I have a 2004 Ranger 4X4 & really love the vehicle. Never gave me a problem until a few months ago when I attempt
to start the engine, sometimes the padlock icon on the cluster flashes like the incorrect key was inserted even though it
always has worked. I have three keys that I programmed the ECM to accept them & when the system refuses one key,
it refuses all. I work the switch back & forth a few times & eventually the system accepts the key & cranks the engine &
off I go. Last week when I got off work, it failed again & totally refused to work. I always keep an "emergency" key
behind the glove box compartment velcroed to the blower motor housing. That key also didn't work. I finally gave up
& had the vehicle towed to the nearest Ford dealership & since it was a Friday & after 5 pm, the service dept was closed
(my kind of luck of course). Had to wait until Monday until a ford "technician" cound check it out. He found a loose connection
to the PATS ring (really a coil of some sort), & it worked with both keys. During the weekend wait, someone helped himself to
my gasoline tank & siphoned all my gas out leaving me with less than a gallon. Anyway, I drove it to work today & once again
when I got off, it refused the key once again. The spare key also didn't work either & the usual back & forth motion of the ignition
switch eventually got me going once again. What's up with this ? Can the PATS system be completely disabled since I live in
farmland
where stolen vehicles are unherd of (people often leave the keys in the ignition all the time & rarely lock thier home entry doors).
The
truck has 2 1/2 years left on the warrenty but I don't want to get stranded again since in the winter months it often drops way
below
zero & a PATS failure is the last thing I need to get stuck with.

Any ideas on what I can do to bypass the system or dissemble the ignition switch to see for myself without voiding the warrenty
since
this is baffling to most who work at the service dept.