Key Phob for a 2000 Ford Taurus sedan

I have a 2000 Ford Taurus sedan with one key, no key phob (?) and the code system is on the door but i don't know the code. i tried looking in numerous places as instructed from here but cannot find it. So I want to get my wife a christmas present and was wondering where to go online to get a reliable, easy to install key phob. the dealer wants to charge 80.00 and im sure i can find something cheaper that i can do myself. please help. thanks.

p. s. I did find one website www.keylessremotes.com and it stated that: You must have the factory installed RKE option on your vehicle. Where can I find if my vehicle has that? thanks again.

RKE: remote keyless entry
I think 2000 Taurus SES and SEL have it.
Many fobs can can be self-programmed by following a sequence of steps in the vehicle and usually requires at least 1 working key. Most people who sell aftermarket fobs include instructions. I got one on ebay for my Protege and it works fine, I don't know on the Taurus though.

Your owner's manual will detail the requirements for programming a spare keyless entry remote. Since you have the keypad on the door, your Taurus has RKE.

-Rod

This has been a question that I've often wondered too. Is there a way to find out if a car originally came with remote entry? I have a 1996 GL wagon that is pretty well loaded. I bought it used a couple years back from a school district that didn't have any info on the car. I've search the forum and other sites to try to determine a way to find out if my car originally came with RKE without any luck.
Does anyone know of a way I can find out if my car has RKE?

Regards,

TaurusGLenn

It appears that the 1996 model year did not allow the owner to program additional remotes. I was going to suggest you run through the process for programming remotes. If the locks cycled, etc. like the procedure would say they should, you have remote keyless entry. However, for 1996 they imply only the dealer can program or deprogram remotes. You're stuck with either finding a professional scan tool to access the Keyless computer (if equipped) or going to the dealer/locksmith.

-Rod