Here's my story: Started my 02 Supercrew at 6:15 to warm her up for the drive to work on Friday morning. At 6:25 I went out & my keyless entry fob wouldn't unlock the doors. Not good. Truck is running, heater on wide open & as luck would have it I don't have a spare key. Really needed to get to work too! I called 5 locksmiths & the sheriffs department. At 10:20 my local law enforcement officer rolled in & got it open in like 20 seconds. My day is not going well so I did just take the entire day off. Went to the dealer to get a spare key & to get my cruise recall fixed. The key cost me $79.00!!!! They said if I lost my only key that I'd have to pay them the 79 bucks plus have the truck towed in to have the thing programmed. Just a word of advice to anyone on here with no spare ignition key!! I can't complain though, I've only locked myself out 3 times in my life. Now you guys can laugh at me, just wanted others to learn from my mistake- get a spare key guys!!!

 

I can't laugh at you.

I have locked my keys in every vehicle I have owned in the last 10 years.
1986 Ranger
1990 F150
1993 F150
1999 F150
1993 G Caravan
2003 G Caravan

New truck has the keypad on the door, I'll never be locked out of it, unless the battery is dead.

 

I have to ask..is there something special about the key that you had to go to Ford, and get bent over for a spare key? Most hardware stores will cut you a spare for a buck or two. Does it have some sort of fingerprint encryption built in it?

 

Yup, something like that.

 

It's because of the PATS system. Each key has a chip in it that is programmed to be unique to each system (each truck). If you try to use the wrong key to start the truck, the PATS system disables the ignition system.

LINK - http://www.1-800-pdq-keys.com/news.htm

 

OK I was kinda joking here. I knew of this system but had no idea that Ford was puting it in the trucks. Don't I look like the Mountaineer now.

 

Since I worked at a hardware store I will answer this for you. The deal is a lot of cars these days have "chips" in their keys. Most Fords have them. Keys with chips in them have to be programed. If you insert a key without a chip formatted to your truck it wont mess it up, it just wont start. The formating or 'programing' is where most of the cost comes from (plus the key with the chip in it and the outrageous labor costs) while Lowes will just charge you for the normal $1 house key. If you have a key with a black plasitc part over the 'handle' it probably has a chip. Its very easy to detect if the cutter/woker knows what they are doing. At my shop they had a little detector to sense the chip. If you get the key cut at a local hardware store, and it has a chip in it, all the key will be good for is opening the car door, it won't actually start the car. The advantage is though that the key wont be thick since it doesn't have the chip. What I do is get one of these key's cut and keep it in my wallet incase I do lock the real key in my truck. It wont start it, but will unlock the doors.

Just a little FYI

31C

 

The Non PATS key will allow you to do everything the PATS key does, except for start it. All accessories run, and you can still get it out of gear.

 

I carry a 79¢ non pats spare from walmart in my wallet.