spare Key

I own a 2001 GM LS......I lost my keys (annoyingly so) and have one spare. I tried to make 2 copies of this key at home depot and did......neither key will start the car despite fitting and turning, it just won't turn over.
WHY?:banghead:

If this is some pain in the neck thing where I need a new key from the dealer, can this feature be disabled?

Thanks

Your car has a "pats" system, that uses Transponder Keys. These keys have chip inside of them that has to be programed to your car before it will work. You can buy these keys blank on Ebay, but here is your problem, you have to have two programmed keys to be able to program more keys and you only have one key. This is so that if you hand your car over to someone with one set of keys they cant copy and reprogram another key. At this point your options are the dealer, you will need to buy a Transponder Key and have that key programmed or you can go onto ebay buy a key ( i would buy two) there and have it cut at home depot. Once you have this done start calling car repair shops in your phone book until you find a shop that has a Hickok NGS scan tool. If that is a no go ford will have to do it for you they charge about $200-$250 just for the programming, good news is that it only takes a few minutes to have it done.


I own a 2001 GM LS......I lost my keys (annoyingly so) and have one spare. I tried to make 2 copies of this key at home depot and did......neither key will start the car despite fitting and turning, it just won't turn over.
WHY?:banghead:

If this is some pain in the neck thing where I need a new key from the dealer, can this feature be disabled?

Thanks

This sounds like a $300 issue no matter how you slice it!
Do I dare ask what it costs for 1 extra key at the dealer?

Thanks

The dealer charges around $40 for the key, You can find them blank on ebay for about $10. Your biggest cost is getting it programmed because you do not have a 2nd programmed key. After you have two programmed keys you can program more keys yourself at no cost.

This sounds like a $300 issue no matter how you slice it!
Do I dare ask what it costs for 1 extra key at the dealer?

Thanks

You folks may benefit from my research and experience on this subject.

I am researching this topic as I have 2 Ford products with only 1 key each. They are in fact a "pats key" or, if you prefer, they have chips in them. They are transponder keys.

If you lose your one and only key, THE CAR MUST USUALLY BE TOWED TO THE DEALER! So get your several copies.

The first step is to examine your key, be absolutely sure the additional keys you acquire are identical. A trip to the Ford/Lincoln Mercury dealer and a few questions asked will help you to be sure you get the correct blanks. I WILL ONLY ACCEPT FACTORY BLANKS FROM THE DEALER OR THE E-BAY KEY SOURCES!!

You should spend some research time to get what you want. In my case, I have an '03 Taurus and a '99 Mercury Grand Marquis. From this research, I found out that the Mercury has a logo on both sides that is called the "flying M" while the earlier Tauruses and Sables have "Jewel" keys". The "flying M" resembles 3 upside down check marks not M's to me. The Taurus has a pretty blue Ford "Oval" in it and the Sable has the "flying M" logo in them.

Acquiring these keys on E-Bay will usually cost from $4.00 to $14.00 each. The dealers in my part of Ohio only charge $20.00-$27.00 per key with cutting. That's selling you the blanks and cutting. You may get a factory blank or one that will work ok but will not have the earlier designs on them. IF I GO TO THE DEALER, I INSIST!!! ON FACTORY BLANKS WITH THE FACTORY DESIGNS ON THEM.

Concerning programming, I have found prices vary from dealer to dealer (from $35.00 to $88.00) for each car. The key costs are added to that.

My solution is to buy the correct key from E-Bay, take the Mercury to the lowest priced programming Ford dealer who will cut these keys for free (number of keys within reason). Ford dealers will usually not buy the logo keys for Mercury as they don't have that much call for them and to get them they must buy a minimum quantity of 10 or so. The appropriat Ford key will work, but I INSIST ON THE PROPER BLANK SO I BRING THEM WITH ME.

Same deal with the Taurus key. I'll take it to the lowest priced Ford programming dealer. To get the blank I want they have to pay more for them, if they can even get them.

Hope this helps.