chrisdann1

Hi, can anyone help me please. I have a 2003 Windstar. When it's cold it starts first time every time and runs fine. When it's hot the anti theft light comes on and the motor won't crank over. I disconnect the battery and the following morning it starts first time again. All fuses are OK, battery is new. I've had the keys re-programmed and I've re-set the alarm like it says in the handbook.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards Chris Dann

Well, we finally found out what was wrong. It was the instrument cluster. Apparently the anti theft memory is stored in the cluster. We replaced it and it's absolutely fine now.

Sterling_Six

Hello and good day:

I have seen this before....Your car thinks you are trying to steal it....
Have you referred to your Owners Manual??
When you turn the key the Light Flashes, and the car will not turn over correct??

Try these Links:

WikiAnswers - If Car wont start won't crank; anti-theft light keeps flashing as if car doesn't recognize key

No start / start/ anti theft light? - FixYa

'01 F-150 Anti Theft will not start - Ford Forums

Anti theft alarm Problem Solving at FixYa


I believe when you reprogrammed the Key fob...the PCM (the Computer...Brains) may not have Recognized the reprograming...

Why it only does it when its Warm is be on me.

__________________
Good Luck and good repairing Sterling_6
"You know, just like in that Book, When Jesus beats up Moses to get Religion!!"

chrisdann1

Thanks for your answer. I think the problem may be in the PATS module which will need re-setting at the dealership.
Why it only does it when it's hot is beyond me too.

Mochaman

If you could post what you find out it would be greatly appreciated. We have done identical fixes to ours and are having the exact same problem......hard start when warm runs fine cold.....ours is a 2001 however.

Please post what you find.

Thanks.

cubanman123

Did you have a spare key made, without the chip or programmed wrong?

chrisdann1

I took the car into the dealership and they say that the PATS system has gone bad. It is worse when the engine is hot because it has a negative response to the heat. Apparently, it needs a new PATS system. The car has been in the dealership for three weeks now and they are still waiting for the part to arrive. Remember we are over in Spain in Europe and the Windstar wasn't sold over here.
If anyone knows where I can get one in the US I'd appreciate it as I'm in California next week. (Feb 10th)

Regards Chris carimportinspain@hotmail.com

chrisdann1

We finally found out what was wrong. It was the instrument cluster. We took the old one out and replaced it. All is now OK.