Car wont start help!

Kingnewtie1 said:

Help! Started my car and died immediately after. Anti Theft light blinking. And my dash shows a line where the mileage is supposed to be. It will crank but wont turn over. I plugged my code reader but my car wont register it? It just says loading.

Im thinking its my Pats, or broken chip in my key? Or since my code reader wont read maybe my ecu died? Or possible a fuel pump? Please help im outta ideas

Click to expand...

Cluster displaying all dashes ('------"). The odds favor a PCM POWER problem. NOT PATS!

It would be expected for PATS to not "prove out" if the PCM is not responding due to a lack of power.

Review the crank with no start check list. Pay special attention to the part about the ground wire around the battery and fuse F2.34, F2.2, F2.8.

1996+ Crank with no start check list
https://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/4-6l-tech/336452-1997-mustang-wont-ignite.html

Hi, You did the right thing by reaching out and asking, at the right place. More times than not, in getting a response, you’ll know where an issue is, so it won’t re-occur. Sounds like, as you said, keys not registering with PATS correctly, signaling that you’re a Thief from it’s viewpoint. At Least that part works! Just remember you need to follow up, once it responds, avoiding reoccurrence.
What’s the Year and Model, a 5 speed or Automatic? Any recent work done to it? Has it been extremely hot & Humid, lately? Has this happened, previously? The FOB functional?
Usually, one of the below may yields a response, if not- will go to testing.
But, try these In the meantime..
1) Do a quick check of the Battery terminals. Remove and clean them, Re-terminate, tighten, retry.
2) Have a spare Key? Try it.
3) Rotate the steering wheel around until it locks, insert Key, retry start. If not, give it a tug. Retry. Wheel won’t lock, rotate it to a few different points & retry.
Also try repositioning the Tilt, etc- retry.
4) Pull the other Keys off the Ring, Try with the key alone. Sometimes this helps.
5) Have you walked away from the vehicle with Key in hand for a few minutes and returned & retried?
6) Pass your Key across the face of one of the Speakers. Retry.
7) Sometimes Humidity or heat trapped in the Car May cause this, open the Doors & air it out a bit, retry.
8) Has you’re Fuel Pump fired for the prime, yet, or before?
9) Clean off the Key’s surface with a light spray solvent, preferably electronic terminal Cleaner, retry..
10) Try getting up, underneath and unplug- replug connectors. Look for any pinched Wiring, move the wires a bit, not forcefully, low energy tugs.
Good luck!