$170 to Program a Key? Any Cheaper Options?

[morsetaper2]

New (used) Ranger PU truck, I bought it used. I screwed up when making the deal, just assumed there were two keys. If I had realized that, a 2nd key included would have been part of the deal. Nope, just one.

Went to local Ford dealer, they said about $170 to program the 2nd key since I only have one. If I had two keys, I could program addtl keys myself. Owners manual states the same.

I hear locksmiths can make chipped keys. Anyone ever have that done? Any cost savings?

Of course I can always stash the one key close by the steering wheel and use regular keys to start it. But I'd really like to have a 2nd key w/o doing that.

Thanks, in advance.

 

[adsm08]

SOME locksmiths can make chipped keys that work just as well as the OEM ones. Some places are cheaper than the dealer, some aren't. Some locksmiths don't have the equipment. If you can find a guy who does them, go for it.

I think we charge about $60 total for just a regular PATS key and a program. It's $25 for the key, $35 for the program, and a few dollars sales tax for the state. I'd program one for you for free if you bring me a key. Gas to drive up here will probably cost you less than $150.

 

[Lil-Pony]

Tried a "programmed" key in my 04 expedition, didn't like it, but luckily I had both the originals and learned of the user programmable key that you can get

 

[martin]

Here's a thought. If the truck has a remote starter installed there will be a programmed key in the remote starter box.

 

[Lil-Pony]

Here's a thought. If the truck has a remote starter installed there will be a programmed key in the remote starter box.

Not always, they have keyless ones as well

 

[chrisser]

I was in Home Depot the other day, and they have some sort of chipped key replacement.

From what I gathered, it somehow duplicates whatever's in your existing key.

Not cheap, somewhere around $65-85 as I recall, but that's cheaper than your dealer. Might be worth a look.

I have the same problem with my Chrysler - only one key. Need two to program a third.

I don't know how the Ford transponders work, but if you don't feel the need to have the security, on some cars you can take the loop off the lock cylinder, tape your one good key inside it somewhere in the steering column so it always reads a chipped key, and then use an unchipped copy to start the car.

That won't work on the door locks (some cars read those too) unless you have keyless entry so you don't unlock the doors with the key.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Locksmiths are way cheaper than the stealerships around here and they can even bring their keymobile to you.

 

[rg2200]

I'm in a similar situation, just got a 2005 Ranger with only one key. Didn't think at the time about the cost of a 2nd key. The key at the dealership here is $60, and $60 for the programming, so $120+tax for both. When I asked, they said they would program a key bought off eBay (usually about $20) no problem but said they've had a high number of the eBay keys not work, so it's a risk. Also, they'd program any number of keys for $60 - so if I bought 3 keys from eBay, they'd program all 3 for $60 (even though I only really need a 2nd key programmed and can program the others myself with the 2 keys, but if there's no additional cost, why not.)

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Hmmmm...
My Sploder only came with one key as well...
I'm half-tempted to just get it from the stealership, gotta go there anyway to get a cam synchronizer...

Isn't the dealer the only one who can program the actual 2nd key, without just copying the 1st key? Or are there locksmiths that can retrieve the code from the PATS system?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Not with out Ford's IDS software. Locksmiths just makes clones if they are able to.

 

[Lil-Pony]

Not with out Ford's IDS software. Locksmiths just makes clones if they are able to.

see this is the problem its a clone and they have to be 100% perfect to fool the ecm. and i had one made by homedepot little pos cloner, took that pos key back, i mean it cut the key correctly but didnt program it right even after a second shot at programing it.

 

[straycat]

New (used) Ranger PU truck, I bought it used. I screwed up when making the deal, just assumed there were two keys. If I had realized that, a 2nd key included would have been part of the deal. Nope, just one.

Went to local Ford dealer, they said about $170 to program the 2nd key since I only have one. If I had two keys, I could program addtl keys myself. Owners manual states the same.

I hear locksmiths can make chipped keys. Anyone ever have that done? Any cost savings?

Of course I can always stash the one key close by the steering wheel and use regular keys to start it. But I'd really like to have a 2nd key w/o doing that.

Thanks, in advance.

Call Ace Hardware. My mom and dad left their extra key to their Cadillac up north in their other home and they needed it here in Florida real bad. She went to Ace and they made her a key and it worked right away in the parking lot before she left. It was not much to have it done. It is a chipped key like my Ranger is.

 

[Bob C. of Indiana]

I was at Wally the other day and they said they were getting a chipped key maker...I live in a one horse town so I would assume that larger city Walmarts make the keys also have heard some Homo Depot and Lowes can make them...
http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/threads/chipped-mustang-key-from-wallmart-50.795626/