I have a '01 SCrew, 5.4L, 4x4, Off Road. Since getting it in October, I have had the strangest thing happen 3 times... I get in, turn the key and the whole truck goes dead. No lights, horn, ignition, anything. If I wait a couple minutes, it all fires back up and no more problems.

Anyone else experience anything like this?

 

Wow 3 times and you haven't brought it to the dealer to have them look at it??? If I was you I would be really concerned, sounds like a possible short in the ignition or something that is lose that has to do with the starter/ignition. Get it checked before your in the middle of no where and it won't start up again at all!

 

I wonder if it's the key or something on the keychain that's interfering with the PATS signal from the key?

 

I know... thanks for the scolding about getting it to the dealer. Actually, the only times it has happened has been in the middle of no where.... i.e. White Sands National Monument and Big Bend National Park.

Going to the dealer this week!!!!!

I figure it must be the PATS or something related.

 

PATS will not cause 'the whole vehicle to go dead' - it will only impede cranking and starting. All your other electrical accessories will still work.

I would lean toward intermittent ignition switch or associated wiring.

 

There is a multi-function switch that Ford issued a TSB on for I think 98-2000 F-Series and Expys. This sounds like the kind of problems that were experienced. I have two switches replaced in my 1999 XLT. Each had a different problem, never an all electrical dead. The wipers would come on by themselves for one cycle, dome light would not come on when the door was opened until the engine was started. Dome light would not come on when unlocked with the keyfob, etc.....

Maybe there are still a few bad switches... an intermittant problem like that is hard to get to happen so service can see.... maybe if you find that old TSB it will help, even if it doesn't apply to 2001. The TSB covered many, many vehicles and the part was on backorder for many, many months....

I agree with buschman, probably not PATS related

John

 

Was wondering about that. Never tried to start my truck without the key, so had no idea what would and would not happen other than the truck not starting.

 

Just got my SCrew to the dealer today. Turns out the positive battery cable was loose on one end and would arc sometimes... causing a short.... glad that's all it was. Pretty simple... should have found that myself!

 

All this time I thought it might be E.T. out for a joy ride