Hello everyone,

I just put my old 2000 XLT 2.5L out to pasture and replaced it with a 2000 XLT 3.0 4WD with a lot fewer miles. I'm hoping to make a few upgrades to this one and keep it in nicer shape than my old beater, so I'm looking forward to picking up tips from experienced owners.

Thanks for sharing info here!

 

Welcome to the forum

Nice looking Ranger
Looks to have "Live Axle" 4WD so no front hubs, axles are locked full time, two less issues on a Ranger 4x4
Officially live axle didn't go into all Rangers 4x4s until 2001

2000 V6 Ranger will have PATS(passive anti-theft system), so make sure you have at least one extra "working" PATS key
PATS keys have an RFID Tag in the handle with a unique number, this number is stored in the PATS module(above glove box)
When you turn on the key the Transceiver around the key slot reads the number and compares it to the 3 or 4 numbers in memory(keys that came with new vehicle), if a match is found then engine can be started.
If no match then fuel pump and fuel injectors are disabled
RFID tag doesn't need batteries

A locksmith can cut and add more PATS keys to your Module, or can Clone your working key, which is cheaper
Or you can use Forscan software to do it yourself

If you have 2 working PATS keys(no clones) you can add a 3rd or 4th yourself

 

Thanks for the tip on the PATS key. It only came with one key and fob.

 

Fobs can be added easily

Keys are another matter, but you FOR SURE want to have a spare or your vehicle will be stuck at the spot you lost the key, need to have it towed or a Mobile Locksmith come out and make and program new keys
And a PATS key can just quit working, not at all common, but not unheard of either, lol.

Cloning is cheapest, a locksmith "reads" the number from current key with RFID reader/writer, then writes that same number to a blank RFID key, then cuts it for your locks
PATS module thinks its the same key, because its a "clone", you can get a couple of them made

And just a future heads up Ford switched to 80-bit RFID tags around 2010, and at this time cloning these is hit and miss, mostly miss, lol
But ALL earlier models(40-bit) clone just fine, and there's no downside to it as far as it starting the engine or lasting as long as "regular PATS" key