I have a question. Let's say I lose one of my 2 keys (which I have not, I actually have 3 right now) and I want a cheap way out of going to the dealer for a new key. Could I take my remaining 1 key and, after having 2-3 or however many non-PATS copies made, hot-glue it to the inside of the steering column cover and then use the non-PATS keys for the rest of all time? Wouldn't the system just think I am ALWAYS using that one PATS key to start the truck?

Like I said, I have not lost any keys, but a buddy here at work had some new non-PATS keys made for his Mercury Marquis. When I informed him that they wouldn't work, he began cussing Ford and asking me if there was a way to defeat the system and it just got me to thinking.

Thoughts?

 

Since one of the two remaining PATS keys for the car my son had purchased was on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean I needed to bypass his system. His system required two original keys to program another one. I refused to pay several hundred for a new key to be programmed. I tried holding the key NEAR the lock but found the key had to be INSIDE the antenna loop for the system to operate. I just made a bunch of plain metal copies of his PATS key and made sure they worked all the locks. I then cut off the original PATS key so it would not work the locks. I then removed the antenna loop from around the lock cylinder and ty-wrapped the head of the PATS key inside the loop. Then I ty-wrapped the whole antenna/key assy down inside the column. The junk PATS system is happy, it has a key all to itself and I don't have to carry a key with a big thick plastic head on it. -Hate them things.

 

I figured I could not be the first person to have thought of this. Thanks!

 

Getting a key programmed at the dealer does not cost several hundred dollars. I don't know what kind of dealer you went to.

 

if you want to bypaas the pats system you could buy a alarm pats module, use a relay to power it off of a ingition circuit that stays hot as long as key is on position. then as long as you got two keys you can program the module like a third key. that way you could use a regular key in the ignition.

 

He asked for a way around using the keys.

Prices have fallen due to consumer resistance to the gouging but I was quoted $300-500 for the job at multiple dealers. No way was I going to pay that.

Nowadays when I get a vehicle with chip keys I make sure I end up with multiple copies. I still hate the huge things tho.

 

The Motorcraft bypass module is only $35 or so. As far as that expensive to reprogram a key, I could believe it if you don't have 2 keys already. The tech needs to hook the truck up to the computer to program new keys unless you have 2 already. So, time plus the cost of a new OEM key will get spendy.

 

I only had one key. The PO had lost the other one on the bottom of the Pacific.

 

Yup, it really sucks that you have to get the dealership to program if you only have 1 key.

The early PATS systems, IE 1996-1998 or so were able to be programmed with just 1 key. Ford nixed that in a hurry.

 

I just had a spare made at the dealer (I only had one key). The key and programming was 145.00.

 

I made some Buick chip keys myself for my wife's 03 and only had to have one key. Blanks were $24 each if I remember right. My son's 98 Contour required two keys, blanks are now $1 each...

 

Go on ebay, the keys are cheap, I bought 2 extra keys, had them cut and used my 2 original keys to program the 2 extra keys. I leave the original keys home and use the extra. You can program up tp 7 keys with out going to the dealer. Also if you leave the key head in the stearing column it is easier to steal the truck. I wouldnt do it

 

Yeah. Why let someone else steal your truck, when you can let the dealership steal it from you a little at a time.

I went on ebay, and bought 2 keys for $14. My PATS is an early 98 and my manual says I can program the new keys with just one. It also says I can program up to 16 spares.

But there is still a sense of fullfillment being able to bypass it without using the dealership...

 

Nobody could even tell that any given vehicle has a key head hidden in it. It still takes a regular key to start it.

 

When I get my spares set up, I am going to try your PATS antenna loop trick. I am going to install a remote starter and I would like to save the price of a PATS bypass modular. $25 bucks is $25 bucks. Plus the extra time wiring it.

How hard is it to get to the antenna loop. Does the plastic around the lock cylinder have to be removed and if so, how do you get it off without breaking anything or cracking the plastic.

Everything just clicks and snaps off in my dodge but the trim in the interior of the Expedition seems locked in tight. Are there some screws or something I am not seeing...