Well this was interesting..

[turbochargeddad]

So I had this issue where my 2004 Ford Explorer XLT began hard starting. Had to crank, stop, crank again, stop, crank again and it would usually start. The stops came because the starter would stop turning over. Well one day it really didn't want to start and I thought I was hosed. My brother hooked up a jump pack and it barely started. I went home and a little while later it wouldn't start at all. It would not even crank, no clicks, no nothing except a solid red security light.
I replaced the battery, alternator (they were actually bad) and even the starter despite knowing it wouldn't fix it but it did have 187k+ miles on it and was starting to fail so I figured what the hell. As I suspected nothing worked and we had checked every fuse, relay and wire in the truck.
So I started reading about different issues and was about to spend a whole lot of money on a VCM 2 solution or taking it to the dealer when I landed here.

So I bought the adapter (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073Z ... UTF8&psc=1 ) and got an extended license. (which i would have been willing to pay for) I couldn't use the driver disc that came with it so I download drivers here.

(http://totalcardiagnostics.com.s3.amazo ... Driver.zip)
(http://totalcardiagnostics.com.s3.amazo ... d_FTDI.zip)
(http://totalcardiagnostics.com.s3.amazo ... v1.8.0.zip)
(http://totalcardiagnostics.com.s3.amazo ... indows.zip)

I plug all this up and the PCM tells me it has 1 key programmed. So I am all like screw it.. Learn key.. I go through that and it says that it leaned the key but the count didn't increase the key count. So I am like... Forward.. (Engine starts)

So I am all like this is so sweet! It's fixed! So I shut it off and start working on putting the rest of my truck back together. I got to start it again and nothing.. Same place I was before... Then it hits me.. I think the original post I read stated that the "a" key not "all" the keys got dropped.

So I go to erase and reprogram and it warns me that I must have 2 keys programmed or the truck will not start. I abort that operation and go back to re-learning mode. I go through the same steps as the first time and the same result. The truck starts with one key but won't start again after being shut off.

Is this because I need 2 keys to programed?

I find it interesting that it basically bypassed PATS rules and let me start with one key programmed.

I did not drive anywhere. My wife and I need this truck operational so she is going up to walmart to get a PATS key for $60.00 so we can have 2 programmed.

Think that will make this nightmare stop?

Better question..
Can I buy the key, have it cut and not "cloned" to my existing key. Will it work? Will it have a unique ID that I can pair my truck with?

Thanks in advance.
TCD

[turbochargeddad]

Well there doesn't appear to be much interest but I will post an update anway.

I tried to get walmart to just cut me a transponder key and they wouldn't. They insisted that they had to clone the transponder first. After arguing with them till I was blue in the face I had another idea. I was going to have them clone the transponder from my wifes mustang and then cut the key. I mean who cares what the transponder is as long as it's unique. Well they weren't having any of it so we moved on.
I got a key cut from the stealer for $37.00, cheaper than walmart's $60.00. I erased and reprogrammed the keys using my original key and new cut key and everything works great now.

Truck starts up just like it should.

Thanks for everything!

Now I want a perm license for forscan.

[NM117]

Ya it is indeed i have a VCMII its a pita. You need a good laptop and setting it up is a nightmare. Depending on year explorer there is a reflash from ford for funny start/idle.i would make a new key because i have never had a key just drop for no reason at all,do you have other keys on your chain? The rfid can" talk" to other keys and cause them to wipe.happened to a customer of mines mustang ,in his house when he,his wife,and kids come home they put there keys in a bowl by the door ,well first the camaro stoped starting, then the f150.....then the stang... this was over the course of a year

[DirtyHarry]

try this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shAUBO07c3Y