I've searched all the archives and found similar problems but nothing exactly like what I am experiencing.
First the details. 2000 F150, 4.6L A4, Supercab 4x4, XLT w/ remote keyless entry.
While driving down the road had the engine quit and the theft light start flashing rapidly. Truck won't start, only turn over. Odometer has '- - - - - -' for mileage. I have both original keys and neither one worked. After approx 90-120 mins the thing reset and started. This has happened twice now and obviously I'm gunshy to drive it now.

First time happened in slush, sleet weather. Dealer told me it's a water intrusion problem into GEM/CTM module. Took everything apart, no signs of water entry. Put everything back together with dielectric grease and siliconed any firewall opening I could find. The truck was fine for a month.

Happened again. This time after weather was below 0 so no water intrusion. Started digging deeper, got service manual from library. Went through electrical diagnostics for PATS module and cluster. Seems like communication between cluster and PCM is not happening. Although it seems to be intermittant. I saw some posts on here that some people had loose fuses in the underhood fuse compartment. I will check that tomorrow.

My question after all that rant . . . has anyone else experienced this exact failure?? If you did what was the root cause. Right now I have it narrowed down to the PATS module, cluster or communication from cluster to PCM. Obviously this is not narrowed down enough that's why I'm wondering if anyone else had this problem and what it was??

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!!!!!

PS If any generous Ford employee lives in the Detroit region and has an NGS I'd be eternally grateful to borrow it?!?!?

 

Cant be a PATS issue if it occurs after truck starts. Must be a communication issue between PCM and cluster. When these 2 loose communication, '------' and THEFT is what you get. Possibilites are loss of ground or power, connection problems, aftermarket installlations,loose fuse tap ins.

 

Thanks for the advice. I am going to run through all the cluster/PCM diagnostics today.

I figured that the PATS check only occurred at start up but I wasn't sure.

Also, I have no aftermarket installs (remote start, alarm etc).

Thanks again!