swapping ECM's in PATS equipped vehicles (please help)

Wes8398 · Aug 30, 2007

I'm looking at doing a T45 swap into my 97 AODE GT. I've got my parts list and a good line on most parts I need. But I've been told that I can't leave the Auto's ECM in there unless I have a hand held tuner that I can flash it with and set to specs that a Manual tranny uses. I don't have a tuner, and I'm not buying one right now. So my only other option is to swap ECM's from one with a manual trans. But this (i've read/been told) will cause my PATS system (security) to go wonkey and MAY lead to the car not starting. This would pose a major problem, since a friend's doin the swap for me at his place, and I'll have to drive it from there to the Ford dealership to get the system reprogrammed.
Anyone familliar with the PATS system? Can you suggest anything to me? Will the car actually start? Or is there a good chance it wont?

Jrgunn5150 · Aug 31, 2007

I would guess you would at least need the same computer code, however, there's no need for you to swap ecm's, the tunes are not different between the auto's and manual's.

Wes8398 · Sep 4, 2007

you're the first out of like 50 people to say that the auto and manual ECM's are the same. Everyone else has said that the car doesn't run correctly with the auto's ECM and a manual trans.

quickstang_1994 · Sep 4, 2007

Most computers have both settings. since you are going to a 5 spd it will not effect anything. One does have a more aggressive tune(timing) but I dont remember which one.

Jrgunn5150 · Sep 5, 2007

Well, i haven't done the swap myself, but how many of the people telling you that have? The transmissions in these car's are not electronically controlled in anyway, just good old school hydraulic valves and whatnot, so what could be different between them? Maybe a slightly different tune for the motor, as far as spark advance, but not enough to matter as far as I can see.

Just trying to help you out man, it'll only take a little of your time to perform the swap with your stock computer and see if it runs, but if it works, it'll probably save you close to 500 bucks. Either way, I have no vested interest in the outcome, other than my own curiousity.

Wes8398 · Sep 5, 2007

What I'm being told by some people is that you'll have a high rev problem when shifting (while the clutch is disengaged, I'm assuming) and could also experience some significant hesitation problems. This comes from people who claim to have done the swap, but I don't know for sure.
The $500 savings in keeping my current ECM really doesn't apply, because I can get a "manual ecm" from the same friend who's giving me the flywheel, cables, and pedals for a case of beer. But the problem lies in the PATS system when I swap the ECM, yanno? The car probably wont even start because the PATS system will not be programmed for my car and/or keys.

Quickstang - from what i've read, all the computers are ABLE to work on either a manual or auto trans, but they have to be programmed to do so (with a handheld tuner). I can't afford and just plain don't want a handheld right now, so the option of just reprogramming my "auto ecm" isn't going to work unfortunately.

I appreciate your help guys. Thanks a lot. Keep it comin if you have anything more!

Jrgunn5150 · Sep 6, 2007

A key from the dealer is under 50 bucks. Just get a new one for your new code.

Wes8398 · Sep 6, 2007

A new key wont make the PATS system work though. The ECM has to be re-programmed, in which case (I would assume) my existing keys would be made to work with the new programming.

Jrgunn5150 · Sep 6, 2007

Here's how I am looking at it. You swap ECM's, your key, although it fit's in the cylinder, will not fire the motor. So you go down to the Ford dealer with your old key and new computer code, and they cut you a new key with a transponder that corresponds to the new ECM code, no?

Otherwise your looking at having it dragged down to the Ford dealer to be re-flashed, or buying a tuner yourself. I know you said you can't afford it, so maybe you need to wait if that's the case? I would personally rather have the tuner than probably pay more for the Ford dealer to turn it off.

Wes8398 · Sep 6, 2007

Seems that there are a lot of questions/issues that I can't get straight answers for with regards to the swap, unfortunately. I'm starting to consider just saying fack it and doing a J-Mod and gears with my existing trans instead. Cheaper, and easier to get answers about. lol
Thanks for your help though, everyone.