family??? Maybe we need to start playing with our trucks and see what we can do with them....LOL

 

i posted pictures of my alarm leds at one time.

i hooked the alarm upto the theft light at first then got the idea to goto radio shack and get some leds to put on the doors.
the way i have em they shine into the mirrors and you can see it from a distance.

 

that is a good idea. i put mine at the top of the bezel around the radio and what not

 

I have an aftermarket alarm system and no keyless entry. Could I just put the aftermarket LED behind the THEFT indicator in order to make it flash?

 

if there is nothing behind there i dont see why not.

 

I like that location. Does it light up pretty good....i mean is it visible from out side the vehicle, preferably through the windshield??