computer chip car keys

[RichZ]

I bought a used 2000 Explorer at a farm auction a few years ago, and it's been one of my best auction buys. Great car, I'm very happy with it. But it only came with one key, and I like to have spare keys. Plus, it's electronic locks sometimes lock the doors by themselves. It's the only vehicle I have where I can't leave the keys in the ignition on my farm. Shortly after I bought it, I went to our local hardware store to have duplicate keys made, and they told me the key was a computer chip key, that you can only buy from Ford, and they're very expensive (something like $100/key). I hate having to be so careful with that one key, and really want at least one duplicate (perferably several duplicates).

Are the duplicate keys really that expensive? Is there any other place to buy them?

Thanks!!!

 

[k0ua]

Look here. ( to the right margin of your post)

https://www.ikeyless.com/vehicles/Ford/Explorer/2000/1000377/

 

[Clint S]

A good locksmith set up for it can make those keys for significantly less. There is one in our area, that was over half of the dealer cost.

 

[TedLaRue]

You can make duplicate transponder keys as others have posted, and you can have plain (and cheap) non-transponder copies made that will only open the doors. If you hide one of the transponder keys somewhere inside the car, then any family member who has one of the cheap keys can open the door, get the other key, and start the car.

That's a good way to give someone who rarely drives the car access for the occasional need to get something out of the car, or maybe move it out of the way in the driveway. Beware, however, that if you don't hide the transponder key, then anyone who breaks into the car could start it and steal the car. Most thieves probably wouldn't expect to find a key in the car, so they probably wouldn't search for one.

One other thing, WalMart won't make a copy (a non-transponder copy) of a transponder key. I've heard that policy was a result of some lawsuit. Other places will still make them (Lowe's, for example).

 

[aczlan]

One other thing, WalMart won't make a copy (a non-transponder copy) of a transponder key. I've heard that policy was a result of some lawsuit.

I was told that it was because there "is a risk that your original key may be damaged by the vibrations from the key cutter"

Other places will still make them (Lowe's, for example)

Depends on the person, I tried to get them to copy a key for my mother-in-law's Caravan and they refused (partly because they wanted to sell me a key and I was bringing in a blank). From the way they talked, you would think I was trying to steal the car. I ended taking it into a local supply house who cut it after I promised to not hold them responsible if they messed it up. I told them that even if they messed it up and I had to buy another on ebay, 2 $14 keys and 2 $5 cut charges are cheaper than one $100 key from the dealer.

Aaron Z

 

[mrmikey]

Like aczlan said, get the blanks off E-bay and have them cut locally. I think that year Explorer uses the Ford PATS2 (Passive Anti Theft System)system. There is no practical way to bypass the system that I've found as it's integrated into the ignition not an 'add on'.
If you only have one key you will have to go to the dealer to get a spare programmed as you need two programmed keys to be able to do it yourself. When you get the second key done you can program up to 8 keys (I think it's 8) yourself with a combination of insertions of the keys and ignition turns.....Mike

 

[JDgreen227]

Not trying to hijack this thread, but I think the CCCK's are a huge PIB for many vehicles and are used only to make a profit for dealerships. When my 45 grand Yulon XL (2000) was new, it used conventional keys. Our 2004 Saturn 4 door and 2004 Buick 4 door both use CCCK's. The two cars are some of the least stolen vehicles in the US, and I don't think it's because of the keys they require.

 

[bigtiller]

You can make duplicate transponder keys as others have posted, and you can have plain (and cheap) non-transponder copies made that will only open the doors. If you hide one of the transponder keys somewhere inside the car, then any family member who has one of the cheap keys can open the door, get the other key, and start the car.

That's a good way to give someone who rarely drives the car access for the occasional need to get something out of the car, or maybe move it out of the way in the driveway. Beware, however, that if you don't hide the transponder key, then anyone who breaks into the car could start it and steal the car. Most thieves probably wouldn't expect to find a key in the car, so they probably wouldn't search for one.

One other thing, WalMart won't make a copy (a non-transponder copy) of a transponder key. I've heard that policy was a result of some lawsuit. Other places will still make them (Lowe's, for example).

How far away will the transponder key work?

I had a cheap copy made but now I don't remember which one it is.

 

[Car Doc]

You may be able to zip tie the existing transponder key under the dash onto the harness close to the receiver and then use a plain key to start it.

Some times that works sometimes it doesn't depends on the range of chip/receiver. On GM's a bypass is available from Jegs or Summit dont know on Ford.

Now keep in mind that will keep the transponder computer awake and will add to parasitic drain on battery so if its sitting at the farm a long time w/o being started it may drain the battery just a heads up.

 

[kenmac]

I asked a locksmith if he could make me a spare for my dodge. He said he could only make it to unlock the door .I would have to get 1 from dodge dealer for ignition .Dodge dealer wanted $100.00 for key $100.00 to program. I have 2 just wanted xtra. At that price .I still only have 2

 

[aczlan]

I asked a locksmith if he could make me a spare for my dodge. He said he could only make it to unlock the door .I would have to get 1 from dodge dealer for ignition .Dodge dealer wanted $100.00 for key $100.00 to program. I have 2 just wanted xtra. At that price .I still only have 2

What year/model do you have? I have programmed keys for a 2002 and 2006 Caravan by doing the following:
1. Get a transponder key ($15 on eBay)
2. Have it cut ($5)
3. Program it with the other two keys: http://aftermarket.strattec.com/docs/On Board Programming/On Board Programming 6.pdf
That should work for ANY 1998+ Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep with a metal transponder key and may work for the fob only ones.

Note: No endorsement of this seller, key or key maker is intended, they just came up when I searched for a transponder key in ebay and that is the procedure I followed.

Aaron Z

 

[kenmac]

2007 ram. Didn't see that 1 on the chart

 

[aczlan]

2007 ram. Didn't see that 1 on the chart

Try: 1 CAR AUTO TRNSPONDER CHIP RFID PATS IMMOBILIZER KEY | eBay or (I think this is the one that I got for the 2006 Caravan): CHRYSLER DODGE TRANSPONDER CHIP UNCUT IGNITION KEY 700 | eBay

Aaron Z

 

[tommu56]

You may be able to zip tie the existing transponder key under the dash onto the harness close to the receiver and then use a plain key to start it.

Some times that works sometimes it doesn't depends on the range of chip/receiver. On GM's a bypass is available from Jegs or Summit dont know on Ford.

Now keep in mind that will keep the transponder computer awake and will add to parasitic drain on battery so if its sitting at the farm a long time w/o being started it may drain the battery just a heads up.

A friend of mine broke his key (the metal part) we super glued the transponder under the column and he uses a regular key

 

[jwstewar]

I broke my key to our Honda this past winter. Used my wifes key and had another regular one made at Home Depot. Held the broken key up to the ignition switch and started the car in the Home Depot parking lot and drove home. Haven't been able to get it to work again the car will just go into crank mode, no matter what I try I can't the broken key in the right position to start the car. Right now we only have 1 key. Incidentitally, this car as an aftermarket Viper Remote Car starter on it, so it must be bypassing the keycode some how....maybe I should try the remote start and then the key w/o the chip.....

 

[Car Doc]

Chips are a pita I deal with them on no starts all the time or more than I want to put it that way.

Once I get a crank/wont start car in the first place 9 out of 10 times I have to diagnose is the theft/key id system and on most if it needs repaired its a trip to the dealer for them not much I can do.

The key id technology for independents to own and operate is horrendously expensive and requires all sorts of licenses and background checks and bonding its about as bad as a class 2 firearms license or worse thats why nobody will mess with them but dealers that have to have it.

 

[JDgreen227]

Chips are a pita I deal with them on no starts all the time or more than I want to put it that way.

Once I get a crank/wont start car in the first place 9 out of 10 times I have to diagnose is the theft/key id system and on most if it needs repaired its a trip to the dealer for them not much I can do.

The key id technology for independents to own and operate is horrendously expensive and requires all sorts of licenses and background checks and bonding its about as bad as a class 2 firearms license or worse thats why nobody will mess with them but dealers that have to have it.

In my post #7 I made an observation about the headache CCCK's are...but for what it is worth, I used to be very careless with my keys, was always misplacing or losing them, well now I am a lot more careful because it costs so much for replacments.

 

[2manyrocks]

I bought a 2004 Mazda truck not realizing it had these chips in the keys. Turns out my local Ford dealer could cut the key because it's a Ford system.

IMO, it's a costly and useless system. I'd pay more for a vehicle without it.

 

[Bird]

Makes no difference what they cost. I'd get a second key made because if you only have one and lose that one, it'll cost a lot more, as one of my daughters and her husband learned. I've never lost a key, but I figure if I only had one, I'd probably lose it.:laughing:

 

[JDgreen227]

I bought a 2004 Mazda truck not realizing it had these chips in the keys. Turns out my local Ford dealer could cut the key because it's a Ford system.

IMO, it's a costly and useless system. I'd pay more for a vehicle without it.

IMO, we are paying more for vehicles WITH a lot of extra electronic gizmos and gimcracks built in that we don't really want, or need. My '04 Lesabre keeps giving me a message that reads "Service Stability System". I drive it less than a thousand miles a year and am such a conservative driver I will NEVER need the stability system in the first place. My Y2K GMC has the Autoride system (computer controlled shock damping) and for the last six years now the bleeping "Service Ride Control" light has stayed lit. It's a truck, it rides like a truck, the stupid Autoride is just more gimmickry most people would end up having a dealership fix at $100 an hour for labor. I know a GMC salesman and he got me a copy of the TSB to diagnose the Autoride System. It's about a dozen pages long....