I was at my Ford dealer today getting some parts. I was thinking while I was there, I would get an extra key made for my Screw. Get this. A replacement key is $30 and you need to have both keys to make the replacement. If you have lost one key and need a replacement, the cost is $130 as they have to reprogram the computer in the truck.

If you lose both keys, its $130 and the truck will need to be towed to the dealer.

This is ridiculous! Sounds like pretty lousy engineering to me. There should be some type of computer cross reference code issued with the key so that if you lose one, a new one can be made from the cross reference. What the hell is in that key and what is it controlling that a replacement is $30? It makes it lousy if you have multiple drivers and need extra keys.

The people who come up with this stuff at Ford engineering should spend some time with their vehicles and have to live with their engineering decisions.

 

passive antiteft system

If you aren't worried about someone swiping your truck. Hide an OE key near the steering column and use a regular cut key.

 

I would think that a solution to this would be if you still had 1 key (if you lose both what the heck are you doing!?!?) is to be able to insert that key then follow these steps...

1. connect a computer that only Ford dealers have
2. have a new "blank" key that has a code attached to it
3. tell the computer to accept a new key (only allowed 2 for security)
4. you could also have a secret alogritim that will match the code of the car and key that can only be set by a special program that only the dealers have.
5. your done and the hardest part was getting the truck/car to the dealer.

Dosen't this make sense??? And since you can only have 2 keys, the other key code is bumped off the list as there can only be 2 keys. Now if you lost both, they should beat you with a stupid stick and then charge you for a whole new computer.

 

My dealer charges $15.00 for a cut key and if you need to have them program it $25.00. Your dealer just wants more the service. Try another dealer.

 

If you are paying $30 for ONE PATS key, it is time to go to another dealership. They cost around $9 each. I sell them all the time (ford parts counterperson) for around 15.00. I cannot tell you the frustrated looks i get from people who loose their keys. Most of the time their salesperson did not tell them about the PATS system and the importance of having more then one key. Vehicles built after 98 require two keys to program a third, so if you leave the dealership and you only have one key........guess what; you get to pay (unless you can squeeze it out of your salesman) for an extra key AND the cost of programming it. TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS THAT OWN BRAND NEW FORDS........AT THE TIME OF SALE........DEMAND THAT THERE BE THREE KEYS CUT FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

 

thats some good advice.

 

I read the owners manual and it tells how to program a key if you add or lose one. Doesn't that work?

 

The PATS system is designed to deter drive-away theft - making it easy to program a new key to your vehicle would defeat the purpose. Yes it can be a pain when you lose a key, but just think how much more your insurance would be if these vehicles didn't have PATS and were getting stolen regularly.......

The procedure in the Owner's Manual works if you already have two keys and are programming a THIRD key. It is a great idea to buy the third key and program it yourself rather than get taken by an unscrupulus dealer.

As far as cost of keys and the programming - this is entirely up to your dealership. When they connect their service tool to the vehicle there is a built-in 10 minute wait before they are allowed to program new keys for security purposes. Other than that, the process is pretty straightforward.

 

This makes more sense and $15 is far more reasonable.
Having the third key made at time of purchase is a great idea. It sounds like my dealer is being opportunistic. They gave me a great deal on the truck. I guess they are trying to make it up on the parts. I will check out another that is nearby

 

I've been telling people here to make a third key a part of the deal when you buy a truck since 1999. If you ever lose one, you just go to a locksmith and buy another key (for less than the dealer sells them for) and program it yourself. I believe you can program a total of 5 keys without having to go back to the dealer to clear the computer and start over again.

 

dennis...... I have had problems with "PATS" keys purchased from a locksmith....about 80% of them WILL NOT work for some reason. I have yet to hear from the vendor on why this occurs.

 

Definitely insist they give you more at the time of sale. I hadn't seen this post till after we bought, but knew this key programming could be a real pain. I told them I wanted two spares, one for me and my wife. We gave them both keys and they gave us two more for a total of four at no charge.

 

I lost both keys in my Lexus SC400 and they cost over $400 to replace. Luckily they got me a new set from my vin#. You had to replace a module and the key had a hidden key unlock mechanism. Shortly after I replaced the key set, my wife lost one of the two again. We sold it a month later with one key and they wanted another one, I just smiled and told them where the Lexus dealership was.

Hammerton

 

After reading these posts, I was inspired to get a spare (third) key earlier this week. It was $16 plus tax. I read the programming procedure in the manual and followed it to a "T". It did not work! I went back to the dealership the next day and ended up talking to a service advisor. She promptly went out and did the same procedure I did except she actually started the motor with each key and promptly shut it off. It worked. Nowhere in my owner's manual did the procedure mention starting the motor, which would be key position 5. I asked about the procedure in the owner's manual, to which she responded that she had no idea what it said, she just did it how a mechanic at the dealership said to do it. Has anybody had trouble programming a key?

 

well when i got my truck the dealer lost one key, so i only had one to begin with. he made me a second pats key so i am good. I can have one made and programmed for the cost of the key which is like 12 - 13 bucks for me. benefits of being from a shop and having friends that work in the service dep. curt

by the way, the pats keys and the ford key (which is the same) are sold on ebay all the time uncut. just a fyi