Hey, I've kinda lurked around here for the past few months but I finally hit a snag where there's a link I want to visit that I can't without a membership. So here we are, I have an 02 Mazda B 2300 that my friend brought back from the dead and then pawned off to me when he bought his Subaru.

The truck's name is Naomi, has 144000 miles, 2.3 Duratec, 5 speed. I just recently put on a camper shell and a Ranger tailgate. She's a 4x2 with an open diff and at the moment the only thing that needs work is the AC so expect some questions about that pretty soon.

After I fix the AC, I want to seal up the camper shell and build a sleeping platform for the back. And the majority of my mods will be related to set in this vehicle up for camping. Although an 8.8 with an LSD swap will also be in my future as well as a winch and a lift. I guess that's semi-camping related, since I want to go to some cool places, and could definitely forsee myself towing an ATV as well but that will be later down the road.

So there you have it, take it as statement of intent if you will. Feel free to offer any suggestions or to bring me down from the clouds with my Daydreams for this truck, I'm usually an optimist so it's nice to have people to keep me grounded. Take care!!!

 

Welcome to the forum

Manual transmission?
2002 came with 5-speed automatic as well, but "5-speed" almost always means Manual trans

2002 2.3l had Heated thermostat which was expensive to replace but there are other options.
2002 2.3l also had Intake Manifold Runner Control(IMRC) which could have vacuum control issues
Ford dropped both of these in 2004 and up 2.3l Duratec engines

2002 will have Fords PATS(passive anti-theft system), this uses RFID tags in the key handle, often called transponder keys.
The computer will have a list of 3 or 4 key tag numbers in its memory, programmed in at the factory.
When you turn on the key the tag number is read and compared to the List in memory, if match is found then fuel system is activated for starting, also Starter Relay is activated allowing starter motor to work.

If you have TWO working PATS keys you can add more keys to computers memory
If you just have ONE key then you have a couple of choices to get a spare key.

Most Locksmiths can "clone" your working key, they cut the key to match the lock and then read your current keys tag number and duplicate that number on the new key, so computer "sees" correct number and it matches number in memory.
This doesn't count as "second" working key since it's the same key as far as computer is concerned.

Locksmiths will also have Laptops with Ford key software, they can cut a new PATS key and then hook laptop to vehicles computer and add the new tag number to computers memory, this would of course cost more than Cloning a key.

But you should definitely have a SPARE KEY, because there is NO WAY to bypass PATS, there is no "work around".