The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

[Manipulator]

So she loses her keys, no big deal I lose mine all the time but I do manage to find them. We never found hers. Go to wal-mart to have keys made. Guy tells me my Ford key has a chip in it and only a Ford dealer or Locksmith can make one. WTF? So I call Ford and its $85 for the key and $50 to copy and program it! Nissan is similar. I found the blanks on the net from anywhere from $7-$15 dollars. Oh she lost her FOB for both cars too, but you can get them on eBay for $8. The problem with getting the Ford key is that you need to have 2 keys in order to program it. I have only one (my key, she lost hers). Ford will not take your key blank and cut and program it. They prefer you bend over at the dealer and take it in the ***! Locksmiths are the same way in that they want you to buy the key from them. I did manage to find a locksmith to do it all for $45. Still though, $45 for a key! Any way to disconnect the sensor in the dash that picks up the chips signal? mrfixitman40's what do you think? That is the plan if she loses this set of keys.

 

[j442w30]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

What kind of ford do you have? You can reprogram the keys and the remotes yourself, my grandfather has an 07 Mustang and he wanted an extra key and remote combo made so I went to the dealership and had them cut the key and the guy showed me how to program them, all you need is to have all of the keys and remotes with you when you do it. The instructions should be in the owners manual. I agree with you, the prices are a bit stiff.

 

[eurolarva]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

Not sure on this but if you tape the one good key under the steering wheel a regular cut key should work in the ignition. My understanding is that the chip works like a crystal radio and produces a small signal that allows the fuel pump to turn on. If the chip is within a foot or so of the ignition the car should still start. Home depot will cut ford keys for the doors without the chips. You can at least open the doors if you lock your keys in the car. Want to hear stupid. The little door unlocker that comes with the car will not unlock the doors if the car is running. Here in Minnesota it gets to below zero and a lot of times we will let our cars run for 5 minutes to warm up. You would think the door unlocker/alarm switch would work for that reason.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

On our 03 Expidition you have to have 2 pre-programmed keys to program another one or else it has to go to the dealer. Our fob will lock/unlock regardless if its running or not though.


Euro might be right also. My wife used to have a 99 Montana with the security system. She wanted and got a wireless start for Christmas. I eneded up having to program another key and put it into a box inside the column. It did connect by wires but his idea might work.

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

You can't disconnect the sensor. If you do the car won't run. You can turn the key to start it, and it will run for a few seconds, but it will die after that. Runs like crap for that few seconds too. You have to get the key from the dealer or wherever to run the car again.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

That is why you always want to have 3 keys with a Ford. If you lose one, you can then make a new third key. I have a 2004 Ford F-150 and bought spares on ebay. You just need to get them cut and the programming is easy to do yourself. I know this doesn't help you with your current problem but make sure you make a third or fourth key after you get your new 2nd key.

 

[i386]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

In my experience, the best way to recover the lost keys is to first have new keys cut.

 

[roscoe]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

Here in Minnesota it gets to below zero and a lot of times we will let our cars run for 5 minutes to warm up. You would think the door unlocker/alarm switch would work for that reason.

Found that out the hard way last winter when it was -27* out.

 

[Blue Water Runner]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

The dealer you were dealing with is a little proud of his keys. I sell OEM Ford keys, cut for $30. If it requires a trip threw the shop for a re-program it adds about $70 to it. Its best to keep three keys just incase you lose one. The owner can program a 3rd, 4th, and so on. The owners manual explains this. The reason for the $70 labor? It takes a service tech 45 minutes to do the re-program with a NGS. Most dealers labor rates are in the $90 range now days. Be careful about using aftermarket key blanks. They could cost you a trip to the shop.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

Did you look here for her keys?

 

[Manipulator]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

Thanks for your help guys. Since I only have one key, I cannot program a second key. Wife went to have one made today for $45 (including programing). Now I will have 2 and will order a blank off the net and have it cut and then program it myself. Now I have to deal with the Nissan key.

 

[PondTunes]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

This type of system uses a small chip imbedded in the ignition key, called a transponder, to transmit a very low powered RF signal. This signal is detected through an antenna (or coil) around the ignition switch, which is then sent to the immobilizer's transceiver.

As a last resort you could pick up a DEI 555u bypass module, it would require leaving one good key in the vehicle (inside the module) and powering it up when you went to crank the car.

Google DEI 555u and i'm sure you'll find one!

*NOTE* You would have to wire the unit up to a switch to turn it on when you were going to crank the vehicle. If wired up to constant or switched it would disable the immobilizer protection.

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

the guy you were dealing with is out of hand on the blank we give the blanks away and cut them for free but you do have the 50 to program them and if they do them right you will not be able to use her key if you find it without first programming it . you can tape the good key in the column and just use standard blanks from walmart .

 

[eurolarva]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

Not sure on this but if you tape the one good key under the steering wheel a regular cut key should work in the ignition.

I just tried this with my 2006 Focus and the starter would not even turn. My wifes explorer had similar results however the starter would turn but the vehicle would not start.

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

you need to take the cover off and put it closer

 

[orion25]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

I bought a used 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It came with 1 key and 2 remotes that needed programming. I was wondering why the dealer gave me $100 off for this. Then I went to the dealer for a key and programming of the remotes. The key was about $60 and the remote programming was $45. I can understand the remotes. I do not want any joe schmo being able to program my remotes but the key for $60??? Lowes made me 2 keys (that only work on the doors) for about $6. How can one chip be worth $57. I work in distribution and RFID tags are down to less than $3 each. The way I see it Jeep is spending $3 for the tag, $3 for the key and $10 to program and cut the key. So I am paying $44 for less than 10 minutes of labor. That is a cool $264 per hour for labor. I am in the wrong business.................

 

[gss036]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

YUP! That's the price of some you need and they have so they control the profit margin. Ask them and they will tell they need that much to stay in business, RIGHT!!!!!!!!

 

[PondTunes]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

I just tried this with my 2006 Focus and the starter would not even turn. My wifes explorer had similar results however the starter would turn but the vehicle would not start.

The receiver/transponder is very low powered and doesn't have a great range. Bypass units that use the key read the signal from the key and send it up a wire that is attached to a ring that surrounds the key cylinder. When powered up it sends the key signal to the keyswitch and fools the car into thinking that the key is present (for remote start)

You could try holding the programmed key right next to the key cylinder rather than just under the steering wheel housing.

Remember; If you tape a key to the switch cylinder you are totally disabling the immobilizer.

 

[mrfixitman40]

Re: The wife lost her keys! Ford Key with the chip...not cheap!!

Pondtunes is 100% right i know their are companies that just use a programmed key for the remote start and as long as it is close enough it will work but the correct way for that is to have the right equipment .