every time it’s cold or during early morning and night both of my keys cannot be detected as if that im stealing my own car. PATS light blinks rapidly. but during the afternoon, when you park the tribute under the sun the PATS light turns solid and starts right away. But during night it cannot be detected at all. I have a video of it… If you let the key sit to on position w/o engine running for 20mins or to an hour (sometimes) and turn it back to off position and turn the key ignition to start… the pats light is solid and engine fires up right away… this has been problem for me for the past 2 years. and even the local dealer cant find the problem and they want me to change the whole pats system and giving me no guarantee that it will fix the issue. so dealer for me is not an option… heres the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9z4C64KTJY hoping to get more ideas on how to solve thiss issue. thanks!
I’d have to look up if that system is using RF or Resistance as the measure for correct key.
If it is resistance based Temp affects conductivity and resistance…so thats a clue. But methinks a modern vehicle is using an RF chip for this. Dunno…Id have to look it up.
However you mentioning about leaving the key on engine off for long periods…does ring a bell. On GM vehicles…that resets the security features… You should go through the key RELEARN procedure… which requires 3 cycles of key on for 10 min…plus doing something else…and on the 3rd 10 minute cycle…the system relearns the keys. Have to look that up too…
But that rings a solid bell in my head about leaving the key on for a long time to be able to bypass the security system…and when that was occuring…I had to force the ECU to go through a relearn key procedure… Takes a good amount of time to do…but anyone can do it.
Look into that. But if this happened out of the blue… methinks the resistance measurement device is either aging or keys wearing and changing resistance slowly over time… which is why a new relearn will teach the ECU what your current resistance reading actually is NOW…
Do the relearn procecure and see what you get…cant hurt and its free…just takes time… About 45 min total. Bet that fixes it.
Blackbird
Engine does not start: LED flashes rapidly Leave ignition on until the LED starts to flash a 2 digit code: (sequence- pause-sequence)
Check the following codes:
Code flashes:
1:3 Key code not received. Is key screened by other keys or objects? Try different key: if okay then first key is faulty. If not go to main dealer
1:4 Partial code only received. Try again. If not okay use different key. If not go to main dealer
1:5 Key not programmed into PATS. Program key as above using master
1:6 Faulty link between PATS module and EECV Go to dealer .
For more information and troubleshooting tips:
https://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_145832267370411&key=426dab04a31cf1146f4714878d76b354&libId=ilxzilb601000bhb000DLbx2t97ez&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.explorerforum.com%2Fforums%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D234975&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scribd.com%2Fdoc%2F11145204%2FPATS-Troubleshooting-DIAGNOSTIC-Service-Tips&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&title=Everything%20you%20wanted%20to%20know%20about%20PATS.%20-%20Ford%20Explorer%20and%20Ranger%20Forums%20"Serious%20Explorations"®&txt=PATS-Troubleshooting-DIAGNOSTIC-Service-Tips and:
https://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_145832270106012&key=426dab04a31cf1146f4714878d76b354&libId=ilxzilb601000bhb000DLbx2t97ez&loc=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.explorerforum.com%2Fforums%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D234975&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scribd.com%2Fdoc%2F11145926%2FFORD-PATS&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&title=Everything%20you%20wanted%20to%20know%20about%20PATS.%20-%20Ford%20Explorer%20and%20Ranger%20Forums%20"Serious%20Explorations"®&txt=Programming%20Ford-PATS
thanks @“Honda Blackbird” blackbird… do you have the exact procedure for the relearn program? it’s just funny… no not funny… very irritating that every time i leave the car under the sun the pats light is solid. but when i park it under a shade even when its hot… the keys needs to be relearned. I can’t even use my tribute at night, fear i might go home without it… well, it happened to me twice. in short, i can use my car only 10am-6pm. when it gets cold at night… i have to take uber.
@knfenimore i already went to a mazda dealer… well, they did not find any codes… they even waited for the car to cool down and voila they saw the rapid light… they diagnosed it with their expensive reader but to no avail… no faults found. they recommended that i should change the whole pats system… well that is expensive here and it will be ordered from japan, it will take time. im just draining my options first and trying different solutions. btw thank you for the quick reply
When things cool down they shrink. This can be a bad solder connection on the pats controller. If you or someone you know could crack the pats controller and try resoldering the component joints.
@knfenimore yes i will have it checked as soon as. thanks again… any new ideas are very much welcome! as long as its pats relaited 
Look on the internet, I saw videos on bypassing the security systems for some brands. Yours might be there also. If not see if dealer can just turn it off.
@“VOLVO V70” i don’t want to mess up with its electricals definitely bypass is out of the equation… as for the dealer… well, i already brought the car to them but to no avail.
If the dealer can’t fix it, then you only alternative may be to bypass the security systems. Why is it out of the question?
Perhaps a different dealer?
Have you checked the car battery, dying batteries sometimes do some odd things.
You don’t mention the make/model/year, but if this is occurring on an original equipment security system and the car is of a recent vintage the dealership should be able to diagnose & repair or if not, then replace it and guarantee it will work. I mean if they can’t do it, who can? Their company makes the car after all.
Note, I’m not saying they’ll do this for cheap. It might be very expensive. But they should be able and willing to do it. Are you balking at the price they are quoting? Is that the problem?
If the price they quote is fine with you, then ask again, and if they say “no, we won’t guarantee it will work after we replace it”, get that in writing. I expect you already know what to do once you have it in writing that a dealership isn’t able to guarantee the fixes they make to their own cars, next step is of course a letter to the manufacturer.
The relearn is out on the Easternet somewhere Im sure…
@billrussel yes, maybe i’ll bring it to another dealer. as for the bypass they only show diagrams of the parts needed and how that wire goes to which but i need to see an actual video that shows they have connected it to their vehicle.
@Barkydog i have a 3 month old battery 
@GeorgeSanJose oh yeah sorry about that… It’s a 2005 Mazda Tribute 2.3L DOHC. it will cost me around $1000 usd (converted to dollars). after the diagnostics test they found no faults… even they saw the rapid blinking… no faults found still. they recommend to change the whole pats and they said it may or may not solve the issue… they said it could also be the wiring loom… and some other stuff they want to come up with… LOL
@“Honda Blackbird” if you have the exact link… hook me up!
Here is some good info for you just on a quick search…plenty of reading material for you.
Your Tribute has a CAN bus in the vehicle…each module in the vehicle has an IP address…this adds a layer of complexity while simultaneously providing better troubleshooting. Good thing I put myself thru computer school… I had the mechanical ability and knowledge already…and told myself I needed to learn computers… Boy was that a good call ! After a decade in the data storage industry with EMC and ADIC and Quantum… I picked up my wrenches again…haven’t looked back
Enjoy:
http://productforum.autorepairdata.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6791
http://www.keysfast.info/page10.html
Just do a search for “05 Mazda Tribute PATS key programming” you should get more info than you want. Hope some of the above is relevant for you.
Blackbird
I googled a little, there seems to be a backup battery that will power the alarm if your regular battery is disconnected. I would see if this situation applies to your model and replace the backup battery first.
Page 69 has directions on disarming the security https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/manuals/2005TributeOM.pdf
@Barkydog i will look into it… thanks for the info!
i just read this…
Engine does not start: LED flashes rapidly Leave ignition on until the LED starts to flash a 2 digit code: (sequence- pause-sequence)
Check the following codes:
Code flashes:
1:3 Key code not received. Is key screened by other keys or objects? Try different key: if okay then first key is faulty. If not go to main dealer
1:4 Partial code only received. Try again. If not okay use different key. If not go to main dealer
1:5 Key not programmed into PATS. Program key as above using master
1:6 Faulty link between PATS module and EECV Go to dealer .
I got a 1:5 code… but if i let the key sit on the run position (engine not running) for several minutes to an hour. then turn the key to off position and turn it to run position again, the key gets read instantly. now i can start the car. But this happens when the weather is cold.
If i leave the car under the sun especially when the sun is in its hottest state the key gets read right away.
Transceiver could have a moist or could be the relays or wires have it too?
Weird but good thing my keys gets detected after the series of sequence… again if the weather is really cold or raining… much harder to detect or worse it cannot be detected at times.
FYI sequence light of PATS on cluster
Turning the key to on position (engine not running)
Rapid blinking for 30 secs to a minute.
blinking stops.
1 blink paues
5 blink pause
(the 1 blink pause 5 blinks pause happens 10x)
Blinking stops.
then i wait for several minutes more.
turn the key to off position and turn it to start right away.
PATS light turns to solid for 3 seconds then off.
Now, i can start the car.
I JUST WANT TO LET THE KEY DETECTED RIGHT AWAY IF I TURN THE KEY AND START THE ENGINE.
Could be moisture condensation somewhere in the electronics.