Anti-theft systems can be fidgety, and the Ford Mustang is no exception. These devices have probably saved millions of cars from being stolen — but made just as many people late for work as they tried to figure out how to turn it off.
How do you disable the anti-theft system on a Ford Mustang?
It might be as simple as unlocking the door with your key and not with the button, and then turning the car on. That might work. If not, there are some other options we’ll share below.
A Look at the Ford Mustang Anti-theft System
Ford Mustang anti-theft problems usually relate to 1999-2001 models. The modules in these cars are getting old now, and you’re going to have issues like decaying solders coming loose and wiring going bad. If that’s the case, a part might need replaced.
These anti-theft systems will switch on when you turn the car off. The system will identify an unauthorized entry or towing attempt and disable the car from starting. You may have an alarm system sound, as well. As Mustangs get older, these systems are more likely to misfire.
Turning Your Anti-theft System off
Here’s the way it’s supposed to work:
- Unlock your driver-side door with your key — not with a button or remote device
- Get in
- Put your key in the ignition and turn the car on without starting the engine
If your system is still in good working condition, that should do it. But a 1999 Mustang is over twenty years old by this point. Your system might not be in good working condition.
If that’s the case, there are some other things you can try.
- Roll up all the windows
- Use the key, not the button, to lock the driver door from the outside
If you drive a newer model, there may be some other method required, like turning the key in the door and holding it for thirty seconds or hitting the unlock button on the key fob. It’s a good idea to read your manual whenever you get the chance so you’ll know in advance.
Driver-Discovered Fixes and Workarounds
The fixes discussed above don’t work for everyone, and we’ve seen almost as many solutions as there are people having this problem.
One driver discovered that a problem with the key fob could be handled by rubbing it on the magnet inside the Mustang’s speakers. Many ’90s Mustang owners have simply removed the whole system or replaced the ECU with non-Mustang parts.
Some owners of newer models have even removed the sensor from the key and left it inside the car to keep the system from activating in the first place. It seems like nobody is more creative than a Mustang owner whose car won’t start.
Photos: Ford
