Hello FTE!

The cold is now coming. My wonderful 2011 F 250 has remote start that works perfectly fine except the key fob is spotty at best. Even the keylesss entry is spotty. So I'm thinking about the fob is going out. Yes I have tried changing the battery as well as cleaning the PCB contacts. It's just 5 years old and has been used on a regular basis. Simply put I think it is worn out.

Now my next direction was to contact the local dealer for a replacement key. They are more than helpful to separate my money at the tune of $300 bucks per key! I feel this absurd. The one dealership told me it was an all day process another one said it's while you wait. At least they are going to give some you something to drink as they screw my wallet a bit.

So I took a look around. The Key FOB blanks are around $25 a piece vs $150 or so the dealer wants plus the time to program. Getting the blanks cut is not a problem. Any good locksmith or hardware store should be able to handle that. The hard part programming.

With some researching it sounds like I could self program if I had both Keys that came with the truck. Of course I went to look for the second key. Yeah that key is no where to be found in what should had been the secure safe place to the more unconventional places like a drawer. So that is a bit of a road block.

Now will working with Forscan and a ELM 327 going to work with my F250 key Programming? If not, am I looking at needing the Ford IDS program? Who can put some insight on this problem.

Thanks in advance!

 

If you have two working keys, you can program two more IKT (fobs with remote start) yourself or other 80 bit PATS keys. The procedure is described in your owner's manual. If no owner's manual, download one at this link.

Owner Manuals | fleet.ford.com

If you do not have two working keys, then you will need to have the PATS reprogrammed for two keys and then you can program more yourself. If you do not have access to an IDS or one of your own,I would consider a locksmith for this procedure as it would be cheaper than Ford.

 

I just went through this. Long story short, cost me 300 bucks for a locksmith to cut new key and program. SUCKS! Of course I found the lost key about an hour after the locksmith finished his work.

 

Appointment made with the local Ford Dealer. It looks like $170 a key plus $100 for programming. $450 for 2 keys is an ouch to the wallet. However, i will have 2 keys again. My wife and I looked everywhere and still are not able to find the spare which should have been where the other Explorer spare is. Go figure. At least I got a free oil change while they are doing the keys.

 

Too bad that free oil change is costing you several hundred dollars. What a disgrace some of these dealer prices are, absolute thievery.

 

I had the same issue last week and just finally went to the dealer today. $160 for new key cut and programed and it says ford on it when I drive a Lincoln.

 

Haha. Yes. Well I had a voucher for a free oil change. They are still going to charge me for the 2 extra quarts of oil for the 6.2. I have the place to change my oil but at the same time is has been pretty cold. So I figure I would burn the voucher in the winter rather than the summer. At least this dealership changes the filter unlike the other local dealership. Our service vehicle in work had a filter with 55,000 miles on it! My boss opened a dialogue with Ford since it was under a maintenance package with Ford! However, to also ease the pain, I have reward money from the OA program. It should take the cost of reprogramming out of the equation. So I am still paying for 2 keys though.


Lucky you manage to get a key for 160 programmed. I spoke to 4 dealerships in the area to see who had the best price and availability. They were all the same price. I guess dealerships do different things in other parts of the country. I don't know.

 

All done! 2 new keys programmed for the truck. Oil service and tire rotation. BCM updated to handle LED updating for the blinkers. $400 for everything OTD. 0% for 6 months on the Ford charge (happy wife!) $50 additional MIR for using the charge. So it really basically cost me the keys and the tax The keys were $160 a key. However the end result was a working key fob again. The tech asked me how long I had been using that key, I said too long. With the cold weather settling in, the remote start will be a nice change in pace for the new couple of months.

While at the dealer, I inquired about replacing my 3.73s for 4.30s with the service counter. The service writer used the VIN to verify if it could be done. HE said yes and the price was a crazy number. He spoke with the parts department, the parts department didn't show 4.30s being available for my truck. However, the service writer said, if you can get the gears, we will put them in for around $1000 OTD! Needless to say, I might be doing some gear shopping. My 4.30 backburner upgrade might get a bit warmer if I can find them for a good price. more to come...

 

I find the ford key fobs in my 2012 company truck don't work very well. If I stand right at my drivers door it wont unlock it! If I move to either side of the door it works. I got used to this and usually unlock it as I am walking towards it. Both fobs do this. That's a crazy price for ford keys!! I have a locksmith here that sets me up with a programmed key for $60 Canadian, or about $20 US!! I now have 4 keys for my duty.

 

Yea from what I am reading I guess $160 was not a bad deal. I believe the blank FOB was $115 and the rest was cut and programing.


I will say I was surprised how little verification they requested for the new key. I was never even asked for my ID or registration. When I mentioned it the service writer said since I had one original key they were not concerned. Now keep in mind I have never been to this dealer so they have no service record or history with me or the truck.


I am trying to get remote start added and the service writer seemed uninterested and the parts guy said he could sell me the parts. Anyone know the part number for a plug and play remote start kit for a 2014 Navigator with SYNC

 

Full Fob, Program and cut? That's really a rock bottom price. I was quoted 59 just for a key to unlock the door and turn the engine over by a locksmith. Another lock smith told me it will be special order he he only uses original keys and original FOBs set to the truck. So if you have the RS key like I have, he would not make a key to get get into the truck.

RM I had to fill out a form for the key being made. I had to provide my drivers license. Even though the service writer recognized me, he said it was dealer practice. They did not want to be held responsible for misrepresentation of ownership. I.E. I'm not making an unauthorized key.

As for the remote start, you should look into getting an aftermarket starter. The way I see it, if the parts counter or the service counter is not interested in making some money, then they are not worth the time to deal with.

 

Check this link for the 2014 Navigator.

http://www.paulmachenry.com/document...Oct%202015.pdf

 

My FOB is separate from my keys on my 2012. Its an XLT. That $60 was just to cut and program a new chip key.

 

I actually will be needing some new keys myself here soon. I noticed there are different balnks for sale on E-bay and Amazon. Has anyone ever sued them or tried them, just curious if they are junk or the greatest things since sliced bread.

Another thing I noticed was that there are a ton of key programmers on both Ebay and Amazon, has anyone ever used one of these to try and program keys with, apparently the machines can access the the immobilizer to get to the function to program keys. They are fairly inexpensive to buy,

I was thinking about this option but just was curious if any other had gave it a go, the only thing I am not certain of is the key blanks. My truck has keyless entry, but I only have one of those two button plain jane remotes for it.

My truck does have a Fortin either remote start/or security in it, but I have no fobs for it, which is part of my issue is that it may have used factory fobs in conjunction with that system, but I would have to find factory fobs to work with it but that's a whole issue unto itself. We renovated our house and I have no idea where some of the extra keys and fobs went, looked and looked , but no dice so some replacements are in order.

 

You always want to have 3 keys and fobs, so you can add another IF you loose one!! You can only blame yourself if you fail to have a third KNOWING how much it costs to need a dealer or locksmith.