BrianTSmist99
Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2024
- Messages
- 3
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Warrenton, VA
- What engine do you have?
- V6 engine
- What year is your Sport Trac?
- 2001
- What Generation is your Sport Trac?
- 1st Gen Owner
Hiya!
Newbie here. My 2001 with 168k miles has no mods other than an aftermarket radio, no after market alarm system. Something like a year and a half ago I went to start, it ran about 1/10 second and cut out. Then it cranked but nothing. I tried again that night... it started and has been running fine. Thursday I drove into town, parked. When I went to leave, it cranked and a couple cylinders fired, then nothing. Waited 10 minutes. Crank, but no start. Called for a tow. He got there an hour later and he said "Let me see the keys" and of course it started. I drove home, and I have started it each morning and night just fine.
Our large animal vet with a previous gen Ranger said it cut out while driving down the road. Sit for a few and it ran again. This happened twice in a short span of time. Her mechanic tested the fuel pump, etc etc etc but it was running fine, he could not find anything wrong, and he started to wonder if the immobilizer was not recognizing the key. So... driving down the road it loses contact with the key and it is a good idea to cut the engine? Seems very bizarre. Her mechanic said she could get a computer that did not check for a key and she is in the process of getting that done.
I read that there is a battery in the key (?) but I would be shocked (as it were
if a battery would last this long (this is an original key from 2001).
Both times it was my key it failed on. But the other key is very rarely used.
I read in the owners manual that metallic objects or other keys can interfere with the immobilizer seeing the key. I have the fob and one other key on the ring. I will remove those.
I saw here that the theft lamp blinks on lack of chip and I did not notice it blinking, but I could have missed it.
The check engine light has been on a LONG time, but it has been running fine except for these two events. It is a farm truck and as long as it carries animal feed life is good. I guess I really should put a scanner on it.
Does the immobilizer just cut the fuel or does it also not allow the starter to run?
Maybe new keys will help?
I would not be against replacing the computer with one that does not look for the key. The truck lives on a farm and no one bothers us so theft is really not an issue. Except maybe the goats.
I poked around here but did not find anything sounding similar but I can be rather clever at not finding things.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Brian
Newbie here. My 2001 with 168k miles has no mods other than an aftermarket radio, no after market alarm system. Something like a year and a half ago I went to start, it ran about 1/10 second and cut out. Then it cranked but nothing. I tried again that night... it started and has been running fine. Thursday I drove into town, parked. When I went to leave, it cranked and a couple cylinders fired, then nothing. Waited 10 minutes. Crank, but no start. Called for a tow. He got there an hour later and he said "Let me see the keys" and of course it started. I drove home, and I have started it each morning and night just fine.
Our large animal vet with a previous gen Ranger said it cut out while driving down the road. Sit for a few and it ran again. This happened twice in a short span of time. Her mechanic tested the fuel pump, etc etc etc but it was running fine, he could not find anything wrong, and he started to wonder if the immobilizer was not recognizing the key. So... driving down the road it loses contact with the key and it is a good idea to cut the engine? Seems very bizarre. Her mechanic said she could get a computer that did not check for a key and she is in the process of getting that done.
I read that there is a battery in the key (?) but I would be shocked (as it were
if a battery would last this long (this is an original key from 2001).Both times it was my key it failed on. But the other key is very rarely used.
I read in the owners manual that metallic objects or other keys can interfere with the immobilizer seeing the key. I have the fob and one other key on the ring. I will remove those.
I saw here that the theft lamp blinks on lack of chip and I did not notice it blinking, but I could have missed it.
The check engine light has been on a LONG time, but it has been running fine except for these two events. It is a farm truck and as long as it carries animal feed life is good. I guess I really should put a scanner on it.
Does the immobilizer just cut the fuel or does it also not allow the starter to run?
Maybe new keys will help?
I would not be against replacing the computer with one that does not look for the key. The truck lives on a farm and no one bothers us so theft is really not an issue. Except maybe the goats.
I poked around here but did not find anything sounding similar but I can be rather clever at not finding things.
Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Brian
