I just got my car back from ford, it's a 1997 3.8. I took it in there because I was driving down the road and the car died and the theft light started blinking. When I first took it in they thought it was something with the key, but my luck it wasn't. So they started looking into it, then they thought it was the ccrm (constant control relay module). They figured there was an internal short so they ordered a new one and what do u know, still won't start. And as soon as they plunged the ccrm in the car would blow the maxi 13 fuse( occording to the fuse box lid). So then they tell me there must be a short in the wire but it would cost me an arm and a leg to find it. At this point I'm tired of spending money so I tell them not to do anything and I would come gget it. The question is what wires should I check?? Has anyone else had this problem or ever heard of it??

 

honestly if it were me i would go all out and remove the entire dash to get view of ALL the wires, then take a multimeter and start systematically ruling out parts of the PATS system. the alternative is you can get a tuner and turn the PATS off. oh btw PATS is the passive anti theft system

 

Another problem that you could be having is the cable that goes from your fuse box to your alt could be corroded.

Mine had a similar problem and would not take a tune because of it, so I replaced it and had no more problems.

It is a cheap cable and worth a try, but inspect yours first, you should be able to tell if it is corroded.

Try to figure out if any water has ever gotten behind the dash or anything like that.

If you are going to tackle this yourself you should get a wiring diagram so you at least have a roadmap that you can check off as you go along.

Good luck.

-Eric-

 

U think it could be the pats system??

 

And is there any way to bypass the ccrm?

 

pretty sure the CCRM is under the control of the PATS so disabling it should solve the problem

 

And the only way to disable it is with a programer??

 

yep gota have a tuner or ask really nicely and get ford to do it. better yet get a really hot girl to go up there with u and be nice to the mechanic, he will for sure turn the PATS off for you then.

 

it doesn sound like the pats but once the car is started the pats shouldnt matter cause like if you have a remote starter put in with out a bypass and if you hold the key up to the cylinder it will start and stay started even when you move the key away from the cylinder. so it seems like it only uses the pats for inital starting. so it might be something else

 

one question would the pats system blow the maxi 13 fuse, or is this another problem?