Just splurged and picked up a 2006 F350 Dually King Ranch. Damn, and I thought my 2000 Lariat wuz nice ....

Anyway, now for the question. The sales manager says that the Super Duties don't have an anti-thieft installed like the F150's do (PATS). However, in a couple places in my owners manual it refers to not being able to start the truck without having the factory supplied key. The plastic end of the key is physically smaller, but that doesn't really mean that much.

I've sent an e-mail to customer relations at Ford, but haven't heard back. I know that I could get a key cut at the local hardware store, but can't convience myself that I need one, as I have the key fobs for remote entry, and the key pad on the door, so why would I want to unlock it with a key (yah, I know, what if the batter is dead ...)

Can anyone with connections at the factory pleeze enlighten me? If it in fact does not have some sort of anti-thieft, I'm going to spluge a bit more and have one with the starter kill installed. After what I've commited to with the truck, I don't want some punk thinking that I bought it just for them, and relieve my carport of the extra few thousand pounds that resides there.

Thanx in advance.

Larry

 

Unless something changed for '06, the gassers have the PATS system, but the Diesels do not. No idea why they did that this way, but IMHO, it's worth it to install an alarm and/or remote start unit.

-Joe

 

Interesting.
If Ford chose to not put a starter interrupt on the Diesel, I have got to wonder why? They would know that most owners want that.
I know that adding a starter kill for an alarm adds resistance and complications to the starter circuit plus I also know diesels are a lot more demanding to start.


Gotta think they had a reason. My first impulse would be to add a good motion/entry alarm and let it go at that.
Anyone with any more insight?
Chris

 

Actually, on the other vehicles with the PATS system in place, it's not a starter interrupt, it's an ignition interrupt. The non-programmed key will still turn the accessories on and crank the starter, but the ignition won't fire. With the Diesels, obviously, there's no ignition to interrupt. Now, why they couldn't turn the ignition interrupt into a fuel pump interrupt is beyond me.... I'm not the engineer in charge.

-Joe

 

Thanx for all the insight. Does anyone have any suggestions (pro and con) as to which system would be best? One of the local truck specialty shops said that they could put one in that had starter kill and uses the existing key fobs from Ford for about $225. Good deal? My 2000 F150 had the PATS, and up to that point, I had never really felt any need to alarm my vehicles, but the cost of the new one has swayed my outlook a bit.

Thanx in advance.

Larry

 

I personally like the Ford/CodeAlarm systems.... they integrate with the OEM equipment very well, and if you had a PATS system, they interface well with that.... Not applicable here, I realize, but they're one of the best IMHO.

-Joe

 

Thanx for your help. I'll check it out. Since it interfaces with what is in place already, I really like that.

Larry

 

I can't remember any Super Duty, diesel or gas, having PATS keys. Gas engine Excursions do, I'm not sure about the diesels. My best guess for no PATS on those trucks is for fleet sales, and up to about an F550 or so, they're all basically the same truck, axles and suspensions aside. I'd imagine city gummints don't want or need programmable keys.