Truck Broken Into - Lock Replacement Options

[rs1971]

Hi,

First things first: the truck in question is a 2003 Ford Ranger 4L V6 4WD

In any event, fter five years of regular travel to Mexico, my luck finally ran out today. While myself and a friend were having lunch, my truck was broken into. The forced the lock on the driver's side door, presumably with a screw driver or something similar. The damage to the door is minor. It's slightly dented in right around the cylinder and of course, the lock no longer works. Fortunately, though the door opens and closes perfectly.

So, I have a couple of questions. I'm tempted to just leave it as it is as I never really use the key, but always lock / unlock the doors with the fob. In those rare instances, when I need to use the key (ie, dead battery) I can just enter through the passenger side door. My friend though is convinced that leaving it like this will mean that it will be easier to break into next time. That seems like paranoia to me; does it make sense to anyone else?

Still, I'll probably break down and get it fixed. Since I don't want to deal with having two different keys, it seems like my two options are to either have both door locks and the lock on the steering column replaced or to have only driver side lock replaced and rekeyed to match the existing keys. Is that even possible? Can anyone offer me any advice here or give me some idea of what this is going to cost me?

Thanks in advance!

 

[bf750]

in older fords you could change the tumblers in the lock

 

[adsm08]

If you can find one, since they are getting rare, you can get a blank lock cylinder with tumblers, and key it to match your existing key. The ignition kits are still common, but I think the door locks are getting rare. I know the complete vehicle kits have been discontinued.


And yes, this will make the vehicle easier to break into. If the lock was forced with a screw driver the tumblers are damaged and will probably let it turn easily without the key now.

 

[rs1971]

If you can find one, since they are getting rare, you can get a blank lock cylinder with tumblers, and key it to match your existing key. The ignition kits are still common, but I think the door locks are getting rare. I know the complete vehicle kits have been discontinued.

I've done some googling around and it looks like I can find pairs of cylinders for the doors and kits for the ignition lock, but as you suggest, nothing that combines the two. This seems really weird to me. Do people really ever not want all of the locks to match? The blank lock cylinder really seems like the way to go, but so far I haven't had any luck finding one. Assuming that I can find one, how does the keying work? Is that something that I can do myself or do I take it to a locksmith?

And yes, this will make the vehicle easier to break into. If the lock was forced with a screw driver the tumblers are damaged and will probably let it turn easily without the key now.

I guess it's not so much that I think it wouldn't be easier, but that it really doesn't matter, since how hard could it have been in the first place?

Anyway, thanks a lot for your thoughts.

 

[rs1971]

So after a bit more research I found a company who lists on EBAY who is able to use your VIN to key a cylinder. So assuming it's as advertised, it looks like $78 will get me a correctly keyed cylinder and then it's only a matter of either getting it installed or taking a crack at it myself. Anyway, I'm really just replying to post the link in case it's ever of use to anyone else in a similar situation:

http://www.amazon.com/Cylinder-Assembled-Manufacturer-Econoline-E-150~E-250~E-350/dp/B00D4HZ0KG#productDetails

 

[black_demon69]

So after a bit more research I found a company who lists on EBAY who is able to use your VIN to key a cylinder. So assuming it's as advertised, it looks like $78 will get me a correctly keyed cylinder and then it's only a matter of either getting it installed or taking a crack at it myself. Anyway, I'm really just replying to post the link in case it's ever of use to anyone else in a similar situation:

http://www.amazon.com/Cylinder-Asse.../dp/B00D4HZ0KG#productDetails?tag=959media-20

that is of coarse if locks were never changed. just get a cly from junk yard and take to a locksmith to get it rekeyed to your key. it will probably be cheaper

 

[grumpyguy]

that is of coarse if locks were never changed. just get a cly from junk yard and take to a locksmith to get it rekeyed to your key. it will probably be cheaper

That's what I do.

 

[rs1971]

that is of coarse if locks were never changed. just get a cly from junk yard and take to a locksmith to get it rekeyed to your key. it will probably be cheaper

LOL, that's a good thought. I'm the original owner though, so no worries there. The nearest junkyard to me is like 30 miles so once you factor in time and hassle and the locksmith on top of that, $78 sounds like a bargain in my opinion.

 

[adsm08]

I've done some googling around and it looks like I can find pairs of cylinders for the doors and kits for the ignition lock, but as you suggest, nothing that combines the two. This seems really weird to me. Do people really ever not want all of the locks to match? The blank lock cylinder really seems like the way to go, but so far I haven't had any luck finding one. Assuming that I can find one, how does the keying work? Is that something that I can do myself or do I take it to a locksmith?

To my knowledge all Ford lock cylinders after they switched to a single-key system were blanks. I haven't dealt much with aftermarkets except on the older two-key vehicles.

As for building the lock cylinder, they come with good instructions. It's not hard to actually assemble on, the worst part is selecting the right tumblers, especially if the key is worn. Ford has a special tool that I would love to get since my shop doesn't have one. As it is, I just use my micrometer to good success.