What should I do?

[FastCougar]

OK, what would you do?

I have a 99 Cougar running the stock ECU that I will be dropping in the SVT cammed 3L from the rolled Contour. I have an PRP & XCal2, but it's for the ECU code from the Contour (RJL1 IIRC). So, I could do one of two things as I see it.

1) Buy the ECU code from SuperChips for the XCal2 for the Cougar's ECU and then dial it in for the SVT setting and fine tune it from there.

2) Swap in the Contour's ECU and have the Cougar towed to the dealership for a PAT reflashing. I might have to do this anyways since I only have one key for the Cougar.

However, could I swap in the ignition switch from the Contour as well and bypass the whole PATS issue altogether? PATS is a combination of the ignition cylinder and the ECU right?

[Bigoudi]

So long as the coding on the PATS module matches that of the ECU, then you should be fine. Pulling all that gear from the SVT theoretically should work.

Choice between #1 and #2? Neither one is a cost cutting alternative to the other. #1 would be my pick, only for convenience ;)

Greg

[wadespencer99]

I don't think you would need to swap the actual ignition switch, just the PATS ring that goes around it.

Might keep it more simple with keys and stuff....

[FastCougar]

So, what components make up the PATS system.

I know that at the very least, the ECU has the PATS coding. Where is the receiver ... in the ignition cylinder/switch?

[wadespencer99]

There is a little plastic ring around the ignition switch that is the receiver.

[RodneyBur]

DIDN'T ANYONE READ MY THREAD ABOUT ECU AND PATS SYSTEM????

http://www.newcougar.org/forums/showthread.php?t=96851

The pats system is different in that year contour and the cougar. I noticed these differences:

Early contour PATS info is stored externally from ECU. Cougar is internally. You can switch contour ECUs without reprogramming pats.

To switch you would probably need:
New wiring harness for cabin
Old style pats transceiver
Old style Central Security System
Possibly older style alarm
Probably other things I missed
Key Fobs are different and not interchangeable
Keys I beleive are still the same
Ignition switch doesn't matter

With that said the swap wouln't be worth all the trouble in my opinion.

You may look into bypassing the cougars pats system and then you maybe able to use the older style ECU. It shouldn't be too difficult if you really want to go that route.

[Bigoudi]

What are the build dates of both cars?

Greg

[FastCougar]

So, what if I take the car to the dealer and have them FLASH the ECU with the same ECU code as my SVT ... that way I don't have to order the new ECU code for my XCal2. I figure for an ECU Flash & cutting/programming 2 keys shouldn't cost me more than $200. I agree, the PATS issue will be a problem and I rather avoid swapping things PATS related just to retain the SVT ECU.

[FastCougar]

What are the build dates of both cars?

Greg1998 SVT Contour ... build date of x/x/97. The Cougar is a 1999 with a late x/x/98 build date.

[Jorgen]

MThis mght be completely impossible and not work out the way I think it should so here goes: Since the pats code recieved by the car is just from the chip in the Key and recieved by the sensor near the lock cylinder and sent to the ECU (and you can have more than one chipped key on your key ring wihtout causing problems) and the chip has no contact with the key cylinder and just emits a signal (Correct?). Then could you just basicly take the contours key, take the column apart and put the contours key mounted in there somehow but still use the cougars key eliminating the Pats basicly?


I might be off on somethign here and probably am but always thought of this method to sure the PATS Problem. or is the signal has to be recieved from the keys metal portion then you should be able to crack the lock cylinder area and attach the contours key to the propert wires to get the pats signal for the ECU and not have it take that signal off of the Cougars key in the cylinder.

[RodneyBur]

No. That won't work at all.

The chip is inside the black plastic case of the key. If you look at your key you'll see a small square at the end of it. That is where the chip is located. You can take a knife or really small screwdriver and pry open the balck square and pull the chip out. The chip is a small glass cylinder and is completely self conatained. No batteries, no electrical contacts with the ignition. Maybe some kind of small nuclear device or something. It emits a small radio signal that only reaches about 6 inches, maybe less. The transceiver picks up the signal and sends it to the cougars ECU. The cougars ECU has the key codes stored in it and checks to make sure its valid. It will then start the car.

The older pats system takes the signal from the pats transceiver and sends it to another location (under the dash where our central security module is located) which maybe the security module or a seperate pats box. Then that sends a signal to allow the car to start. If you look under the passenger side dash of an older contour you will see two big boxes of electrical components. That is where the pats and security system information is. The cougar doesn't have those but does have a smaller black box as the CSM (alarm and keyless entry).

Now if you were using a compatible SVT ECU (such as the SFG2) and had the keys to that car the ecu was taken from then you could take the chip out of those keys and put it in your key or strap it near the transceiver as described and your car would start without having the pats info set to your keys. This works because the PATS info is stored inside the ECU on the new pats systems.

The RJL1 ECU will not work in a cougar unless you transfer all the older PATS system over or bypass the cougars pats system by tricking the cars system into thinking that it is working correctly. Kinda like using the MIL elimators. You would have to find the PATS wires going into the ECU harness and coming out of the ECU harness and figure out the needed voltage to make it work. You could also possibly remove the cougar's pats systems altogether and hard wire the ignition, starter, ECU but may lose the security system.

Either way I think going down those routes is a bad idea with his situation since he can spend a little extra money and then have the right codes to change his ECU correctly. He could spend 40-100 hours easily trying to get the pats components switched over and everything working correctly. Trying to bypass the cougars pats system, ummm. probably alot more time involved. I spent about 30 hours tracking down all the pats components, removing them, testing them, switching with different components, checking wires, testing voltage when I ran into the problem with my ECU. The ford CD has a nice schematic of the pats wiring if you want to give it a shot.

[EternalOne]

Typically people with PATS just tape their keys inside of their column when they are adding push button starters, done it on many different cars in the past and that was the plan for my Cougar as well.

Of course if that doesn't work there is always the option to rewire/reprogram around the PATS. ;)

E1

[FastCougar]

I'm just going to the spend the $200 and get the ECU code for the PRP software and be done with it :)

Thanks for the suggestions guys!

[fordrule]

are u going through brenspeed for the prp software?

[FastCougar]

I originally got it through Brenspeed. The "updated database" for the new ECU code will be purchased through SCT directly if Brent can't get it for me.

[warmonger]

I'd suggest just tuning the cougar pcm. Punch in the correct timing tables for the SVT and fine tune from there. Way too many things to go wrong the other way and what you are really after is a fine tuned engine not replacing hardware.
Your labor to do all that pays for the code.
If you don't want to buy the code give me a few days. I'll be getting the RJL1 code this week and then you can pay me less to make changes for you. :)