Normal Operation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Mercury Montego, 2006 Ford Freestyle, and 2006 Ford Five Hundred. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The passive anti-theft system (PATS) uses an anti-theft indicator. This anti-theft indicator proves out for 3 seconds when the ignition switch is in the ON or START position. If there is a PATS concern, this anti-theft indicator either flashes rapidly or glows steadily (for more than 3 seconds) when the ignition switch is in the ON or START position. The PATS also flashes the anti-theft indicator every 2 seconds at key OFF to act as a visual theft deterrent. The anti-theft indicator receives a signal from the powertrain control module (PCM) through circuit 1768 (OG/RD).