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Auto Theft Prevention/2003 Mazda PCM change

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Expert: - 6/8/2011


Question
QUESTION: I have to change the PCM on my 2003 Mazda tribute I have put it in my car and now it will not start flashing the security light and I really don't have the time nor the money to tow or have it towed to a dealer is there any way I can make the system work with the new PCM with out it going to the dealer? It does have PATS and the closest dealer is 40 miles.

ANSWER: Hello,

Is this a new PCM or a PCM from a junk yard? I am concerned about the security light not coming on.
The PCM has to be programmed to the PATS module and unfortunately, you may have to send the car to the dealer to get it programmed with the PATS module.

Normally, I might recommend haaving a locksmith go by you with a variety of different electronic programmers such as the T code, NGS or code seeker to match the PCM to the PATS module so your keys will work. Again, I am concerned about the status of your security light.

You cannot even bypass the PATS without the system functioning properly in the first place and the collateral damage of the bypass is the security light will flash rapidly whenever the engine is running.

The bypass I developed was because Ford said :Impossible" to defeat and I made the Ford engineers look real stupid, which they were as well as arrogant. The bypass was meant to prove a point and to demonstrate the system could in fact be hotwired, in spite of their claims.
I shared my process with my peers. They used my bypass and made videos of the cars they defeated using my bypass.

You did not state the reason for replacement in the first place.

You need to make sure the PCM you have is specifically made for your vehicle and there is not a problem with it. Something just does not sound right.

What if you get the vehicle to the dealer and find out the PCM is no good.

I do not know your location, but I have run into many cars in the junk yard recently in the south that are floods. Car looks good and yet electronics are junk either from direct water impingement, or humidity (moisture).
Since you did not give me history on PCM and where you obtained a "new" one, there is not much more I can tell you for now.

If my answer assisted you in any way, please rate my answer. I do not get compensated for my answers and just try to assist everyone as best as I can. Thank you






http://www.autotheftexpert.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes the PCM is New From Auto Zone the check engine light has been on for about 1 year with repeated attempts to extinguish by replacing the parts that were read out on the down load which was the number one coil pack with no fix still same code even swapped coil pack 6 with coil pack one and still same code indicating that coil pack one was not firing. As for the light it constantly flashes when i put the key in the ignition and will give me no function at all to the start the car but can still use accessories. I am taking that car to Mazda tomorrow to get it keyed it just hate that i have to pay twice for the same part that i am changing myself.

Answer
Hi,


Dear Expert,

One questioner just made a rating to your answer on the AllExperts.com site:

Knowledgeability - 6
Clarity of response - 1
Politeness - 10
Nomination - No
Prestige Point - 0
Comment - you never answered my question at all and I told you that the Light
was working like it is supposed to but thank you for your time



"I have to change the PCM on my 2003 Mazda tribute I have put it in my car and now it will not start flashing the security light"

Now in your feed back you state to me the security light was working properly. Where does it say that in your quoted sentence?

My answers are only as good as the complaint on the symptoms. I am not a mind reader, nor am I at the vehicle. I do my best with the information provided, but I have no idea as to what you meant to write.


In your statement, it gives me the impression that the PCM you replaced your old one with had an issue and in your last response you said you purchased it from Auto Zone. My answer to your question was possibly you had a defective pcm.

I work real hard trying to give the most effective answers for their problems. The only type of compensation for my time is my own personal ratings to my questions. I do not get paid and the going rate for my knowledge is $300 per hour. I volunteer my time and my knowledge to the public in an effort to assist the public when trying to repair their vehicles on their own.

My purpose is to prevent people from changing out perfectly good parts on a guess like you have been doing. I do this because this is very costly and many just don't have the money to send their cars out for repair.

this is why I highly recommend if someone is going to be working on their own car, they should not do so without a factory service manual. There are some with the macho attitude that feel they don't need a manual and I am not inferring you are one of them, but this is what your dealer techs use when they have a problem they can't solve quickly because they can't continually keep replacing parts on a guess.

I don't appreciate a 6 for knowledgeability because you can't pose the question right and I sure don't appreciate a 1 for clarity for the same reason.

I suggest that whenever you are posing a statement that you be very clear as to what you mean to whoever you have decided to repair your vehicle or you might run into the same issue.

Yes, you will now need the vehicle taken to the dealer to have the keys reprogrammed and that is not going to fix your initial problem, but at least the vehicle may start again.

Good luck to you.

http://www.autotheftexpert.com  

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Rob Painter, ASE, CFL, CFEI

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My background in auto theft is extensive. I have been directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft recovered vehicles. I also do insurance investigation as to how a vehicle was last operated. My clients are insurance companies and attorneys. Was featured in the A & E auto theft documentary "Stealing Wheels" July 26, 2000. Has consulted with Daimler Chrysler steering column engineers to make their steering columns harder to defeat. Holds patent # 6,039,140 for 8 different variations to protect air bags from theft.

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ROB PAINTER, ASE, CFL, CFEI Forensic Vehicle Component Analyst Diplomate, Board Certified Forensic Examiner ASE Certified Auto, Collision, Med/Hvy/Duty Truck Technician Certified Forensic Locksmith Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator Certified Forensic Auto Theft Examiner Certified Auto Theft and Fraud Expert http://www.autotheftexpert.com Email-rpainter@wi.rr.com P.O. Box 190 Big Bend, WI 53103 Phone (414) 698-9696 Fax (262) 662-1352 As per federal court rules of evidence (702) (Daubert) my testimony has qualified me as: Auto Theft and Fraud Expert Forensic Vehicle Analyst Fire Origin and Cause Expert In the trial transcript of Holiday vs Progressive Insurance Company (March 12, 2002?Eugene, Oregon) with Holiday being my client-named ?the expert for experts.? BUSINESS EXPERIENCE Founder of the ?Forensic Institute of Auto Theft Analysis? (January 2002). This is the training school that will set the standards in determining the last operation of a reported stolen vehicle-burned or unburned. Much of my testing and procedures have been accepted as the guide for the forensic community. 1986 opened Auto Recovery Specialists Inc., providing exclusive repair of theft recovered and vandalized vehicles. The initial concept of the business was to return vehicles to their original shape before the theft, vandalism or fire. In 1987 bought the rights to the theft deterrent known as the ?Chicago Collar?. Duties include complete component replacement: dash, stereo system, interior, locks and coding, rebuilding steering columns, repairing and installing vehicle security system components (factory and after market), engine components, body repair, glass replacement, repair and service of air conditioning components, brake and suspension repair, and replacement, wiring harnesses etc. to return vehicle to pre-theft condition Complete reconstruction. During the past 17 years directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft-recovered and fire damaged Personally examined and rebuilt thousands of steering columns on both import and domestic vehicles Internationally acknowledged as expert in auto theft including court, consulting with insurance companies, attorneys and law enforcement. Consultant on steering columns, locks, stereo systems and vehicle security for Special Investigation Units for many large insurance carriers during the past eight years. Consulting services include but not limited to: How a vehicle was last operated (with or without keys in burned or unburned vehicles), Origin and Cause of vehicle fires, and vehicle defects. Provides services as a consultant and researcher to attorneys and insurance companies, and private industry throughout the US in cases related to vehicles. Has worked with crime prevention officers throughout the US establishing training programs designed to protect the public from becoming victims of auto theft. PATENT: 3/21/00 issued patent# 6,039,140 for 8 different variations of airbag anti-theft devices. PUBLICATIONS Currently authors articles and test reports on an ongoing basis for SIUs and the forensic/vehicle fire industry. Published author: (1,297 slide training course) Auto Theft/ Fraud Training Course) ?The Modern Forensic Approach to Auto Theft Investigation.? (January, 2001) Author: ?Variables to Be Considered In Vehicle Fire Investigation after Suppression.? (Insurance publication-November 2001) Author: ?Ford Magnesium Steering Columns and the Results to Ignition Components after a Fire?. Article for peer review from the fire and forensic community. (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM VATS.? (Article) (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM PASSLOCK TM? (Article) (November 2001) Author:? Auto Theft Investigation: Hollywood vs. Reality? (Article) (February 2001) For the John Cooke Fraud Report. Published author: (Manual) ?Forensic Vehicle Fire/ Arson and Auto Theft Investigation? (October 2000) Published author: (Article) ?Petty Claims? for the John Cooke Fraud Report (October, 1998) Published author (Manual) ?AUTO THEFT: LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN!? (1998) (Previously distributed by Barnes & Nobel) Co-authored the investigation manual, ?Surreptitious Entry & Auto Theft & Burn & the Investigator.? (1999) Authored test questions on the subject of steering columns and vehicle security for CFL designation to be given by the International Association of Investigative Locksmiths. January, 2000 Published author: (Manual) ?Saginaw Steering Columns-What Has Not Been Told? Training manual for fire investigators. (March 2000) Published (Article) ?Beyond The Lock? (May 2000) Published Author: (Article) Fraud Defense Network-August, 2000 Edition-?Melting Steering Column Tests.? http://www.fraudreport.com/index.cfm?month=08&year=2000 Published author: (Test Report) ?Burned Toyota Steering Column Testing to Determine How Last Operated?. Tool marks and procedures. (December 1999) Currently at the FBI Crime Lab in Washington DC and the US Army Crime Lab in Atlanta, GA for peer review. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Defeated the ?unstealable? Ford Securilock transponder system for a court case 10/10/00. They said it could not be done! Primary designer of a state of the art ?bait? car for a police department to catch car thieves. Worked with The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration and discovered a potential fire hazard on a vehicle and determined origin and cause of under hood fires on this type of vehicle. Featured as ?Auto Theft Expert? in the A & E auto theft documentary ?Stealing Wheels? that aired July 26, 2000. Contacted by Sears and Edelman Marketing to be a national spokesman for an anti theft device for vehicles. (November 1999) Invited to provide evaluation and consulting to steering column engineers at Daimler Chrysler Corporation in Auburn Hills, MI (10/19/99-10/22/99). The purpose of this project was to demonstrate how steering column locking mechanisms could be defeated without the use of a key and how to reinforce the columns against theft. Court Qualified as an Auto Theft Expert and my videos of defeating columns were also accepted by a Cleveland, Ohio Court in October 1999 as a valid piece of evidence. Contacted by Disney Touchstone Pictures for technical assistance in making the movie ?Gone in 60 Seconds? (March 1999) CONSULTANT FOR FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS ? Former contributor for The Insurance News Network (Auto theft and prevention) includes heading a forum for the public on how to protect their vehicles for 3+ years. ? Former editor and consultant for the public on matters involving auto theft and prevention 2000-2001 on the web at http://www.autotheft_forum.com. ? The Insurance Career Center (Auto theft and fraud). ? National Association of Investigative Specialists (Auto theft and fraud) ? Expert Find (Auto theft and fraud} TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE ? ASE (National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence) Certified in Auto: brakes, steering and suspension, engine repair, manual drive train and axles, air conditioning. Med/Heavy duty truck: gasoline engine repair, electrical/electronic components. Collision: elec.....

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