my 2001 f150 wont start and i just put in a complete gauge setup that i bought off of ebay. the car tries to turn over but the theft light just blinks, how can i get it to start.

 

My guess would be that the information in your PATS key no longer matches what the truck wants. I don't think the "receiver" is in the instrument panel though. I believe it's very near the ignition switch. Are you sure you hooked up ALL the wires correctly? I suspect you had to disconnect this thing to replace the instrument panel.

- Jack

 

yes, i disconnected two plugs out of the old one, and replaced the two plugs
in the new one.


i looked into my manual and it says it needs to be bypassed with a coded key? i dont have one, i bought the car used with no spare key.

 

i remember reading somewhere on here that you need to program the cluster to the truck

 

yes the cluster is part of the pats system install factory cluster again and it will start you can try and go to dealer and see if they can disable but your just making truck easier to steal

 

If you did a cluster swap, you've screwed yourself.

Put the old one back in. You cannot install a different cluster without the proper equipment to reprogram the replacement (dealer).

Steve

 

well, what i figured out is that my key needed to be re-coded. so i went to the dealer with my vin and got the code for my truck, and now i have to call a lock smith out to re-code my key. so hopefully this works, if not then back to stock.

 

You're wasting even more money now...
Everybody on here has told you how to get your truck to run, and you're still not doing it right...

 

Oh thanks for the help their guy. how do you know i'm wasting money, or why do you even care? wasting money in my opinion would be putting the other one back in. do you understand that i bought the new one to replace the old broken/flamer one?

cheers douche

 

But, couldn't the key be reprogrammed to the code expected by the new cluster? Just asking, because I don't know and this seems like a reasonable approach.

Thinking about it though, perhaps the cluster is what gets programmed, to accept a new key (if you have two old ones). And the new cluster may not be talking properly with the PCM, so it can't accept the program.

But again, there has to be some way to replace the gauge cluster. It's an electroniic device, subject to failure. I know that Ford could do some stupid things, but not being able to replace the cluster seems over the top!

- Jack

 

Don't know what code the dealer gave you, that is nothing that is needed.

You need a dealer with either a WDS or NGS or a lock smith w/ the equivalent PATS programmer to erase the keys that are programmed in the HEC in the cluster, and reprogram 2 new keys to the new cluster you installed.
This is a simple procedure.
Have 2 PATS keys cut for your ign, the WDS / NGS is hooked up to the truck, and the procedure for this is erase all keys, un hook the WDS / NGS, insert the first key turn to the run position, turn off, insert the next key, turn to the run position, turn off, and now the truck has 2 keys programmed to it.

Don't know why you needed to replace your cluster though ??

The RFID tag from the key is stored in the HEC in the cluster, and the one you bought has the keys from the truck it came out of.

 

SSCULLY, I've noticed in the past that you seem to give "informed" advice. What's your background? (And sorry for the hijack - nothing else was happening).

- Jack

 

Douche,
You need to get the cluster programmed to your PCM and your keys.

 

Just reading the manuals.
I work for a telecom equipment manufacture, so it is not by vocation, but 48 V DC and 12 V DC work the same way, one just has more
I enjoy reading this stuff, and it seems to come into use some days more then the others.

 

Ebay is the last place I would look for any autopart. But hey that's just my opinion, what do i know.