Ford Focus No Start Theft Light Blinking Easy Fix 

This is David from Nigeria I use ford fusion 2008, I have security light blinking and no start, I follow up with ur instructions ND it's work, my car now work thanks so much sir

Unbelievable!!! I have been stuck in Arizona for two weeks trying to get my 2018 E350 Super Duty out of the anti-theft mode. Had a tech come out and told me my ECU was bad, I ordered another one and installed it, and still the same. checked every fuse and relay, all good. Removed the ground wire from the body and guess what, 8mils thick of paint, removed it, reinstalled the wire, and it started right up! Many thanks, you are a life saver.

Thank you for posting this! I was at a loss for what was going on when it was acting like a bad/dead battery, but I tried to jump start and then tried charging overnight with no sucess on a fairly new battery and cable setup. The key to figuring this out was to pay attention to the flashing security light (the only one that was lighting up on the dash at all). I am glad it was as easy as taking some steel wool to the ground. Saved me a bundle of money, was just getting ready to give up on fixing it myself. Thanks Again!

Awesome video & fix. Just had a similar problem and before they mention all the possible problems, like pulley, key sensor, etc, we cleaned the grounding area and vualla! It started and hasn't stopped since.. thanks again!

I just switched the ignition housing, ignition switch, and ignition cylinder on my 2008 Focus, and had this same problem. I followed your procedure, and boom, cranked right up! Thank you so much, and you saved me a ton of money!!!!

Really helped me not have to go to a mechanic! 10min of free work versus God knows how much. Thanks!

OMFG, you just saved me a ton of headaches and money! I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was going on. Saw your video and was like ... it couldn't be that easy! I had sandpaper sitting in my truck and figured it wouldn't hurt to try. I unscrewed the screw, saw the paint like you said. I sanded it away, put the screw back on and BAM ... started right back up! You are a fricken life saver! Thank you do much! You are right, always check the basics! For some reason I am not surprised Ford would make a mistake like this!

I towed in a 2010 Focus with this exact problem. Your vid wasn't the first link I followed but it was the only one that said something other than "it has to go to the dealer". I cleaned the ground wire and battery terminals and voila! Fixed! Thanks.

Focus wouldn't start last night, and this was the exact issue. Can't thank you enough.

Just want to say thank you. I came into the house to search online for a solution and your post was right at the top. Great title with "easy fix" in it. Just a great service you provided me. Many kudos to you. Aaron in Minneapolis, MN

FordTechNoMakeMeLoco!!! I had this exact problem. Great easy fix. Also, my battery had only 2.8v, and replaced...seems to be fine now. Thanks a lot for your awesome video!

Same thing on my 08 F250. Went into rest area, came back out and nothing. While waiting for tow, watched this video, thought what's to lose. I took jumper cable and went from ground post to the ground on firewall, started right up. What a save! Thanks!

Just wanted to say thank you! This was my problem 100% saved me money on a tow + keys ect. I will hit like! Haha

A SOLUTION!!!!!! THIS WORKED FOR US TODAY! Try turning the key and moving the shift from park to drive and back. Then try starting it again! It should start. We were ready to call a tow truck before trying this. It worked. Saved time and money! If you have a blinking Anti Theft Light, try this before getting it towed!

Dude u r the most tech savvy & well read tech I've ever come across. I was given a car last night, an 07 focus 5 speed in excellent condition. 1 owner moving I could not figure out what the problem was. No lights no accessories nothing and it ended up being the ground on the firewall. So then about 30 minutes maybe 15 I was disconnecting the ground from fender inner well & cleaned paint & Walla! Free car that we needed as back up. Thank u 4 ur mind!

This just totally solved my problem! Was ready to take it to the dealer. Thank you so much!!!!!!!

Brilliant. This is exactly the problem I had and my local Ford dealership could not give me a fix over the phone (I called them three times) - other than to tow the car into their shop! I sanded the ground connection as you suggested to remove the paint and 'voila' it fixed it so that the car now starts. Thank you very, very much. You saved me a couple of hundred bucks and a lot of wasted time.

You rock! Same problem on 2008 escape hybrid. Cleaned ground cable to chassis. Starts like a dream! Thanks a million!

GREAT TIP. Saved my a$$ & saved my customer a bunch of $$ on a no start, U0155, No IPC com, 2010 F150. The - - - tip was what caught my attention & poor ground & pos conns near the battery was the cause. THANK YOU SIR !

This Channel is so good.You know Ford's really really well! I wish you had a Toyota channel!!!

Man, you saved my bacon! I bought a Copart car with keys but wouldn’t start. Cleaned the ground and battery terminals and she fired right up to my relief.

Hello. I had the exact same problem on my daughter's 2008 Ford Focus. Your video was spot on and fixed the problem instantly. I can't thank you enough. Great job!

Thank you. I was able to fix our car . Hubby was doing everything trying to see where we had a short or what ws bad. I found this cleaned area with dremmel tool and fixed a few other things like ground jury rigged. Bolted in a slot because bolt had broken off ended up just drilling a new hole and bolted it down used grease on ut and she started right up. He was doing the key thing and thought something was finally kaput and searching for answers. Glad You popped up on my phone. Hes in heart failure from covid in 2019. So not at his top game anymore.

Thanks man. This help me. Just fixed my moms car issue after watching your channel.👍

Wow! I did just what you said & it actually Worked! Good Stuff! This was a problem for me for about a year. Thanks! 2009 Ford Focus.

I owe you a beer! You took me out of a pinch!!

Thank you!!!!! Dude this got me out of a pinch. Appreciate you posting this.

Thank you so much you saved me. The same symptoms exactly, the computer was on offf for months now. Cannot believe it was corrosion there. Thank you so much, spot on!

Thank you for this Video. In less than 15 minutes I had my sons ford focus running. This worked on a 2005 focus. On the 2005 there are two ground wires side by side in the same area. Clean both and it fixes the problem

Nice Job! I have a 2007 Mustang. Not sure if they have the same system. I like you Ford tips even if they don't relate to my Mustang!

Thank You! This was a big help.

Thank you so much!! This worked! Sand paper was too fine so I etched all of the paint away with a small flathead! ❤

2012 Ford Mustang!! Thank you sooo much for this video! My mechanic couldn’t figure it out and I even tried replacing the key (which didn’t work) so I followed the directions in your video and it WORKED!!!! Thanks man!!! Back up and running now!!

Trying this today on my 2010 Ford Taurus. Pray it works!

This video made my day. I turned on my 06 mustang with a similar problem. Thanks 👍

This video literally saved me thousands!!. I already gave up and was ready to gave it away to a junkyard and came across this video. Followed the steps and dayum it started up with no more flashing anti theft light!! Thank you so much!

My 2002 Ford Escape had the same problem as the Focus in this video (no start with blinking theft light). The only difference might be that if I waited 15 minutes, the car would restart. Anyhow, I removed the PCM wire and sanded away the paint, as in the video, and coated the terminal with dielectric grease. So far, so good. I'll report back if the problem returns. Much obliged for the post.

Hello sir, I've been watching your videos for quite some time and you're very helpful as well as informative. I have a 00 mustang GT and I literally have this exact issue. Blinks once pause blinks six times. I will try cleaning up the ground cable as well as thoroughly checking the cable to make sure there's not any breaks in it. Thank you so much for your videos, and please don't ever stop.

Thank you very much you saved me a lot of time and and money , it worked very well for my ford focus 2010 cheers

@FordTechMakuloco Great video! Thanks for the great details .. I tried what you suggested on a 2005 Ford Focus & it worked like a charm! There’s no question that the ground was bad causing the engine management 20A Maxi Fuse to Blow continuously. Cleaned the ground surface and refastened the terminal back to Gnd. & the vehicle started right up! I never would’ve guessed it. Thanks again!🙏🏽

I have a 2000 Ford Excursion that would not start and the Pats light flashed really fast. Tried disconnecting batter, reprogramming keys, nothing worked, until I did what this video showed, working fine now. Thank you!

2012 Ford Fusion, this video worked perfect and fixed problem . Dealer quoted me $1967.00 to change the instrument panel, 2 keys, and transceiver and doing that would not have fixed this issue. Simply cleaning the ground cable for free fixed the problem (it took 15 minutes). Thank you

Your content is so valuable!

This also just worked for my 2009 Fusion! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I subscribed after the first few sentences. If he is conscientious enough to correctly name the parts and the conditions, then we can expect him to be scientific over all.

Hello thanks for the video. I own a Ford vehicle, albeit a 2014 Mustang GT. My car experienced the same exact problem after not using it for a while. The issue was, as you said, no communication between the PCM computer and the rest of the vehicle. Check wiring for continuity as well, folks. Cheers

tho I was looking how to fix a 2008 Lincoln Navigator (that when the battery was charged and put back the engine would not turn over and the theft light was blinking), I tried to unscrew the ground wire but didn't have the correct tool to do so, so I turn the key on as you said and disconnected the negative terminal; that is connected to the ground, (since I couldn't remove the ground itself) for a few seconds and then plugged it back in and I did that twice just because.. so yeah when I plugged it back in I went to check the anti theft light and it stopped blinking and the engine turned over. After a few hours of tring to figure it out I thought I would watch your video just to see if it would help AND IT DID!!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH. No code, or alarm code needed. 😁

Many thanks. In short : I have a 2010 ford focus that I had not started for a month. It wouldn't start despite the battery being fine and using this video I fixed the problem (colleagues helped identify and execute the repair). I tried calling ford but they just asked me to have the car towed to a ford dealership who said they would charge me for diagnosis. The ford call center did not acknowledge that this issue had been identified, there is also no mechanism to speack to a technical person without going to a dealership. The original dealership I had purchased the car from in 2012 or 2013 (Malcolm cunningham ford, Atlanta) had switched to Hyundai and offered no help. I had no assurance whether the towing and repair cost would be reimbursed by ford. The same thing had occurred a few years back and at the time the dealership assured me I had done something or the key was bad (I cannot recall details). I ended up paying the cost. This time around, my colleagues helped identify and execute the repair using this video.

2011 Ford Fusion - This seem to be the solution, I'm sure my ford dealer would've charged an arm and a leg, Thank You!!

Great fkn work bro! I've got $hundreds in this job on a ranger - same system - and your grounding issue was it. Thanks a ton!

excellent done the job...thought i was looking at an expensive fix

This video saved me a lot of problems and money. My Focus bad ground was on the fender. There are 3 of them in a row.

Seems a simple fix, I will try this before calling tow truck. Thank you for your help.

Thank you! This has been an intermittent problem for me. My car battery kept dying every time that light went on, then I would have my husband use jumper cables. Last night I found your video and this morning my car is fixed. Last winter was a nightmare never knowing when that light was going to kill my battery. It happened twice during snowstorms and always on Sunday when the repair shops were closed...

This worked on my 2013 mustang thank you so much for taking the time to do this video

Agree on the ground! The connection on my 2010 Expedition turned out to be every bit as bad as the one you showed in this video. Only in a couple of other locations. One smaller diameter wire going over to the fender for the body ground. Another going to the PCM module mounting bolt. In addition, there was some sort of glue between a couple of terminals on both connections. It was red and rubbery. I cleaned it all off with a wire brush and put on dielectric grease. BUT that didn't turn out to be my problem....or at least not the ONLY problem. On a whim, I put a battery charger on the battery while I cleaned up all the terminals. The voltage on it read 11 volts! I got the battery out and it had been replaced by a previous owner with a 36 month piece of junk! I did plug in my trailer lighting in prep for a trip so hopefully there is not a problem there. On my way to get a new battery! Hope that fixes it all!

Just did this on my 09 Focus. I occasionally get the flashing light. It always starts the second time. I've never seen the dashes though.

Hi Thanks for you channel. I just bought a 1999 Ford Ranger and have that blinking theft light-no crank thing happening. What was the simple fix? I didn't really understand the solution. Can you help.

thank you for the info. I had the same issue with my 2010 ford transit. In addition to the ground i had to unplug one of the cables from the PCM then plugged it back in and it started right up.

Eureka! 2007 Navigator intermittent craziness! I suspected a loose negative on the battery....totally overlooked this! 👍🏼👍🏼

2010 Ford Focus - same symptoms and sanding the ground worked like a charm. Car started immediately.

THANK YOU!! We just had this problem and tried this and it totally worked. We haven't got the grease yet but will buy. Just sanded it real good and used a dry towel to wipe off and put the screw back on and it started right up. Thanks again....was so worried....

This is amazing! definitely works!

Thank you for this information it really help me today.

Will this work for an 07? I can't seem to find the specific ground that I need to clean

Your technique fixed my Flex!😊

This video worked thank you so much my car had the same problem and it left me at Home Depot and I disconnected the battery and wait for hours and then was told by some guy that does alarm things that he would charge me 100 but was sure if it would work and I thought this didn’t work and as I would putting my stuff away I tried one last time and it worked so thank you so much

I was stranded in the walmart parking lot-you saved my ass

ok so my car is showing the theft light on and I checked this part as you are showing in the video but it's already been sanded down. What could it be now?

Hi, I have a 2005 Focus MK2 with the same issue, is it a similar fix to what you've done in the video? (Note, it only happens sometimes in my focus not every time) thanks so much in advance for your help and advice, it is much appreciated :)

Worked on my 2000 Expedition! Thanks.

Thanks it help me a lot you just won a like to this video and a sub

Hey. We have had exact same issues. Clean up the grounds and took the paint off. Still no start.

1999 ford explore theft light flashes with key in on position it has no crank. brand new battery what can I check

My aunt had a 2002 Ford focus ground problem I watched your video thank you so much for helping me I did exactly what you told me in the video and it started it recycled and it started as soon as I heard the fuel pump come I knew I was going to

thank you. I had this problem with my 2010 ford ranger. it worked

would that work on a 2000 model

I have a 2005 Focus and the Lock/ light is blinking. The car totally went dead but i wiggled a wire by battery and the car will start. It has started everytime for a few days with no problem. The light is still blinking though. Should i be concerned?

This helped me alot with my 2014 5.0 had a bad ground scrapped the paint and tightened the bolts and she started right up

Saved me time and money thank you so much

I’m having major issues but the plus is that my dash doesn’t show all them dashes and errors but the anti theft is blinking

I have 2008 Ford fusion. This described my situation, yet when I took paint off the grounding, it did not change anything.

Fixed my truck thank you

Thanks........once my original Ford Motorcraft battery goes out on my 2008 Ford Focus, I'll definitely do this to prevent future electrical issues. :)

That fact that I'm always finding my way to this channel is really concerning for y'all ford owner. 😂

at 4:41 there was some sparking occuring !

excellent video great job

thank you for your videos I had a broken 4 gauge ground wire that connect from alternator to frame of vehicle I was getting weird codes service theft system U1000 thank for the helpful tip keep those videos coming

No need for long ass intro

Love the videos very helpful and very inexpensive appreciate that thank you to all

I tried everything and I was about to change my starter. 2010 focus ses. Thank you!! Ground looked perfect but this was the issue.

Thank you for this video

thanks for showing 2009 ford focus videos i now do have that same car.no issues yet.

Unbelievable! Have a fusion in shop right now with same problem. Checked all the grounds-power etc… we’re good. Looked identical to this one. Had continuity at the nut. So thought was good. I guess not lol. Never would have thought damn Ford so picky… lol but back to the basics I guess. KISS (keep it simple stupid) thx for the tip

Brian we have a fleet of these at work. During the Covid crisis we have had 2 or 3 focus vehicles sit a few months. In the past I’ve had to clean the grounds just like you show. These had no pcm communication, to finally get them to start I had to remove both battery terminals and touch them together to erase the keep alive memory. They then started immediately, like the pcm had hibernated and wouldn’t wake up. Just a note to you and anyone who has tried cleaning the grounds and still had a no start, again try is was after an extended no use condition, 2 months or more.

Great Video again. Very detail and High Quality Tutorial! Thank you!

Bruhhh .... my buddy bought his 08 focus 2dr 5 speed for 900 bucks the guy that owned it said it starts when it wants to lol we finally got it running with luck I wasn’t going to try and fix it before my buddy made a deal ... guy said 900 bucks and take it home buddy test drove it gave him the money... we got it home my first thoughts was the neutral safety switch so I deleted it car seemed to be fine after ... about 8 months later he’s having this same issue and the car went back to starting when it wanted to... found this video and did the exact thing on his last night and knock on wood everything is way better and his door ajar light is gone when the door is closed interior lights go out it’s like a brand new car again and for only 900 bucks ! He never sank any money into the problem. So thanks a lot for sharing this video man !!!

Another great tip... Thanks for info.

Thanks! Do you have time to help me with my Ford fusion sport 2010 ? Anna

Wow...that did the trick my guy. Thanks