So, I manage to lose one of the two sets of keys I keep. Dunno how, and it doesn't matter. Now I have one key to my 2005 F 150. Decided to get another one, but found out they're the ones with a transponder in them. Special stuff. So, in order to get a new key, I can get a new uncut key off eBay and then program it, cost me about $25. The catch? Oh, yeah, that. You're gonna have to have at least 2 pre-programmed keys in hand to program a new key yourself. Or, you can go to the dealer, who will cut it and reprogram the whole enchilada for you. The cost? A mere $150.00.

That's right, my friends, to get a new key, you must bow to their computer system, or do without. No way around it, no shortcuts I've found. So, you put a device on all your vehicles that says I can't go get keys unless I get them from you, and you're willing to sell me one for only $150 per key. Seems reasonable. I have blood shooting out of my eye sockets at this point...

So, I figured this out. On my new truck, I "negotiated" for two extra programmed keys, which now sit in my safe next to many nice SIGS.

You sir are apparently a seer and a sage. I, conversely, am at the mercy of senor Ford, and he's lubin' me up at the moment...

call your local locksmiths.

Many have the programmer to do it and do it far cheaper than the dealer.

The other option is to hide your transponder key somewhere in your steering column and just use unchipped keys.

Downfall is you loose your PATS system and if anyone knows or finds the key you have problems.

quote:

Originally posted by slabsides45:
I have blood shooting out of my eye sockets at this point...

TTIWWOP!

call around to a couple stealerships. They set the price, not Ferd.

The chipped keys are worse than the problem I had, I have an 05 chevy equinox that at 3 yrs and under 30,000 miles was wearing down to the point that I had to jiggle it in the ign to get it to turn past the lock stage. Now this is a non chipped key that I had to go to my local dealer and have them run the vin # and cut me a factory cut key as mine was too worn to copy.

I walked out 80.00 lighterwith a new key and went directly to my local key cutters to make back ups of the new key, guess what? no one had a blank to match this key at several places I went to. So I waited till my boss had to call our local locksmith to re-key a vehicle we had in our shop and he cut me two keys free of charge. I now keep one of the extras on my keychain and one at home so I can always have a factory cut when the next one wears out, Though a three year old key should not have been worn to the point that it would not work. That just shows what you can expect when cars are built from materials coming from the cheapest bidder.

I had to have a extra key made at the Chrysler place for my '02 Caravan cost me nearly a bill and that was five years ago. Dirt wad (previous owner) kept the extra key and door clicker. Down side was if I got a key from HD, or Lowes or Ace hardware then after the third time I tried to start it the entire computer system would have locked up and I would have had to have it towed and then taken to the Chrysler place and entire system re-programmed so, in the end the key was cheaper. Ergo they got you anyway you go.

The more expensive keys required today are the reason a thief can't just stick a flat screwdriver in your ignition and steal your truck like they could 20 years ago. I'm not baffled by the fact that they aren't 79 cents any longer. Anyhow...good point about it being much cheaper to get one while you still have 2 functioning keys. I think I'll order a 3rd.

If you still have one key, you should be able to get a second at a good locksmith (who has the right equipment) for $50-75. It's only if you lose all of them that you have to spend hundreds.

Don't worry spent the 150$ you will find the missing set for sure that way.

quote:

Posted November 04, 2009 06:16 It's only if you lose all of them that you have to spend hundreds.

If you lose all of them, you have to have the steering pulled to read the codes off the ignition switch. I've done a few; not fun.

After You get the Key cut, call the dealer and tell them you JUST need them to Re-program it. Maybe they would do it cheaper.

I agree, Call around. Some dealerships SUCK when it comes to customer satisfaction. They just want to ring you dry. Others, are happy to help.

Consider yourself lucky. The keys for my bro's BMW are $325. With every car my dad's gotten after he negotiates a final price he usually mentions that he's going to want a 3 keys, it's never been an issue. I imagine it's a high profit-margin item so for them it's low cost.

Walmart is installing programming machinery in their automotive departments. They also have the blanks. Typically runs about $40.

BMW only produces a finite number of microchips for each car/key. There is no "reprogramming." If you lose a key, the dealer must order one of the microchips from your "extras" kept in Germany. If you lose your keys enough times and they run out of extras you'll have to have the whole ignition re-done.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
BMW only produces a finite number of microchips for each car/key. There is no "reprogramming." If you lose a key, the dealer must order one of the microchips from your "extras" kept in Germany. If you lose your keys enough times and they run out of extras you'll have to have the whole ignition re-done.

Wow. Interesting given that a consulting agency in Germany came up with a way to quickly crack the system. Happily he never lost/broke a key, I just remember the dealer saying what they cost.

quote:

Walmart is installing programming machinery in their automotive departments. They also have the blanks. Typically runs about $40.

I don't know if I'd trust Walmart to do that for me. They can hardly cut a chinese deadbolt key properly.

quote:

Originally posted by logicalsteve:
The more expensive keys required today are the reason a thief can't just stick a flat screwdriver in your ignition and steal your truck like they could 20 years ago.

These keys are why carjacking became rampant. The perp needs the key for the car to run, so you get a gun pointed in your window at the stop sign.

If you lose all your keys, the price of new encoded ones can run to $1200 on high end vehicles. Even if you can get a new key blank cut at a locksmith, most often you must get it programmed at the fn' dealer.

Well, I've been calling around. Cheapest locksmith I've found will run me $91 for the key and programming. My point about the expense is that I understand you should have to have one viable key to reprogram a new key, but really-how many cases a year do you hear of where someone goes and runs a copy of your key to steal your car? To me, the only logical excuse (not reason) to force you to have both keys in hand to run a copy would be to claim that the policy precludes someone from borrowing your vehicle and having an extra key made. Whole thing smacks of extortion to me.

Yep.... The best thing that anyone reading this thread can do, is to buy a cheap oem blank now and program it with your two other keys.

Otherwise, you will be paying out the nose, when you have no other choice.