Getting into a locked Ranger
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Springfield, IL USA
Getting into a locked Ranger
Anyone know how to easily get into a locked Ranger (1999) if your keys are locked in? The reason I am asking is I have heard there is a little trick that is easy and does not damage the vehicle. I have only one key for my vehicle and have been reluctant to pay the dealer $85.00 for a second one. If I ever lock the one key in, I have a problem!
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Orem, Utah, USA
It's really funny that you should post this now.
JUST LAST NIGHT, it was so cold that I decided to start my new Ranger and let it warm up before I went out with my wife. And lock the doors, just in case.
So I figured I could start it, let warm up and then use the remote to unlock the doors, get in and go. (We only have one key.) However, we discovered that the keyless entry system doesn't work while the engine is running (unlike our Windstar). So we were locked out, engine running, using up gas.
We finally ended up calling our local police to have them come and open it. It took them about 45 minutes to show up (non-emergency call), and about a minute to unlock it with a "slim-jim." But I felt really stupid. We immediately bought some more keys on eBay!
So, I would really love to know this little secret.
JUST LAST NIGHT, it was so cold that I decided to start my new Ranger and let it warm up before I went out with my wife. And lock the doors, just in case.
So I figured I could start it, let warm up and then use the remote to unlock the doors, get in and go. (We only have one key.) However, we discovered that the keyless entry system doesn't work while the engine is running (unlike our Windstar). So we were locked out, engine running, using up gas.
We finally ended up calling our local police to have them come and open it. It took them about 45 minutes to show up (non-emergency call), and about a minute to unlock it with a "slim-jim." But I felt really stupid. We immediately bought some more keys on eBay!
So, I would really love to know this little secret.
Last edited by Seronac; Feb 14, 2004 at 11:59 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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That's just what we want to do, tell everyone how to break in to your Ranger....I am really having fun doing block watch patrols till 2:30 am because we have had 4 vehicles stolen from our neighborhood in the last week ( none were Fords). this is a great site, but unfortunately not everybody on the internet is Honest.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: California Desert
It is an incredibly easy thing to do on Rangers. It's actually a design flaw that takes advantage of the fact that your doors unlock if opened from the inside. But I agree with BCfx4 and will not disclose the exact procedure. As far as having the special key, the $0.99 Wal-Mart copy works on my doors and my ignition...is this a new system?
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Springfield, IL USA
I know that the simple key copy (Wal-Mart) will work on the doors but the ignition requires a key with a computer chip and it must be programmed.
It probably is best that we do not disclose the secret to entering a locked Ranger. The "crook" that reads the post may just decide to "borrow" mine!
Maticuno,
If you know the system - why don't you PM me with the information.
Jerry
It probably is best that we do not disclose the secret to entering a locked Ranger. The "crook" that reads the post may just decide to "borrow" mine!
Maticuno,
If you know the system - why don't you PM me with the information.
Jerry
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: St. Louis region
The easiest way=baseball bat. lol, JK.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Orem, Utah, USA
A PM or e-mail with the "secret" would be fine. By asking, I never intended that it be posted here; I'm not THAT stupid.
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From: St. Peter
I know how to do it if you have power locks, this involves a funny story, ok, so one of my friends was drving his little pontiac grand am on a snowy road, and a dog jumped out in front of him, so he slammed on the brakes and slid into the ditch, lucky for him it wasnt really a "drop off ditch" but just more of a shoulder with like 2 feet of snow on it. this is on a gravel road out in the country by the way. so he called up a friend with a old chevy 4x4 to pull him out, now, when the chevy got there, my friend was trying to rock the car out, and it wasnt moving an inch! so he got out, with the car in reverse, engine running to go and direct the guy with the chevy. the wind must have caugt his door, shutting it, and locking it, with the engine running, in reverse. lucky for him the tires werent spinning or anything. anyway to make a long story short, he had another friend take him home to get spare keys, the chevy went into the ditch on the other side of the road which was like a 5 foot drop off, some half drunk guy came by and offered to unlock the car, which he did right as my friend was getting back with his keys, so we went and got a tractor from another freinds house and pulled both cars out of the ditch.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Paso Robles, CA (Central Coast)
I asked this question on another board awhile back, cause I locked my keys inside, and teh spare was 200 miles away. I got AAA to get me in. But if someone knows the way, could you e-mail it to me. Thanks.
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Joined: Sep 2001
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The quickest and easiest way to avoid damage to the vehicle is to call a Locksmith. They have a set of tools that will open most vehicles. It is not safe to use a slim-jim on vehicles anymore. You can do several hundred dollars worth of damage quickly with one of those and the police are not trained or liable. Most vehicles will not open with one anyway nowadays.
If you have a PATS system with the chip keys you can use regular keys in your doors AND ignition if you remove the PATS antenna and ty-wrap your old chip key inside it. Then you can stick the antenna assy up under the dash somewhere and the stupid computer is happy. If you worry about someone finding the key you can always have a locksmith change the locks for you.
If you have a PATS system with the chip keys you can use regular keys in your doors AND ignition if you remove the PATS antenna and ty-wrap your old chip key inside it. Then you can stick the antenna assy up under the dash somewhere and the stupid computer is happy. If you worry about someone finding the key you can always have a locksmith change the locks for you.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Alvin, Texas.
Originally posted by maticuno
As far as having the special key, the $0.99 Wal-Mart copy works on my doors and my ignition...is this a new system?
As far as having the special key, the $0.99 Wal-Mart copy works on my doors and my ignition...is this a new system?
98 model 4 cylinders did NOT have PATS.
The v6s did....then all the engine offerings from 99-on have PATS as well.
My 94 obviously doesn't have PATS, but I pull this chip out from under the dash and the truck goes no where....if I lose that, well, I can turn the ignition and hear the injectors buzz to life for a moment.....and savor that.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 54
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From: Orem, Utah, USA
So, let's look at this:
Call a locksmith: charges you a hundred bucks, might cause damage. (But can he fix it? Might have to go to the dealer for repairs.)
Call the cop: charges you nothing, might cause damage. (But he can't fix it? Must go to the dealer for repairs.)
I'll take my chances on the cop, thank you.
On the other hand, if I hide my PATS key under the dashboard so I don't have to have another one programmed, then it defeats the entire purpose of PATS, and if it's stolen (with the key in the cab) then the insurance company won't cover it. So, maybe I just shouldn't tell them that the key was in it - sorry, I'm not that good of a liar.
If everybody was honest, then it wouldn't even be an issue.
I don't mean to be a jerk, here, but I'd rather not be castigated for doing what *I* think is best with *MY* truck.
However, I'd appreciate it if someone would please PM or e-mail me with this little secret so I might avoid this problem in the future. Thank you.
Call a locksmith: charges you a hundred bucks, might cause damage. (But can he fix it? Might have to go to the dealer for repairs.)
Call the cop: charges you nothing, might cause damage. (But he can't fix it? Must go to the dealer for repairs.)
I'll take my chances on the cop, thank you.
On the other hand, if I hide my PATS key under the dashboard so I don't have to have another one programmed, then it defeats the entire purpose of PATS, and if it's stolen (with the key in the cab) then the insurance company won't cover it. So, maybe I just shouldn't tell them that the key was in it - sorry, I'm not that good of a liar.
If everybody was honest, then it wouldn't even be an issue.
I don't mean to be a jerk, here, but I'd rather not be castigated for doing what *I* think is best with *MY* truck.
However, I'd appreciate it if someone would please PM or e-mail me with this little secret so I might avoid this problem in the future. Thank you.
