Anyone else have problems with PATS keys that stopped working?

[chasrein01]

My wife tried to move the car the other day using her key and the car wouldn't start. She told me this, so I tried the valet key and got the same no start condition (with the rapid flashing PATS light). I then tried my key which had no problem starting the car. I then tried the remote start and inserted each of the "no start" keys and the car would continue to run without problems, but would not restart. Both "no start" keys haven't been used in the car for 10 plus months and did work prior to that. The valet key has been on a hook in the house for over 1 year and her key is on a separate key chain in her purse.

Are the keys supposed to be used every so often to retain the memory or is something else the culprit here?:confused:

[Blackened300a]

My friend who makes keys for cars told me that if you leave the 2 Keys next to each other like on the same key ring, they will double the resistance of the key and the pick-up in the steering column won't reconize the resistance and not start the car. the Key has a set Resistance that is stored in the computer anything other then that set resistance makes the computer think its being robbed and shuts down.
Keeping Keys in storage for a long time makes them fall out of the loop and they may need to be reprogrammed
You need 2 working keys to program a 3rd or 4th, so you may be heading to the dealer to have the keys reprogrammed

[chasrein01]

That's the thing, these keys are all on different rings and in kept in different places, they haven't even been in the car together (or within 3 feet of each other for that matter) for close to a year!

I did plan to take a trip to the dealer, but before I did, I wanted to see if anyone else had any similar problems. I know this should be under warranty since I only have 6800 miles on the car.

[ahess77]

My friend who makes keys for cars told me that if you leave the 2 Keys next to each other like on the same key ring, they will double the resistance of the key and the pick-up in the steering column won't reconize the resistance and not start the car. the Key has a set Resistance that is stored in the computer anything other then that set resistance makes the computer think its being robbed and shuts down.

This is not an accurate description for the PATS key system.
Our PATS key systems have a circuit embedded in the plastic housing of the key that "rings" with a particular frequency when "pinged" by the antenna in the column. The antenna then receives the responce from the key and the electronics decode the frequency to determine if this key is one that is allowed, or is in memory of the PATS system.

If you have a second active key on the key ring it may ring when the PATS system pings the key, however, the key in the column is the one that will be received by the antenna since it is so much closer (signal strength drops with the square of the distance so the key that's 5mm from the antenna will have 2500 times the signal of a key that 50mm away.) As well, the frequency that's received by the antenna will be decoded into components that make each key unique. So as long as all the necessary unique components are recognized, even if there are additional ones from another key, the PATS will recognize a programmed key and deactive the security system.

For some reason it seems the other two keys have been deprogrammed or damaged such that they won't send the frequency that the PATS system recognized.

Hope this helps.

PS, don't microwave your keys.

[ckadiddle]

I wondered how those things worked. I have had no problems with keys yet. However, both ignition keys get used every week at least.

[FordNut]

Were the keys ever tested or used after the remote start was added to the car? Remote start has to "fool" the PATS into thinking there is a valid key present, so maybe when the remote start was added the programming for the other keys got erased?

[wchain]

Speedpass also affects PATS Keys.

[chasrein01]

The remote start was installed within the first week of ownership (mid-June '04) and all the keys had been used during the install. The last time the valet key was even tried was probably last December and the other regular key was used in March (?), though they may have been used since but I'm unsure.

As far as other items on the key ring, the valet key is by itself, the wifes key is with the remote start pad, and mine has my house key and the remote start pad. There's no other computer type items on or around the keys (don't have speedpass).

[FordNut]

The remote start was installed within the first week of ownership (mid-June '04) and all the keys had been used during the install. The last time the valet key was even tried was probably last December and the other regular key was used in March (?), though they may have been used since but I'm unsure.

As far as other items on the key ring, the valet key is by itself, the wifes key is with the remote start pad, and mine has my house key and the remote start pad. There's no other computer type items on or around the keys (don't have speedpass).
I'm fresh out of ideas then. My spare key sat in a drawer for about 1-1/2 years and worked fine when I tried it.

[frdwrnch]

I suspect a wiring problem either w/the remote start or possibly with the PATS transciever in the steering column. I've seen the wires get pinched or pulled using the tilt wheel. Try adjusting the tilt wheel and see if that changes the symptom. Good Luck.

[MENINBLK]

Take all of the keys back to your dealer.
Have him try them in the car.
If there is a problem with the keys, he'll have to make you new ones.
If the problem is with the PATS, only the dealer can figure it out.

I have my key and my valet key on my key ring.
I've never had any problems starting my Marauder with either.
My spare key hangs in the closet and it has always worked
the few times I have used it.

[chasrein01]

Just tried all the different suggestions today(other than the dealer, I'm pretty sick with the flu right now). One other thing that I found out, was that the keypad dropped the code! It still locks, so power is still there, but the code doesn't unlock and it was working last Friday. I suspect the two things must be connected... definitely a dealer / warranty problem now.