Expert: INSTALLSUPPORT - 1/14/2010

Question
I have a 2000 Ford truck, full size, 4.6 Liter V8.  Over the last couple of months, the truck will take spells where it will crank and run great for couple of weeks. Then one day I will try to start the ignition and it won't even try to start. The battery is good and the starter turns it over good, but it won't crank.  I will try it again several times over the next couple of weeks and it won't start. Then maybe the next time it will start up the first try and work great for a week or two.  Sometimes it would start up and run for a couple seconds, then go dead. I would try it again and it wouldn't start.  A few days later I would try to start it and it would start up the first time and run great.  I noticed that the anti-theft light blinks all the time. Someone told me that it's most likely something to do with the anti-theft. I've had the truck for about 2 years and it worked great until couple months back when I started having these problems. I always use the original Ford key. I'm sure I'll have to take it to the Ford Dealership. Do you have any idea what could be causing this, and if so, how much it might cost to fix it. Thanks for any help you could give.

Answer
It's likely that the sensor in the ignition switch for the
PATS system (PASSIVE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM) is waring out now,
and is sporadicly triggering, causing the fuel injection rail
to shut down.

This needs to be repaired at Ford or by a Ford certified shop.
Not allot you can do on your own since it
requires codes and if they are lost, could be expensive
to restore.

No, I suggest you visit the dealer as you thought at first to
keep it up to snuff.

Good luck.

ALARMTEK