Does the keypad work off an electrical current... if so, what happens if the battery goes dead?

 

Yes, the keypad uses electricity. If your battery dies and your keys are inside, you'll have to break into it, or have it towed to a dealer.

 

I just can't believe that anyone doesn't have at least one spare key for an emergency like that. (A PATS key isn't necessary to unlock the door)

 

Precisely. Go to your local hardware store and get a key cut for just this reason. Take it one step farther and hide that key somewhere in a keybox under your truck. If and when you ever need it, it'll pay for itself.

Can't tell you how many times it paid for itself on my last vehicle.

Like FC26 said, you don't have to have the PATS (the electronic key) to open the doors...

RP

 

97 Cents at the local WalMart====I got 3 spares, one hidden on the truck, one at home, and the 3rd in my wallet. Got all the bases covered.

 

Since it takes 2 PATS keys to program new keys it is still wise to get an extra PATS.

I've got 3 PATS keys and a plain jane key. Keep one of the PATS hidden in the truck and stripped the plastic off the plain jane key and keep in in my wallet.

I can count on one hand how many times I've actually used a key to unlock the door. Remote keyless entry is a great thing.

 

I'll give my own account. Almost all my vehicles that I have owned since legal driving have had remote keyless entry. Use it to lock the doors and you know that you have your keys (or remote) in your hand outside the vehicle. You also know the battery was good when it worked to lock so it probably will be good when you come back to unlock. I just repalced my 99 F-150 with an 03 and a new feature is the keypad. The same theory should be valid for it. If the battery works to lock the vehicle with the pad, it will most likely unlock it. If for some reason the battery dies and I cannot get into my vehicle because I used the keypad to lock and all of a sudden the battery is dead, I can call roadside service.

 

I would also advise to have a total of 3 PATS keys...

I read such advice on this site and blew it off tooo long. My wife of 30 years called me one day after owning our 2001 Super Crew about 5 months. YEP! she had lost her truck key.

$85.00 at the local Ford dealer and I had a new PATS key for a total of 2 again.

I then bought and programmed another PATS key the next day!

 

If you've got the keypad, I recommend putting a PATS key in the glove box or somewhere in the car so if you loose your keys, you can still drive home. I also recomend programing your own keypad number with something you can remember as I doubt it gets used much unless you lock your keys in or loose them.