Lost key, Anyway around pats?

[jarfly]

Got a friend bought a truck wih out the key, its a 2001 if I where to change the key switch would I still need reprogrammed?

 

[97RangerXLT]

Yep. Your best bet is to go to a dealer ($$$) or a locksmith that is able to program the keys.

AJ

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 while sitting in my underwear

 

[RonD]

No way around PATS, wouldn't be much of an anti-theft system if there was

Mobile Locksmith with Ford software on his laptop can cut a key(get 3 made) and then add those keys to the PATS memory.
Keys can only be added when computer is in the truck, so you either need to tow the truck to the locksmith or Ford Dealer, or get locksmith to come to the truck.

The reason you want 3 PATS keys is that if you lose 1, you can add another PATS key yourself, IF(big if) you still have 2 working PATS keys.

Changing the ignition switch lock doesn't matter, the PATS is in the computer, the key switch just has an antenna that reads the PATS keys "number", the "number" that needs to be in the computers memory for that key to work.
So best to stay with original key setup, so doors and ignition match.

Ford Dealer can often cut you a key using KEY CODE from VIN, but it still needs to be added to the Computers memory.
And dealers often don't have the key codes for model years older than 10 or 15 years, so.............2001?