[Mustangalang]

So this is giving me hell, and for the life of me cannot find a proper fix online. SO one day im getting gas far from home for my automatic 2005 V6 Mustang with 175k miles on her. I go to start it up and nothing. I look at my dash and see the security padlock light blinking when my key is in the on setting. So fast forward a week and I got my car towed back home and I have been attempting everything since. I did every single key song and dance there is.. stick the key in unlock the doors jump 3 times and spin around i did all that. I took my battery out multiple times for multiple hours at a time, even made my leads touch. I replaced the PATS transceiver ring with a fresh brand new original part from the dealership and still nothing. I checked all of my fuses both under the hood and in the passenger side kick panel all my fuses are fine. I got a brand new alternator from PA performance and my battery is fully charged (being I have a car battery charger). I sanded down my main ground under my hood and nothing. I tested the starter and that was fine. I had the locksmith come to duplicate my key because its the only one I have (the original with the S on it) he said that the key was fine after putting it in his machine that caught the chip on its sensor immediately. He said the problem wasnt the key and i ended up not duplicating it so i still only have one. I have done a few things to get my car to start, the first time i switched my starter relay with my horn relay to test if my relay was bad the car started right up and stayed on until i turned it off. Another time i got it to start was by removing the starter switch on the other side of the ignition cylinder and put it back in, and then it started right up. A note I would leave is that my car is completely normal besides for the fact that it cannot start. I get power to my radio and windows when my key turns into the on position and everything. My lights arent dim either. another note would be that every time i twist the key to the on position i hear a few distinct clicks come from my passenger side airbag area and the few times i did get my car to start there were no clicks. Sorry for the long-windedness of this post, I hope you guys come up with something. Cheers!

tldr: Anti theft light is blinking and i cant start my car

 

[5.0 Coyote]

Just a thought and maybe you already checked it ---ignition switch and connections,just throwing this out there.Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Mustangalang]

Just a thought and maybe you already checked it ---ignition switch and connections,just throwing this out there.Good luck and keep us posted.

I tried to replicate the start I got by taking out my ignition switch, unplugging it, cleaning it off and plugging it back in but to no avail. Id also like to note that I probed the connections to the pats and everything is running optimal voltages and ohms.

 

[Jeremy Weigel]

Have you checked for corroded connectors on the smart junction box? When you checked the fuses did see any evidence of water leakage? Water trace residue on the SJB?

 

[Mustangalang]

Have you checked for corroded connectors on the smart junction box? When you checked the fuses did see any evidence of water leakage? Water trace residue on the SJB?

I have almost a pool of water constantly on my passenger side, but I checked the fuses in the sjb itself and nothing was blown or even seemed out of place, that and the box itself doesnt look bad. I dont have any other electrical issues besides the PATS situation.

I was due for my car's first tune being she is 175k miles and she has new CAI and duel exhausts as well as massive rear wheels. So I was thinking instead of doing something like replacing my SJB or getting a new PCM I would just have my PATS deleted off of her with a BAMA handheld tuner. I talked to some people at american muscle tuning and they said it can be done if requested. Is that possibly my best course of action? It would be awkward as hell if I tune my car with a PATS delete and then still have anti theft issues haha thats my biggest nightmare.

 

[Jeremy Weigel]

If you have a constant pool of water in passenger foot well then you almost assuredly have had water penetration in the SJB and harnesses. The SJB will "look" fine from the outside. You have to unplug the connectors to check for corrosion. There are 3 or 4 harnesses as I recall that connect to it. Some on the front and back. Mine had severe water corrosion on the back harnesses. Water leaking down through the cowl grommets will drip back behind the dash and run down behind the kick panel. Water leaks are a known issue for the S197's. There's a TSB Ford released a few years ago addressing areas to check and parts to replace.

http://www.stangpit.com/wp-content/images/docs/s197-tsb/08-26-07.pdf

Here's a recent thread on the subject.

Electrical problems on 2005 mustang GT

Hello, my name is Jeffrey and I recently bought a 2005 mustang GT manual. Everything looks great except that it has electrical problems. I have seen other people talk about water damage which is what I think is happening. The car was outside when it rained and the passenger side had water on it...

www.allfordmustangs.com

 

[Mustangalang]

If you have a constant pool of water in passenger foot well then you almost assuredly have had water penetration in the SJB and harnesses. The SJB will "look" fine from the outside. You have to unplug the connectors to check for corrosion. There are 3 or 4 harnesses as I recall that connect to it. Some on the front and back. Mine had severe water corrosion on the back harnesses. Water leaking down through the cowl grommets will drip back behind the dash and run down behind the kick panel. Water leaks are a known issue for the S197's. There's a TSB Ford released a few years ago addressing areas to check and parts to replace.

http://www.stangpit.com/wp-content/images/docs/s197-tsb/08-26-07.pdf

Here's a recent thread on the subject.

Electrical problems on 2005 mustang GT

Hello, my name is Jeffrey and I recently bought a 2005 mustang GT manual. Everything looks great except that it has electrical problems. I have seen other people talk about water damage which is what I think is happening. The car was outside when it rained and the passenger side had water on it...

www.allfordmustangs.com

I really appreciate the input I’m going to check it first thing tomorrow. Iv opened my cowl drain and there isn’t any clogs but there also aren’t any rubber gaskets like Iv seen on other “leak tutorial” videos. I don’t know if that means the water is coming from the door side or not. Again I appreciate any and all advice, it will go a long way for me.

 

[Jeremy Weigel]

I really appreciate the input I’m going to check it first thing tomorrow. Iv opened my cowl drain and there isn’t any clogs but there also aren’t any rubber gaskets like Iv seen on other “leak tutorial” videos. I don’t know if that means the water is coming from the door side or not. Again I appreciate any and all advice, it will go a long way for me.

The cowl drain grommets missing isn't a big deal. They are there to deter mice and rodents from getting in to the cowl channel and nesting or chewing through the cabin filter and getting in to the cab.

Definitely remove the cowls (the driver side you have to remove the wiper arm). Carefully pop out all 10 grommets, inspect for cracks; if not cracked put a bead of rubberized silicone under each one and pop them back in to re-seal them. The '05-mid '07s had foam gaskets that dry rotted/compressed over time allowing water in to the cowl channel.

 

[RobinF5.0]

I've had the same issue on my 12 GT 5.0... quick summary:
4 months after I bought I had the problem that when I turned the igintion-key that just NOTHING happend but Lamps etc.. stayed on..
I've done following stuff:

1 1/2 year ago I cleaned the battery-ports --> Then I had a 1 1/2 year no problems with starting

1 Month ago (End of August 2022) I had again an issue (after driving first time in fog again)
--> Problem was that the battery was faulty
So 1 montah ago I replaced the battery and since then nothing but now, out of nothing, I had problems again, I couldn't manage to start the car on my own (my Dad had to jump my car) in order to get it running again
(I couldn't even switch the ignition on with out the car completely freaking out (all light went out, except the Airbag one very dark a liitle bit)... the pointer in the dashboard were completey freaking out wiggling up and down.
everything (Radio etc) was resetted -> So I assume there was a interruption of voltage

and then I drove to the dealer and since then it's working and I don't know what the problem is.. (seems like the battery was charging up until then)

(I have new battery, new gear lever (automatic), battery is ok (battery test perfomred on the new battery)...

Now the car was 6 days at my dealer without problems..
he now changed the "FUSE of the ECU" at the passenger side.. since then as well no problems..
I'll pick the car up on Friday and hope it works now...

maybe that helps.. replacing the ECU-Fuse..