Security LED Flashes code 1-6??

C

continental_guy

Registered
When I start my 2000 Continental, every once in a while the LED that normally flashes as a part of the security system flashes repeatedly after the car has started. It eventually slows and starts flashing 1-6 (one flash followed by a pause followed by six flashes). It will repeat the 1-6 flash sequence approximately 4 times at which point it stops flashing altogether. It does not happen every time and I have not been able to find out what would cause this. I mentioned it when I brought it in for service, but they did nothing. Probably unrelated but I've also been having trouble with the computer forgetting preference settings like "Reverse Mirrors". Apart from this "forgetfulness" I've not noticed any other problems. Thanks in advance for any insight anyone can provide.
 
Arrrrgh!! This Continental "forgetfulness" is something I've been battling with for years! They all do it.

Even my '95 will just up and have a brainfart every 4-6 months and forget some or all of the personality settings. I curse a bit, reset whatever went out, and do it again in another half year.

I've tried to solve this myself, contacted Ford's Engineering Hotline, brought it up at Tech Round Table meetings in Dearborn... everyone's aware of it, but there's never been a good answer.

BUT...

If your Continental's battery and/or charging systems are less than perfect, the car becomes much more prone to "forgetting", particularily if battery voltage drops below 10v during engine crank.

Next, the PATS light flashing after startup.
This usually is an indication of a software error in the PCM, letting it misinterpret the PATS data being sent from the instrument cluster. There was a number of different software patches developed by Ford for your car since it came out in 2000. Next time you're at the dealer, ask to have your PCM updated to the latest level. The updates are downloaded into your PCM just like the updates on your home computer.

OR...

If your battery voltage drops very low during crank, and then the alternator kicks up immediately after, the resulting voltage spike can create enough electrical noise to corrupt the data transfers between the cluster and the PCM. Result: flashing PATS even after a successful start.

What do you think you should get checked out?
 
Perhaps time for a new battery???

Perhaps time for a new battery???

Thanks for for the great info. Doohh... Thinking about it, my battery is around 6 years old. Dealer "tested" it when I got some front-end work done (and a serpentine belt replacement) and said it was fine, but I've been wondering whether it was the culprit. The car cranks OK but does seem to "black-out" completely when I start it. Sometimes it also seems to reset showing "Miles To Empty" for no reason. I'll run out tomorrow and get a new battery and let you know.

Thanks again!

P.S. After reading some of the other forums on replacing the belt and the tensioner (which they claimed had a bad bearing) I'm glad I let them handle it! Other than these routine things I love the car. The engine is awesome and doesn't touch a drop of oil between changes. Nothing it more fun that leaving some BMW in your rear view getting on the highway.
 
Much better

Much better

New battery fixed my problems. She even got her memory back; all my settings were saved overnight. I'll be back if I see the PATS light again, but I'm sure the old, tired battery was the problem. Thanks again!
 
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