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So, I'm trying to find a blank key for my new truck. Unfortunately, like every Ford I've ever owned, it has the PATS system which requires a transponder key. Very pricey from the dealer, not so much on Ebay.
The problem is finding one! Everyone seems to list their key blanks for a certain model vehicle, although I suspect they are all the same thing. Since this is a rare option in SDs it's not easy to find one listed for it.
Does anyone know if any of the Ford transponder keys will work with my truck, or am I looking for something that's model specific?
I can't imagine why they would separate them out, the transponder is a form of RFID. There are going to be a limited set of freqs, probably 16 or so. The idea isn't to make each transponder unique but to make the key/transponder unique enough it's a pain to work around it.
If you don't have a tuner yet, a lot of tuners have the option of disabling the PATS. If you dislike it, remove it and use a regular cheap key. The insurance companies will probably not like it, but it's your truck.
I'm thinking it's the key blank - the metal key itself that varies between models. The PATS module is probably universal. I know for a fact the '05 Escape and the '08 superduty key blank is the same, probably others. There are only so many combinations that can be cut on a given style blank, so years ago you could walk thru a parking lot and just see how many vehicles you could open with your key. Hence the PATS system development.
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The keys are actually the same for most of the Ford Pats system vehicles. The key blanks for the '03 Taurus and the '08 F-150 are the same. There has been some changes for '09.
Try here for your key blank. eBay Store ? Transponder island: Search results for. I recommend having at least 4 keys programed for each vehicle. I have posted about PATS keys a few times in the past.
If you only have 1 it will cost you a bunch to program another, and if you have 2 the third etc is easy to program. You can't just buy a key from Ebay and have it work if you only have one.
If you lose your only key you will have to tow it to the dealer first. I ran around the backwoods for 2 years before I had a second one made. They would of had to tow me from the deep in the woods to the dealer 65 miles away before they could make a key.