Blinking light on dash

[John F. Russo]

It is located on top of the dash on the driver's side and it blinks red about every 2 seconds.

I tried to find its purpose in the manual but it makes no reference to it.

I come to the experts on this forum for help.

Thank you.

[Zack]

It the anti-theft light.
It sounds like its working fne.

[John F. Russo]

It the anti-theft light.
It sounds like its working fne.

What anti-thefrt protection am I getting?

[fastblackmerc]

Owners manual stating on page 84.

[BlownMerc]

It is to warn would be "thieves" that the car has antitheft. It is PATS, passive andti theft system, more commonly known as the "chip key"

[Marauderjack]

What anti-thefrt protection am I getting?

Passive theft deterrent......nothing but a blinking light!!!:rolleyes:

[cyclopsram]

Car will not start without the key being mated to the PCU, the red light tells you and others that it is functional, a monitor..

[RF Overlord]

Passive theft deterrent......nothing but a blinking light!!!:rolleyes:That's not quite true. The light blinks slowly to tell you the PATS is functional. If it starts blinking rapidly, and the car won't start, it lets you know the PATS was activated. Either there's a problem or someone tried to start the car with an invalid key.

[ctrlraven]

Anyone every tried hooking up a real LED warning light or something along the lines? I have a bunch of red LED laying around and want to mount one either on the top of the steering column or center console so it looks like I have an actual aftermarket alarm.

I need to spend a day and pull the dash apart and find the wires for it.

[John F. Russo]

Thank you all.

It is an instant expert board!

[Bluerauder]

It the anti-theft light.
It sounds like its working fne.
Yep, nobody has tried to steal my blinking light yet .... so it must be working just fine. ;)

[finster101]

Anyone every tried hooking up a real LED warning light or something along the lines? I have a bunch of red LED laying around and want to mount one either on the top of the steering column or center console so it looks like I have an actual aftermarket alarm.

I need to spend a day and pull the dash apart and find the wires for it.
Why not just go with a good after-market alarm and get some of the bennies like remote start and "warn away" I love mine

[ctrlraven]

Why not just go with a good after-market alarm and get some of the bennies like remote start and "warn away" I love mine

Oh I plan on to once my friend starts working at Best Buy again so I can get a Viper alarm/remote start for dirt cheap.

I already have starter, ignition and fuel pump kill switches installed throughout the vehicle. If someone wants to break into it their going to regardless of alarm or not and it will never be driven away under its own power, tow is the only way it will leave me.

[MercOut]

If i read this thread correctly, no one can steal my car unless they have the matching chip thats in my key or can they just bust the steering column and start it like that? Thats what happen to my friends '96 impala but they couldnt take it because he disconnected the fuel pump fuse(or something like that)

[BlownMerc]

Correct, car cannot be started without proper key. No way to jump over the PATS system to start car. Have tried several different ways here at the dealership, were just as screwed as you if we have invalid keys...have to program new ones to start car.

[ctrlraven]

You can jump over the PATS system by giving the starter a jump but you would still need a key to engage the ignition to the ON position otherwise the car would run for 3 secs and then shut down. I've tested it before.

[MercOut]

good to here but im still getting an aftermarket alarm system