Car Alarms: 97 ford expedition, tow fee, expedition truck

Question
Truck caught fire in ashtray damaging anti theft wiring harness I repaired harness and now theft light on inst. cluster blinks repeatedly at first then blinks code 16. tried to go to dealership to reset anti theft and they refused to work on my car because they seen that the wiring was patched and some wires out hanging capped of and tapped that go to heater controls, radio,middle console controls, all stuff that is not necessary to get truck running. Which is my first goal towards restoring truck. I myself have had 2 yrs high school vocational automotive tech exp and 1 yr college in automotive. not saying I'm master mech. but I can repair 4 inches of damaged wiring harness. What surrounds wiring harness may not be pretty but every thing except engine fire is working and that's because of pats system. Can you please help me if possible since I've wasted $100 on tow fee's just to get shot down with no suggestions but to consider the car as totaled when at minimum it could still make a fine work truck.

Answer
Troublesome system, and not an uncommon issue
by a long shot.

Ok, unfortunately you are correct,
this vehicle's PATS key
based engine disabling system, is not
recognizing the chip in your key.
But it still may retain programing beyond the
burned point. My expertise is in disabling
the PATS for remote start applications,
so if it's me, I would suggest the IB04-XKO4 PKFORD
bypass kit to get around the issue.

This Bypass Module is designed to momentarilly
allow the engine to remote start by sending a proper
coded pulse to open the fuel rail passlock injector
cut off circuit.

The output from an alarm/remote starter
would then shut down the pulse, once it has detected
the engine has engaged, and preserve the integrity
of the PATS system.

That is it's designed purpose.

However, in your case, this input wire on
the XK04 module, instead of going to a
momentary ground pulse from an
alarm/remote starter, would go to a
constant chassis ground, through
the bypass module, grounding out the PATS.
The PATS would always be bypassed as long
as that wire is chassis grounded.

I can not speak about a damaged PATS system,
like if a thief has destroyed it, because I do not
get into this part of FORD'S security application.
But as a happy coincidence to installing
after market remote starters, this does work on bypassing
trnasponder in most all FORD vehicles we've run into,
including your year FORD vehicle as well.

Also, this is a self learning, resistor sensing
and adjusting module. Once the PATS wires have been tapped,
you would press the program button to learn,
and it does. The car should then allow start
with any hardware store key.

I can't guaranty it would work here,
but for 70.00 might be the best shot you have
before the "totalled" diagnosis can be verified.

Hopefully, it will work on this one.

Regards,

Robert Martin-ALARMTEK/CEO
Master Technician
Mobile Security Electronics
www.BYPASSMODULES.com