anti-theft and coded key replacement

Hi JCall ... I'm not sure, from what you have told me, that your anti-theft system is the problem at all. If it is firing at all (i.e. sounding "like it is going to start") than there's a non-start issue, not an anti-theft problem. I'm not even sure the car will allow you to attempt to start it if the anti-theft is engaged. Call your local Ford dealer and ask the service manager if your Explorer will even engage under an anti-theft lock down, Explain your problem and see if that sounds like anti-theft to him. Good luck!

If I take and buy another key switch out of another Ford Explorer and replace it with mine do I have to have the computer programmed along with the keys

Yes it is absolutely the anti-theft system that will not let it start I bought a 2001 Ford Explorer XLT and was told that the reason it was having a problem starting was because it needed a battery about a brand new battery and still wouldn't start they try to tell me to put two sets of cables on it and try it to start it like that that's crazy I ended up seeing the anti-theft light blinking and figured out after reading the forums they are a wonderful and valued asset it was the anti-theft system and I had to go through a process and turn it part ways until the anti-theft light stopped blinking and then when it stopped working after being on for one second then I could go ahead and turn the key it started every time after that

We bought a 2000 Ford explorer and when we got it the theft light was blinking fast well it had a bad motor and good transmission so we took the motor out of my car which is a 98 explore and changed the computer. And the anti theft is still blinking fast and we have programmed the key out of my 98 to the 2000