Okay I have my 2001 F-250, then about 1-1/2 years ago I bought a 2006 Focus. Well one day by mistake I put my truck key in the Focus and turned the ignition. The car would not start since the Focus needs a chipped key. That is when I realized I used the wrong key, then I thought it was funny my F-250 key fit and turned the ignition. Since then I tried the Focus key in my truck but it will not work. Now the truck key works in the ignition and door/trunk lock on the Focus.


Now my question. Why can't I get a chipped key for the Focus, but have it cut for my F-250? Thus only carrying 1 key for both vehicles.


I went to a local key place but they wanted $80 for a chipped key. I thought that was a little expensive for an experiment. I just found a chipped key blank on Amazon for $10. I think I will order one of those for my experiment.


Just kind of thought it was funny.

 

There are a limited number of mechanical key cutting combinations so the same pattern gets used over and over.

A few years back, I was working on a friend's 89 SHO. I had taken it to a restaurant for dinner and, when I came out later (after dark) , I unlocked the door of first SHO I came to, got in, and started the engine. Looked over on the passenger seat and saw a bunch of stuff that wasn't there when I parked. Shut it off, got out, and walked another four cars down the line and got in the correct SHO. I swear it wasn't the DOS XX!

Ford's locks only use one side of the key. If you can find someone one with an old-school key cutter, you can have one side of the blank cut to one vehicle and the other side for the second. You just have to insert the key with the side up that matches the correct vehicle. This does, of course, assume that both vehicles use the same key blank with the same profile.

 

there are maybe 100 thousand key combinations MAX..


and 20 million PLUS cars.. the reason for the chip..


and cars has been using keys for 90 years... do the math.

 

Several years ago when I researched this there were 3,000 Ford key patterns.

Two times in my engineering career I had programs with Rangers, so we had multiple Rangers. One identical red pair had different door keys, but identical ignition keys. I discovered this when I jumped in one that was unlocked and drove off. I locked it when I left it parked, and when I came back I couldn't open the door. The tag on the keyring showed I had the wrong key.

The second identical pair even had sequential VINs. These trucks had identical door locks, different ignition locks. You could open the door, but not start the truck.

 

I used to have a '97 taurus that the key from my '03 F350 would open the door too.

 

I worked with a girl in high school that had one of the dark green 98 body style v6 auto Mustangs that were very popular around here. Her mom borrowed her car to go to where she worked at a large hospital, as moms car was in the shop. I picked the girl up and took her to work with me, and mom was going to drop off her car later. When mom showed up with the Mustang the daughter noticed her personal tag on the front was gone. When she went out to check on what had happened to her tag, she figured out mom had brought the wrong Mustang home. Mom filled the car up with gas and took it back to the hospital where she had got it, and then made sure she had the correct green Mustang. I wonder what that nurse thought when he or she came out to a car with a full tank of gas.

 

All correct in the thinking.


This brings up a feature that, unlike most new features, would actually be nice to have. You know how we rekey locks on the house so that one key opens them all? Well, that would make a ton of sense to do on your cars.


I don't really like the idea of wearable keys, but if I have to wear them, I certainly don't want (or need) to wear 3 of them. Wonder what manufacturer will be first to figure that out.

 

I was referring to ALL brands of cars.. not just Ford.

 

I have a 2002 E-350.
When I bought my 1999 F250, last year, I took it to a locksmith and had it keyed the same as the van. I do keep separate remotes, as the trucks sit side by side in the driveway.

 

My uncle got in the wrong same colored car in the parking lot once. Got halfway home before realizing his kids didn't use car seats anymore. Returned it and it's likely the other owner never knew any wiser. The combo happens pretty often, just you look suspicious going to every car in the parking lot trying your key out. The chip protects it all.

On an old project car I had, I gave up for many months cause I lost the keys and didn't feel like swapping the switches. Then one day I was messing with it and discovered the cylinder was broken and didn't need a key to turn anyway. Fired right up. Obviously this was a pre-chip car. So the wear can be a factor too, both on the key and in the cylinders.

As for the one key solution, that will come with bio-metrics before it comes with mechanical keys. Then you just need a valet key for other folks to drive for service/emergencies, etc.

 

Keys from other brands won't even fit into the lock, so it doesn't matter.

 

that's my point..


number of cylinders in a line.
body of key fitting into lock
slots cut into key to allow key to enter into lock...
size of key for lock


all add up to the number of combinations available for a set of keys.

 

This is interesting. I don't know how I got lucky to have 2 Fords that seem to work with the F250 key and that my truck does not need a chip. I am going to order the key blank from Amazon and get it cut. I can program the chip to the car myself. I just went out and tried the truck key again in the car and put the key in on both sides and it sure does work, just won't start. Dash lights come on. But my car key will not work in any locks on my truck. Now if I could just get one remote for both that would be great.

 

To the best of my knowledge you can program a keyless remote into two vehicles, although it might not be the most convenient if they're sitting close together as you will lock/unlock both vehicles at the same time.

 

I've programmed one remote to work on two vehicles several times. If you program a remote to a vehicle that vehicle has no idea that the remote is also programmed to another vehicle. It works fine.