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I posted this topic on the electrical forum about 2 weeks ago and received no response.

I am almost 100% sure it is factory installed with the keyless entry. How can I go about making sure it is factory? Were is the sensor or module that picks up the remote signal and is there anyway I can test it. I am sorry if this is posted in the wrong forum, but in the electrical forum they seem to stay clear of keyless entry topics for some reason. Here is the original post:

I have a '97 F350 w/Power stroke diesel. When I bought the truck it only had one fob (which works fine). I bought another fob and planned on programming it myself. I have tried for a couple of hours and I still can't get the truck to respond. I turn the key switch from the OFF to ON position 5 times ending on the ON position and nothing happens. I have tried 8 times, 10 times, just kept going to see what would happen, I tried it with the doors open, shut, locked, unlocked, you name it I have most likely tried it. Does anybody have any suggestions I could try besides taking it to Ford and having them charge me my first born (which is only 6weeks old).

Just some added info: It is a 1997 F350 XLT, Power Stoke Diesel, 4 door, dually, automatic transmission, with electric locks and windows.

Thank you,
Matthew Chonka

 

That makes two of us with that problem. When I got my truck, it had one remote and assuming it is factory. I can't get my truck to respond when I try to program the remote, as you have done. I've tried the different cycles and don't get any response, no door locks or anything like it said they should do. I don't know if there is some way to check the sensor on the truck or how to go about figuring it out.

 

I just had keyless entry installed at the dealer when I bought my truck. They installed the "brain" on the back of the fuse panel in front of the drivers seat. I think a lot of dealers install these things so they are not a Ford product. I would look for a phone number on the brain unit of the fob and call them. HTH. Joe

 

I basically had the same deal with a dealership they owed me an additional remote but the used car manager was the remote guru, I return the guru comes out with fob and clicks the thing 5 time then again and again nothing takes, he looks at the remote that does work tries it again and again and mermers thats wierd goes in comes out with another remote and it takes first time, he said based on the code of the original the first one should have worked. I just looked at the back of both of them and they have identical numbers on them I assume the first one he tried did too, maybe try another one, it seems that even though they are suppose to take they dont sometimes.

 

I don't know if this will help, it looks like ya'll have tried this, it is from my 01 manual. I think there are different frequencies on these things. See if there is a part number you can run through ford to see if they are the right ones. I bought 2 off e-bay for mine, they worked ok. Hope you get it figured out.

Have all the transmitters available before starting.
You have 5 positions on the switch. 1 is accessory, 2 is the lock position (where you put the key in and out), 3 is the off position, 4 is the on position, and 5 is the start position.

• Turn the switch from 2 (lock), to 3 (off) and cycle between 3 and 4 eight times in rapid succession (within 10 seconds) with the eighth turn ending in the 4 (on) position. The doors will lock/unlock to confirm that programming mode has been entered.
• Within 20 seconds, program a remote transmitter by pressing any button on the transmitter. The doors will lock/unlock to confirm that the trans. has been programed. If the 20 seconds passes without pressing a button you will have to start over.
• Repeat last step for each remote transmitter.
• Turn the key to 3 (off) or wait 20 seconds. The doors will lock/unlock to confirm programming is complete.

 

Just wanted to thank all who replied to my thread.

I ended up taking the truck to Ford. After an Hour, they figured out that in the later half of 1997 some of the trucks had the newer keyless entry system put on. You have to jump a little two pin harness to get the truck to cycle through the locks. At least this is how they explained what happened.
The good news is that they didn't charge me a cent. It could have been because I had my first born with me (which is now 2 months old) and he was crying at the top of his little lungs and Ford decided they didn't want him after all.
Thanks again for all your input,
Matthew Chonka