New key with PATS programming
In case anyone is interested, I thought I'd share my experience with getting one of those ebay flip keys and making it work in my truck ('05 Expy EB).
Here's a couple of pictures of the key after cut and all:
The keychain itself was not included, but was purchased separately on ebay a few months ago.
This is the key I bought:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301795858308?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
It comes with the key, a Ford logo badge and a swiveling key chain ring and already has a battery installed for the remote. Not bad for 36 bucks shipped..
The chrome pieces are metal and it feels like a sturdy and weighty key, build quality is pretty good but time will tell on how well it will stand up to use and abuse. It only has 3 buttons, lock, unlock and "trunk" (in our case this is liftgate glass). It has no panic button, so if that's important for you then there are other options on ebay. Be careful though, this is the third time I bought a flip key, the previous two had a remote that was not compatible with Ford vehicles, even though the listing listed it as being compatible.Programming the remote was easy, just follow the standard procedure, cycle ignition 8 times, end in run and then the locks should cycle. Press a button on each remote and it should program each one.
After getting it cut at a locksmith, you need to program it. In US I think some locksmiths can do this, and of course the dealer. I did it myself. I tried first with FORScan and a bluetooth OBD dongle, but was having trouble with it. Then I tried with my VCM2 clone and Ford IDS, this also gave me issues and I discovered that the instructions on screen was a little incomplete. It said turn ignition OFF and wait 10 seconds, cycle ignition and then attempt to start. This did not work, and when I eventually checked DTC and saw a code for incomplete PATS key read, it dawned on me that I was supposed to turn ignition ON, wait 10 sec and then attempt a start. This worked, and I suppose if I had done this with FORScan, it would also have worked as it did say successful on programming. That one step was pretty crucial for it to work, so for others attempting this I hope this helps.



