I have a 04 ford ranger 4L v6 manual with 235000 miles. I blew the head gasket and decided to replace it with a used engine from a junkyard with only 61k miles on it. After I swapped the engines I started the truck and let it warm up to make sure everything ran fine. It did so I took it for a drive bout ten miles then came back and let it set for about 3 or 4 hours. I went to start it again but when I turned the key nothing happened no radio or lights on the dash except for the antitheft light that was solid and not blinking like usual. after reading that turning the key to the on position and then removing the pcm fuse (square pink one) would make it start, I tried that and worked. I drove it about 20 miles then shut it off and it started right back up but did the same thing again when I tried to start it the next time. This time I just let it sit and when I tried bout 30 min later it just started right up. That was for days ago and I have not had the problem since but now I have trouble keeping the truck running I will start it and start to move and it will just shut off. It does this to me everytime I start it up. It did it to me three times in a row before I could even drive bout a 30 yard or less stretch. I have had problems with the auto fuel shutoff switch so the wires for that are pulled out and just crossed. Not sure what the problem is, if it could be the pcm because there is dirt in it or what else it could be. I took all of the wiring off the old engine and put it on the new one. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Not sure if this is a PATS thing.

 

The only for it to be a pats issue is if the computer was changed or if the wiring was damaged during the swap.

 

Today when I was heading to work it quit on me when I was doing about 60 but since I had the clutch out it just started right up. I really wanna figure out this problem cus I dont want the truck to keep doing this and hurt the new clutch. Also about an hour ago I got in and tried to start it but the anti theft light was solid again and it wouldnt do anything. I left it sit without touching it for about fifteen minutes and when i tried to start it this time it started right up. The only thing that I have done to it is last night I used MAF cleaner to clean the pcm and the other main connector on the engine. How would I tell if it was the PATS screwing up? Thanks for the quick replies

 

When the theft light is on the truck thinks it has the wrong key in the ignition.

 

So it has done it to me a few more times with the anti theft light staying on and nothin else working. So I turned the key on and went out to pull the PCM fuse but before I could pull the fuse I just happened to bump it and it turned everything back on. Is the problem a bad fuse. Can they go bad without being blown or is the problem inside the fuse box?

 

Also ever since I figured out that just wiggling the fuse works that is what I have been doing and I have tried to push the fuse in to see if maybe it was just loose but it doesn't go in any farther. Thanks for all the help