Recently my wife and I spent the morning searching the house for where she put her key the night before. After finding it I told her to stop at the dealership on the way home and have a new one made and programmed. Well they were able to cut the key and charge us for that but they couldn't "sync with the anti-theft system" to program the key. When we bought the truck about 10 years ago I had them make a spare for us and I lost that one a year ago so we can't use the two keys to program more now.

Has anyone else experienced this and what was the fix? The dealer wants $100 just to start diagnosing the problem. I've checked all the fuses and hes it has remote start that was on the truck when we bought it, and the dealer was able to make the key back then. The truck is a 2000 with the 6.8.

Thank you

 

Last month I took 1 key for my 2005 ex into the local locksmith. He cut a duplicate key for a minimal charge then asked if I wanted it to function the ignition correctly (with the chip). I said yes and he used a computer type machine that scanned my original key then programmed the new key to match.

That's all you need, right?

I have not checked my "original" spare key, I assume it works.

Not sure why the would need two keys to cut a third?

 

I have a 2005 Excursion (ordered new) and a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr (MKZ). In the past, I had a 2002 Mustang GT and a 2003 Cobra. in all cases...you need two existing keys to "program" a new key. This is to avoid a valet from making a copy and programming your car with just one key.

The dealer needs to hook up to their computer gear to have your truck recognize a new key if you only have one current key.

The keys have a transponder that you need to tell your truck to recognize. With two existing keys...you can do this sitting in the driver's seat.

I keep a third key on both these cars to avoid a future problem.

 

Yes sadly I lost the second key a year ago and have no idea where it went. The dealer tried to make a new one but their computer won't sync with the trucks anti-theft computer.

 

How can my key function perfectly that was made at a mom and pop locksmith shop when I only supplies one key?

 

I'd bet your add-on remote start is interfering with their programming progress.

Many remote starts of that vintage used a concealed, programmed key for the PATS bypass function instead of the programmable electronic module that imitates a programmed key to the PATS system. My recommendation is that you first dig under the dash and see which type of bypass is installed as you may already have a programmed key at your fingertips, you just don't know yet.

Alternatively, there are several retail stores (home centers and hardware stores) that offer a key-cloning duplicated service, about $50-70 per key. Since the replacement key is a duplicate of an already accepted key, there is no on-vehicle programming required for it to be put into use.

 

Clone key, see above.

 

Copy
Thank you

 

I'm searching for places to call tomorrow, normal work hours, that may offer cloning. I tried the remote start and the truck will start and then using the new non-programmed key I can actually drive the truck. I removed the remote module and there is no key or chip inside. I looked it up online, a Python 450 ESP, and there is no chip removed from a key to place inside of it either. So if I keep the new key and the remote together I guess we can use that as a spare.

 

You need to identify the bypass module which is separate from the "brain" of the system. Look for the 2-pin wire plug then follow the lt gree/black wire.

For example, the DEI 55U has a hidden key in it, the 555F has a chip that simulates a key and is mounted at the transponder ring.

Try the hardware department of your local Home Depot or Lowes. Not all individual stores offer this service, so call around.

 

If he does in fact have a key hidden in the dash for the remote start, couldn't he start the truck with a non-programmed key?

 

Also take a look at ForScan. You can program the PATS module at home for a lot less than the dealer will charge you. Also useful for a lot of other things.

 

No, because the hidden key or the other bypass boxes only function when triggered by the remote start. When a physical key is used in the ignition switch, the remote bypass does not get activated.

 

There had to be a valid reason the dealer couldn't program the system but the OP did not tell us about it. If the dealer could not program it due to some on-vehicle fault, Forscan, which uses the same process, also will fail.