I had to get a replacement key for my wife's Durango, its one of those keys with the built in remote for the door lock. Dealer gets me for $175.00 to get the key cut and programmed. I would have said screw that but if you manually unlock the door (insert the key) the alarm goes off till you put the key in the ignition. I'm so glad that my trucks are Fords.
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2002 F-350 SD Ext Cab 4x4 DRW V-10 w/Heil Dump box and Western Ultramount Pro 8.5--aka Big Blue Dump
2002 F-250 SD Ext Cab 4x4 5.4l--Daily Driver
1953 F-100 Panel Truck--work in progress
I'm glad an extra key for the wife's 2008 Taurus is only $140 plus programming. That should make it at least a dollar or so cheaper than that expensive Dodge key.
__________________ Mark
Former Ford automatic transmission engineer, 1988-2007.
That's all part of the government-mandated anti-theft crap. Ought to try one for a VW- $350 for their stupid side-cut key and remote.
It sure is. I can walk into the local Farm and Fleet and have a key made for my 82 F100 or 86 F150 for a $1.50, keys for my 96 are about twice as much since they have a snazzy rubber head on them. Geez, here I thought 3 bucks was a little pricey for a key
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96 F150 Eddie B. Edition, 302/E4OD 52,000 mile gem
94 F150 XLT 4x4, 302/E4OD. 3 inch lift, 4.10s, 32X11.50 BFG TA-KOs, E-lockers, Warn Premium hubs
79 Mustang w/ built 347/C4 - 86 F150 351/C6 - 82 F100 undergoing a 460/ZF5 swap
When I was at Ford we had a Lexus Es300 as a comparator car for the Lincoln LS I was working on. One of the engineers lost the key, the second key was 1200 miles away. Getting a new key made involved replacing the anti theft module and cost over $1000.
__________________ Mark
Former Ford automatic transmission engineer, 1988-2007.
I couldn't find any reference that says that the anti theft systems being mandated, but I know that they're getting popular.
I wouldn't want one. But then, I live in the boondocks and drive a minivan.
I've long thought that they should make them so that they expire after 5 years or so. By that time, the systems are probably getting troublesome, and most vehicles aren't that attrractive anymore. (With obvious exceptions)
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ford2go (hj)
Wish I had -- F150 I6 5 speed
Have E350 RV
First that I've heard that they were mandated. Wonder when it was started. Was it after the companies started installing with a chip? Anyway I had new keys with chips in them made at a local locksmith. Since I had two keys for the Grand Caravan and the B3000 they were able to reprogram the new key just by going through the procedure. Cost about $30. although the Dodge key didn't have the lock and unlock function on it which I didn't want. When I bought a 09 Mazda 3 I went to get a new spare key made and he said that it would be $80. because that model couldn't teach the new key the code. Instead you had to program it. So there is a wide range of prices and before going to a dealer try a local locksmith and see what they can do for you.
go look at your doorjamb sticker-
"This vehicle complies with safety and anti-theft rules in place at the time of manufacture" or something along those lines.
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Jared
The government said all my vehicle were too old to be clunkers
this is one of the many reasons i got a 30+ year old Ford truck,
while i can get a new key cut for 1-2 bucks, but read the following, i would hate to see the cost of a new key and ignition switch on a modern car/truck
on my old 1977 F-150 the whole ignition switch and a set of new keys cost me around 10-15 bucks! can't beat that, and i got a new switch as well! when the key gets worn out, chances are the key slot is too, just replace the whole switch and key, all ya need is too turn the key and insert a pin into the whole and bingo! it slides out and you slide in the new one!
one of the many many many perks of owning a old car/truck, among other things, like turning peoples heads off when you pass by! or the classic thumps up from a pedestrian or fellow motorist! plus there value never goes down like modern cars/trucks! well if you take care of them, and there in great shape to start with, otherwise a rusty hulk will lose value as it degenerates,
-Brent
__________________ 1977 Ford F-150 4x4 *1971*302w Transmission is a AOD T-Case is a NP205 Front Dana 44 3.50 Rear 9" Ford 3.50
Learn something new every day. What I got from reborcardo's info (and similar stuff elsewhere on the wen) is that anti theft systems are not mandatory in the US ( they apparently are in Canada).
However, if they do use an anti theft, they can avoid some parts marking requirement. I'm guessing that the manufacturers don't much like the parts marking requirement.
Statistics do say that thefts are down. Probably because (for now), these systems defeat the amateur thieves. Don't know if that's going to remain the case.
Still wish that the damned systems would time out after a few years.
One other interesting (off topic) fact, that I found while searching around on this stuff. Yakima Washington consistently has one of the highest rates of vehicle theft. Who'd of thunk it. It's a fairly small place, so probably not that many vehicles are actually stolen, but it made the list!
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ford2go (hj)
Wish I had -- F150 I6 5 speed
Have E350 RV
A few years back, Iread that some "premium" cars have very special keys with built in remote and antitheft features. Some of them cost well over $1,000.
Heck I think it even said the Volvo keys on the high end cars cost something like $1400.
Volvo is kind of a Ford, so Ford may have the most expensive keys.
Neighbor and I rebuilt an '05 Freestyle for his wife. Had to replace the column, and he'd installed the new junkyard one while I wasn't around. He turned the key to start it, but nothing happened. I remembered reading something in my '00 Focus manual about the keys having a special code for the computer to read, and sure enough, the dealer confirmed his car was the same way. But they wanted a ridiculous amount to read it and program a set of keys. Also told him he couldn't swap over the ignition from the old column. But, a little playing around, and figuring out which parts were necessary, and we got it switched. Didn't have to use the drill much.
That being said, my anti-theft device of choice is driving something no one would want to steal, and not telling anyone the incantations and curses required to make it fire. I can leave the key in my '95 F-150, and even if someone tried to steal it, they'd get frustrated trying to make it start and walk away.
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I would have said screw that but if you manually unlock the door (insert the key) the alarm goes off till you put the key in the ignition. I'm so glad that my trucks are Fords.
can't beat that, and i got a new switch as well! 
or the classic thumps up from a pedestrian or fellow motorist! 
