Fiesta - PATS (potential) problem ?
Discussion
My daughter's 1995 1.1L Mk3 Fiesta's PATS red warning led (in the clock housing) remains (intermitterly) on (but dimly)when the engine is running. The car starts fine. During starting, the led flashes brightly for 3 seconds (as it says in the book), then goes out but soon after starts to dimly glow. Is this a sign of problems to come ... I don't want her to find the car won't start one dark evening !
Tks.
Tks.
What's the PATS warning light?
I've two (possibly) relevant comments before I get further info:-
Old Orion, one of the red lights came on dimly and 'got brighter' when I revved up. Turned out to be an alternator on the way out.
Current Focus - the handbrake light has (a couple of times) come on dimly and stayed on until switching off and leaving overnight. Both times was after driving through deep puddles during heavy rain.
I've two (possibly) relevant comments before I get further info:-
Old Orion, one of the red lights came on dimly and 'got brighter' when I revved up. Turned out to be an alternator on the way out.
Current Focus - the handbrake light has (a couple of times) come on dimly and stayed on until switching off and leaving overnight. Both times was after driving through deep puddles during heavy rain.
PATS= Passive anti theft system.
I'm thinking that what you are seeing is the PATS L.E.D. picking up light from something else in the dash, possibly even daylight. My low fuel L.E.D. in my Series II does this.
If there was something wrong with the PATS system it would be blinking a diagnostic code all the time and/ or the car would not start.
Here is some more info on P.A.T.S. from a Ford Scorpio website:
www.fordscorpio.co.uk/pats.htm
I'm thinking that what you are seeing is the PATS L.E.D. picking up light from something else in the dash, possibly even daylight. My low fuel L.E.D. in my Series II does this.
If there was something wrong with the PATS system it would be blinking a diagnostic code all the time and/ or the car would not start.
Here is some more info on P.A.T.S. from a Ford Scorpio website:
www.fordscorpio.co.uk/pats.htm
The system should have a slow flash rate with the ignition off, when the ignition goes through position II the led will illuminate for 3 to 5 seconds to confirm that the system has passed a self check and then go out.
If the system fails a self check the light will flash at a rapid rate (approx 4Hz) for 1 minute
After that time, if the ignition has been left alone, the system will flash out a 2 digit code.
the code takes the form of "tens and units" and there are noticable differences in both the speed of the flashes and the seperating gaps.
If the system fails a self check the light will flash at a rapid rate (approx 4Hz) for 1 minute
After that time, if the ignition has been left alone, the system will flash out a 2 digit code.
the code takes the form of "tens and units" and there are noticable differences in both the speed of the flashes and the seperating gaps.
tks ... having removed the clock and checked the connector and clock lcd back-light, the 'intermittent' problem seems to have gone (perhaps it was the damp weather we've been having) .. however, you mention that the system should flash slowly with the ignition off ... but it doesn't flash at all (and I can't remember if it ever did).
Is there a way to reset the PATS, or does the self-check do that each time ?
As the self-check seems okay and the car starts, I'll hope it's just a 'quirk' of older cars ...
Is there a way to reset the PATS, or does the self-check do that each time ?
As the self-check seems okay and the car starts, I'll hope it's just a 'quirk' of older cars ...
Gassing Station | Ford | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff