lost my only key

[ThatShoGuy]

well i didnt the damn trans shop did......

my car is a 97 they claim they can get a key by the vin is that true....

what am i gonna have to do to fix this issue??? other then **** the trans shop.

thanks!

 

[NP SHO]

I believe they can cut a key from the VIN. Just hope that no one changed the ignition cylinder. Happened on my Explorer a couple years ago. They cut the key by VIN, didn't work, then found out it wasn't the original cylinder.

 

[ThatShoGuy]

I believe they can cut a key from the VIN. Just hope that no one changed the ignition cylinder. Happened on my Explorer a couple years ago. They cut the key by VIN, didn't work, then found out it wasn't the original cylinder.

what happen when that happen???

the key worked for the door so i assume it was original key.

 

[kevinspann]

Has PATS...I think a dealer is going to have to program one for you,

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Ford only keeps key code data for the past 10 model years, so 2001 would be the oldest they have.

The tranny shop may very well end up paying a locksmith to make a key. Fortunately for '96 & '97 you don't need a working key to program PATS as long as all the memory slots haven't been used.

 

[NP SHO]

what happen when that happen???

the key worked for the door so i assume it was original key.

I ended up having the cylinder replaced as well. Had multiple keys made at that point so I would never have to go through that crap again.

 

[bubba]

Yes the dealership can, cut a key from the vin, I work for a dealer and we do it all the time

 

[Fordtaurussho]

agreed i work at a ford dealer in canada and we still cut older than 2001 keys by the vin, but we charge 30 bucks to retrieve the key code by the vin, then 29.95 plus key to program it

 

[luigisho]

I lost my only key & actually found it the next day. I lose stuff all the time & never let either car with transponder keys get to only 1. I buy blanks on ebay, get a local place to cut them, & program them myself.

 

[SHOZ123]

I though VIN cutting was only +98s?

 

[Mr Anonymous]

what happen when that happen???

the key worked for the door so i assume it was original key.

There are 10 cuts on the key, 5 are for the doors, 5 are for the ignition.

I though VIN cutting was only +98s?

AFAIK Ford has been able to cut keys by VIN since the early '90s, maybe now they have only '98+ in the computer, but last time we went to have one cut by VIN they said that the computer only went back 10 years now.

 

[SHOZ123]

When I got my '97 the dealer could not cut the key from the VIN. They had to order one. I was told only after '98 could the cut from the VIN.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

How long ago was this? I know we could get '96 and '97 keys cut by VIN up until '06 and '07. I had a key cut by VIN for my '94 GT in '95 or '96.

 

[SHOZ123]

Now you are taxing my memory on discarded brain cells......

 

[ThatShoGuy]

well thanks for your help guys i hope this dont turn into a big head ache..

can i just go buy a replacement ignition to get the car to run or does it have to be programed some how?

 

[Mr Anonymous]

You can buy a new lock cylinder, then you have to have a PATS key cut for it and then you have to follow the no-key programming process, and in the end you'll always need two keys for the car.

Personally, I would have left the car at the tranny shop and told them to pay for a rental car until they fix their ****-ups. By taking the car back you've pretty much screwed yourself on both the key and the rebuild.

 

[ThatShoGuy]

You can buy a new lock cylinder, then you have to have a PATS key cut for it and then you have to follow the no-key programming process, and in the end you'll always need two keys for the car.

Personally, I would have left the car at the tranny shop and told them to pay for a rental car until they fix their ****-ups. By taking the car back you've pretty much screwed yourself on both the key and the rebuild.

i see on autozones site they sell pats and non pats if i bought the pats key how would i program it. any how to's?

well it was a back door job.. they would never pay for a rental the shop really dont do rebuilds the guy that rebuilt it came in to do it.

 

[ThatShoGuy]

would this work if the key from autozone is a true pats key?


If you want to initiate a new master key....
1. Insert new key into ignition cylinder and turn it to the ON (RUN) position. The security light on the dash will flash for fifteen minutes.
2. When the security light stops flashing, you have FIVE minutes to start the next step. Turn the ignition cylinder OFF and then back to the ON (RUN) position. The security light on the dash will flash for fifteen more minutes.
3. When the security light stops flashing, you have FIVE minutes to start the next step. Turn the ignition cylinder to OFF and then back ON (RUN) position. The dash will flash for fifteen more minutes.
4. After the security light stops flashing the third time, the new key has been programmed into the vehicles computer and will operate the car. It has replaced ALL the previous electronic key codes and is the ONLY key programmed into the vehicles computer.

 

[LJRuddy]

would this work if the key from autozone is a true pats key?


If you want to initiate a new master key....
1. Insert new key into ignition cylinder and turn it to the ON (RUN) position. The security light on the dash will flash for fifteen minutes.
2. When the security light stops flashing, you have FIVE minutes to start the next step. Turn the ignition cylinder OFF and then back to the ON (RUN) position. The security light on the dash will flash for fifteen more minutes.
3. When the security light stops flashing, you have FIVE minutes to start the next step. Turn the ignition cylinder to OFF and then back ON (RUN) position. The dash will flash for fifteen more minutes.
4. After the security light stops flashing the third time, the new key has been programmed into the vehicles computer and will operate the car. It has replaced ALL the previous electronic key codes and is the ONLY key programmed into the vehicles computer.

Yes this will work on all '96 to early build date 98 Fords with PATS. If your Ford has a build date of 6/98 or later (IIRC) this method will not work and you will have to take your car to a dealer to have the keys made. If your car is a later build date car, the dealer will also have to cut at least 2 keys for the reprogramming to work. Had to do this on my 8/98 Mustang GT when I lost the key... only to find it 3 months later in the trunk.

 

[newshofan]

I would call ford first thing Monday when they open and ask them id call two different dealers as you almost always get a diferent answer. And there should be a write up on v8sho.com on the entire process I came across it once. Actually here it is.

http://www.v8sho.com/SHO/SpareKeyProgramming.htm