OK, so I bought this used F150 Lariat from a private individual. He bought it a year ago from a private individual. It has been for sale off and on for 6 months or so. It has the keyless entry keyppad and remote keyless entry. I only got one key. Understanding that Ace Hardware and many locksmiths have the ability to clone a key, and that the keyless entry has a factory default code that can't be changed, it would seem that the original owner or anyone else with the other original key and the factory default keyless entry code will always be able to open the truck and drive it away unless I get the original key programmed out of the ECU. Also, the original key or the key I have could have been cloned.

Am I crazy to consider getting two new keys at the dealer (expensive, I know) which will defeat both original keys? Getting one new key and the original key I have programmed in as the only keys would eliminate the missing key and only leave the truck open to clones of the key I now have. Maybe that's sufficient. Or I could just get this key cloned and hope the other key is truly lost and there are no clones out there.

Two new keys at the dealer - Either $180 or $278, not sure which.
One new key - $139
Clone existing key - $70

Thanks for the analysis, I feel better already.

Al

 

If you need two keys, then IMO you should just have a clone made. Chances are, one of the previous owners lost the key and has never found it. If someone did find it, they would have to find yours out of millions of other f150s and the chances of them finding the right truck is 0%.

 

You stand a better chance of another ford owner walking by your vehicle in a parking lot hitting their key fob to unlock your doors and low and behold their key magically atarts it as well.

 

If the person you purchased the truck from is quite a distance away and doesn't know where you live, then you are relatively safe.
Now, If you live a few miles away, thats another story.
Unless he is some master con-artist that is gonna go all out to find and steal your truck, then I don't see problems occuring in the future.
But when it comes down to it, it's your person choice that is the deciding factor. Our inputs are merely opinions of what we would do.
If I was in your situation, I would be a little worried also. Maybe not to the extent as to change all the keys and entry code, but nevertheless, worried.

 

Yep, you're paranoid.

 

Scale:
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9 somewhere around here!
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I feel much better now.

Just remember, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

I realized after the post that the keyless entry thing doesn't matter if the other party has a key - D'Oh.

I went for it anyway - one reason was that my local Ace couldn't read my existing key to clone it. And after checking with the dealer, there was only one programming fee and they also pulled the default code for the keyless entry.

I'll post some pix when I get it cleaned up.

Al

 

Signature material there!

But yes, please post pics when you can!

For the record though, I understand how you feel. Had I bought my truck used I probably would have felt the same way. (That whole new thing, you kind of avoid that problem! :P )

 

How Paranoid Am I?

'Cause there's a red, under my bed
And there's a little yellow man in my head
And there's a true blue inside of me
That keeps stoppin' me, touchin' ya, watchin' ya, lovin' ya

Paranoia, the destroyer.
Paranoia, the destroyer.

(The Kinks for all you whipper snappers LOL)

 

Dude -- call me crazy, but was that your truck I just heard starting up out in the driveway......

 

you're paranoid lol

With all the mods to my truck, I bought it used and just happen to find the extra key behind my seatback in the pocket; no fob though. I use the factory keyless entry code and don't have any extra. Never had it reprogrammed etc. It's insured so if someon takes it, hello 2012 5.0L Just drive it and love it

 

You could find a local locksmith that can cut and program keys for your truck and have them delete all the other keys. In order to do that for Ford you have to program two new keys, i.e. the one you have and a new one from them. At least that would prevent the other keys from starting the truck.

 

If u are going to change the look of the truck previous owners may well not recognise it anyway.