i have a '04 heritage with the V6. it has the factory anti theft ignition key with a chip in the key. supposedly it won't start without that special key. does this mean it can't be stolen - that the engine won't run without that key?

 

Yes that is what it means. That chip transmits something to the truck, and it wont start without that code being transmitted.

 

I recall reading that the security chip can be hacked but it not easy to do.

 

Anything, ANYTHING can be stolen. We just had a ring of thefts down here, and someone that had a really large set of ***** stole an 06 Navigator from the Ford Dealership owners house! If you can steal an 06, you can steal anything.

(With the possible exception of a laser cut key benz)

 

Some locksmiths and repo services have a PATS emulator that transmits a universal signal and allows the vehicle to be started with any key that'll turn the ignition lock. Anything can be stolen. What's to stop a really dedicated thief from driving up to your (or my) truck with a rollback and taking it that way?

 

PATS is not perfect but it is a huge improvement over no PATS. Not sure who told me this, but I heard when they first put PATs on the Mustang in the late '90's thefts dropped by 70%.

 

Anyhing can be stolen...the key/chip makes it more difficult but not impossible.

 

+1.. most useless thing u can buy for your car is an alarm... it doesnt deture theigs or prevent them from stealing your car.

 

A somewhat funny story: A friend of mine was once involved in a less than ethical business, stealing cars and car audio stuff and the like. He since done his time and came out legit, but anywho, he told me once about how he and some of his cohorts jacked a Suburban of all it's high dollar audio gear. They did it right in front of the owner's house at like 2:00 AM. The owner had an alarm installed. Come morning, when he went out to get in his truck to go to work, all his audio stuff was gone, and his alarm and all the wiring was sitting on his front door step, removed from the truck. If someone really wants your truck and/or what's in it, they'll go to any means to get it.

 

When I bought my used 2000 F150, the (non-Ford) dealer installed a Trilock key anti-theft system, even though I told them not to because I hate the Trilock. During the time that it was still on, the OEM system and the Trilock were constantly overriding each other -- pretty retarded thing to do, really.

 

A smart theif (a contradiction of terms I know) can and will get their hands on the same tools that we locksmiths use. The PATS is a good deterent and has stopped a lot of thefts, however, as was already stated it can be bypassed by a PATS emmulator. This device usually runs about $2k but for a high end car theif that is just pennies in the bucket. The good news is that for the PATS system to work the computer has to be "fooled" by the emmulator but then the ignition has to be in the on position also. On the PATS ignition this is a bit harder to accomplish because of a side bar that is built into the ignition and therefore it is hard as hell for anyone to pick or to destroy and use the old scewdriver trick. So can it be stolen... YES!!! BUT they will have to spend some $$$'s and/or lots of time to do it. All in all these are pretty secure vehicles.

 

My brother told me the same thing, I told him it will scare off scare off someone not knowing what they are doing, but the only reason I got one was for the insurance break, it will pay off in like a year, after that I'll start to save, my only request is, if you are going to steal my truck, make sure I don't get it back.