- Reaction score
- 63
- Thunderbird Year
- 2004
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No sir.
It's normal for the alarm to sound when the battery runs low on these cars. Low voltage messes with the computers. Charge the battery and if the alarm sounds, push the buttons on the remote. This tells the computer that your the guy with the key. Sometimes the bracket for the trunk light switch gets bent, keeping the light on, and the computer thinks the trunk is open. Something to check. Did you try your second key?? The chips in keys rarely fail and the computers rarely forget a programmed key, but anything is possible. Also fresh remote batteries. I'm all for 'Free Beer' but unless a previous owner installed the 'secret kill switch' then the there isn't anything the factory put on....unless like Frankie said, the fuel pump cut off, it's under the dash, check the manual.
Gads - there are NO carbs on our retro Thunderbirds -
I think carbs were discontinued on mainstream cars in the mid-80s...
As with most of these rash of recent problems; its imperative that you try to get an OBDC diagnostic code scan...
I am unaware of any secret "switch" under the dash that would address this problem....there is an "inertia" switch behind the driver's left kick panel as protection after a rollover crash...which cuts off the fuel pump.
You might try disconnecting the battery for minutes (not just seconds) - like maybe 20 minutes and then reconnecting it...
The PATS (Passive Anti-Theft System) has tentacles into many places in the car.
My dealer will run a diagnostic for about $129 that will point me to the problem area for many issues -- and I take it from there to make the repair... Sometimes that's the "best of the worst" choices to narrow down the problem.
One time a girl at work couldn't get her car started. It would turn over with no problem but not run. The consensus among the guys was the fuel pump was bad but nobody wanted to change it out for her. She had it towed to the local mechanic. He asked her if she had another key. She did have a second key and the car started with the second key. Apparently the RFID chip had fallen out of the first key and it would allow the car to turn over but not run. He didn't charge her... I don't know if the T-bird has an RFID chip in the key. I think that it probably does because I had a 2000 Mercury Cougar and it had that key technology.
That might also explain the alarm problem.
"Carbs", sigh, clueless Boomer...fuel injection.I am going to try what other members have suggested and then, yes, off to the dealer. Thank you!!!