[3-fords1000]

The cars in question: '04 Sedan and '03 Wagon


Is anyone familiar with the keys with the transponder in them? I went to the dealership last week to get 2 keys for the sedan that they owed me. No problem. Over the course of the weekend I found that my key for my wifes car doesn't work anymore. Then a few days ago I went back out to make sure I'm not being stupid and using the wrong key in the wrong car and now my wife's key doesn't work even though she just got home from work a couple hours earlier. Fortunately, I had 3 keys. So now I'm down to one key and have scheduled trip to the dealer for a reprogramming of two keys.

I'm wondering why this happened and is it possible, since both cars have the same ignition (which I'm told they shouldn't be), to have one key function in both cars?

 

[00Taurus]

Answer is: you need to program the transponder keys. Instructions are in your manual. Goes something like put one that does work in ignition, do something, switch keys, do something..... Crap, where's that manual when you need it... in the glovebox. Check your manual!!! Good luck!! Oh, don't PAY the dealer, you can read the manual and do it yourself. It's my understanding that you need each car to have it's own link, so you can't share keys, I think. If anyone knows for sure you can, let me know.

 

[diesel600]

Unfortunately you need 2 good keys to program a new one yourself. Since he only has one good one now, he'll have to pay to get one programmed.

 

[00Taurus]

Originally posted by dIESEL600@Mar 5 2004, 02:48 PM
Unfortunately you need 2 good keys to program a new one yourself. Since he only has one good one now, he'll have to pay to get one programmed.

So, geez, you need 2 keys to get another programmed? I still haven't grabbed my manual out of my glovebox......

 

[Guest]

I was given the same story about the 2 keys thing from the dealership when I wanted a copy, but I only had one key so I wound up paying $60 for a key.

 

[00Taurus]

Originally posted by jason8225@Mar 5 2004, 11:41 PM
I was given the same story about the 2 keys thing from the dealership when I wanted a copy, but I only had one key so I wound up paying $60 for a key.

I see them on ebay for $24, minus the programming.

 

[Guest]

Originally posted by 00Taurus+Mar 6 2004, 12:06 AM-->QUOTE (00Taurus @ Mar 6 2004, 12:06 AM)

<!--QuoteBegin-jason8225

@Mar 5 2004, 11:41 PM
I was given the same story about the 2 keys thing from the dealership when I wanted a copy, but I only had one key so I wound up paying $60 for a key. 

I see them on ebay for $24, minus the programming. [/b]

Believe it or not, that's all the dealership wanted for the key!

Amazing that it wasn't a complete ripoff, eh?

 

[3-fords1000]

The cost of the key isn't the problem. It takes about an hour to program it at $75 per hour labor plus the cost of the key = $100.

I tried doing it myself when I had 2 keys but it wouldn't work for whatever reason. I read how to do it in the manual but it was a no go.

I don't plan on paying to have this fixed because I was told by another dealship that sometimes the car loses the program.

A little off topic but, you wouldn't believe how much usefull info is in the owner's manual.

 

[diesel600]

Originally posted by 3-fords1000@Mar 8 2004, 07:20 AM
The cost of the key isn't the problem. It takes about an hour to program it at $75 per hour labor plus the cost of the key = $100.

That is such a scam. No way it takes an hour. It takes about 30 seconds when you do it yourself.

 

[3-fords1000]

Supposedly when you don't have two keys they have to do something with a computer and coffee break and the 16 cars ahead of you for oil changes and it turns out to be 2:45 minutes before you get out of there which according to the salesman, it'll only take 15 or 20 minutes...


Yeh, I'm a little upset at their time frame. I got there a 1/2 hour before they opened and they knew I was coming and I still had to wait.

 

[00Taurus]

Originally posted by dIESEL600+Mar 8 2004, 12:06 PM-->QUOTE (dIESEL600 @ Mar 8 2004, 12:06 PM)

<!--QuoteBegin-3-fords1000

@Mar 8 2004, 07:20 AM
The cost of the key isn't the problem. It takes about an hour to program it at $75 per hour labor plus the cost of the key = $100.

That is such a scam. No way it takes an hour. It takes about 30 seconds when you do it yourself. [/b]

Most shops have a minimum shop rate charge, of $60 something per hour...... Greedy aren't they????

 

[3-fords1000]

Most shops have a minimum shop rate charge, of $60 something per hour...... Greedy aren't they????

[/quote]
Yeah, but it ain't a bad way to make a living.

 

[99V8SHO]

Originally posted by dIESEL600@Mar 8 2004, 12:06 PM
That is such a scam. No way it takes an hour. It takes about 30 seconds when you do it yourself.

...when you already have two programmed keys...
AFAIK You cannot program keys without at least two programmed keys. Unless there is a way you can clear the chip code totally from memory and not need a PATS key at all.

 

[3-fords1000]

The local dealership took care of it. They said they don't know why the keys stopped working. The only thing you need to be careful about is if you have a Mobil Speedpass or a FasToll transponder in your car, which I don't have either. They transmitt like the keys do and cause interference, but I was told that it shouldn't erase the program. The cases that they have seen usally involve the whole computer crashing which means your SOL.

 

[sfblacksel]

So were you wearing your helmet when your car's computer crashed

Another thing, if you have more than one transponder key on your key chain, it could interfeir the same way as the mobil speedpass transponders.