4.6L General Discussion This section is for non-tech specific information pertaining to 4.6L (Modular) Mustangs built from 1996 to 2004.

1999-2004 no start: solved

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Old Oct 27, 2023 | 12:36 AM
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marleers
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Joined: Oct 2023
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From: CA
Default 1999-2004 no start: solved

I wanted to share my experience since I was able to find little to no advice/help in forums as I dealt with this. As a preface I do not have access to a scanner that can read my car but that will be an immediate buy as I move forward as this would’ve identified my issue from the start** Intermittent no start on my 2002 GT accompanied with dashed odometer til one day it was permanent. Started with fuses and relays… all good there. Next started the engine with starter fluid to confirm spark and timing, also good. I had dribbles of fuel at the rail though so i then hotwired the fuel pump to find it didn’t run. Replaced the fuel pump to now get fuel at the rail but still no start, power to the injectors, but no ground pulse (pats). The fuel pump going bad didn’t make sense with the odometer anyways. Checked cluster diag to get dtc d262 (missing/invalid scp message) then began the procedure outlined below. I had to move while this was going on so I had a second opinion from a “real” mechanic who said it was the pcm. Waited 2 weeks for a new one installed it, and when I called locksmith out to program a second key that’s when I’m informed there’s no communication with the cluster. Same day my buddy with forscan comes out and also confirms this. I start testing again and I come to the solid conclusion that the pats module within the cluster had gone bad since it failed to engage entirely. I sent the cluster to a repair place who said the opposite: cluster is fine. I didn’t believe that and explained these clusters specifically have pats module within them so they tell me they will test the module. 3 days pass and I get impatient so I get my cluster back and retest, confirmed again bad cluster and 0 communication. Went to pick n pull and snagged a cluster off an 04 which immediately displayed odometer and pats light. Called out the locksmith today to reprogram my keys to the new pats module and voila, I’m back on the road. Long story short a bad pats module will not send the start signal to the pcm to engage fuel injectors and you will experience a no start condition. Mind you there are 5 modules on the scp circuit, so if your wiring is 100% good chances are it will be one of those.
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