I have a 1997 F150 XL Supercab 4.6 4x4 Yesterday we replaced the steering column and I am now having starting issues. We transferred over the key reader and the ignition switch. I put the key in and the electronics come on. If i turn it nothing happens but it doesn't cut out and click like when the pats goes off. I can put the key in the on position and start it at the solenoid but then it starts beeping almost like and alarm, the beeping stops after a minuet or so.

 

97 and 98 F150 doesn't have PATS, (but a 99 up column does, and could be your problem) so I'm wondering if you left a wire unhooked on the install. Did the column come from a 97 or 98? If not, that is probably the problem.

 

Some can have them and this one does does. I have set it off before in this truck working on it. As for the steering column we did have to change the mount for the shifter link because it was off a 2000 but beyond that it was strait forward. We even changed all the wireing off the old to the new one.

 

Umm...PATS is a F-150 digital cluster idea. There is no 97-98 cluster/truck with the analog odometer that uses PATS. You may have a factory alarm of some sort that you set off, but it’s not PATS.

Oddly enough, I’m seeing that 97-98 Expeditions and Navigators had “PATS 1” while the F-150 got “PATS 2” starting in 1999.

That alarm might not be agreeing with what is installed or if you did wire in PATS, it’s definitely not getting a signal from the cluster that it likes.

 

Then it didn't didn't come out of a 97/98 F150. Did it come out of an Expedition?

 

this problem is concerning to me. I need to replace the swich block(key) on my 2000 , What problems can I expect from pats? souggestions on solutions.

 

Let's help settle this PATS question Virginia, Which one of these keys does your truck use.

 

the top one

 

Don't think that was for you, bud. The discrepancy is the steering column of the OP.

 

guess I'll look for help elsewhere