[SableOHC]

I've had a problem recently on my 96 24V where I turn the key, it starts, the revs come up then it immediately dies. It did it to me again last night and I noticed that the red Theft light was blinking when the ignition was on. I tried reinserting the key, jiggling the steering wheel and opening and closing the driver side door, but it still wouldn't stay started. Then I cycled the door locks back and forth and it started right up (and stayed started

)

I'll need to wait for it to fail again so I can check whether it was the lock trick that did it, or whether it was a fluke.

Has anyone seen this problem where the PATS system was possibly getting confused about the state of the locks?

Is this really how PATS works? In other words, if I were to try to start it with a non-PATS copy of my key, would it start then immediately stop?

I'd appreciate the comments of any of our PATS specialists

 

[gtx2000]

Pats Will fail if you more then one pats key on your key ring. If you read the owners manuel it states you should NEVER have 2 PATS keys on your key ring. Nor should you have any other brand transponder key on your key ring.
The cold will affect the transponder in the key. If you have 2 keys you may want to try the other one for the car itself. If your still having problems or if it fixes it you may want to get a third extra key. You must remember if you got 2 keys you really don't have a spare key. You must have 2 kays to program your own soo if you lose on and then only have one left you cannot program your own keys.

 

[SableOHC]

Great call. I do have another transponder on the keyring (Exxon/Mobil SpeedPass.) I wonder if that is conflicting.

My car has PATS-I which is the one key system. I believe the switch to PATS-II occured part way through 98.

 

[gtx2000]

your right i forgot you only need one key too program 97 older cars. haven't done one in a while.

 

[SableOHC]

Originally posted by gtx2000@Mar 4 2004, 06:09 PM
your right i forgot you only need one key too program 97 older cars. haven't done one in a while.

I looked through the manual for my 96 and it doesn't have a warning about other transponders (although I still feel dumb for not thinking of it.) The site for the SpeedPass transponder does have a FAQ item that says if you have it on the same fob as a key, to hold whichever one you aren't trying to use away from the one that you are trying to use. [Don't get the SpeedPass need the steering collumn or the car key near the SpeedPass terminal.)

Anyway, I've taken the SpeedPass off of my Sable ring and will see if everything clears up.

Thanks again for the advice

 

[SableOHC]

Here's an update. When I took the other transponder off my Sable key ring, I tried holding it in various orientations near the ignition while starting the car. I was not able to duplicate the problem, put went ahead and left the other transponder off the key ring.

The problem repeated last night with the same symptoms: started, immediately stalled and the Theft light was blinking. When I cycled the power locks, the problem went away.

 

[gtx2000]

Do you by chance how or have had a REMOTE starter installed?

 

[SableOHC]

I don't have a remote starter. I didn't buy it new, so I don't know if it had one before I owned it. The problem is new in the last 3 or 4 months. It never did it once in the previous 80K miles that I've driven it.

I've put my other PATS key in my briefcase. The next time it gets into the error state I'll try swapping keys before I try cycling the locks.

 

[SableOHC]

Just to conclude this thread, the answer at one level is in this thread.