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Ignition keys with transponder chip

F

funinak

CEG'er
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
107
Location
Palmer, ALASKA
Before everyone starts.....I tried a search but since NONE of the forum searches recognizes 3 letter words (KEY)??? I won't even get into THAT topic!!:mad: Here I go...Anyway our 98 only has 1 chipped key that will start the engine. We got a couple spare keys cut at Wallyworld and then realized that they would do everything but start the engine:shrug: Where is a decent/inexpensive place to get a chipped key? THEN the BIG question is can you program the keys yourself or pay the stealership $$ to do it properly? I got (what I figured was a deal) on 2 keys off ebay for $24.00 and then they sent me an email explaining that I had to give them my VIN and it would cost me $100.00 MORE to get them programmed:confused: Their customer service moron had NO CLUE what exactly I needed to do to get my keys activiated and had to call someone at home to check so i decided to scrap the whole deal and get a refund. So I would like to get atleast 1 more key for the ignition. PLEASE forgive my noobish question and LMK where and what to do. Thanks
 
Do another search. There is a ton of info here on how to do this (or maybe is on the old site).

You can buy spare transponder keys from eBay that come with instructions on how to program them for your car. Its very easy.
 
BrApple said:
yes since you have a 98 you only need one key to program more ....
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Depends on when it was built. Early 98 could be programmed without special tools as long as you had one key that was programmed. Late 98 and newer require two keys that were already programmed to add another one. I don't know the change date.

Further, it isn't the key that gets programmed. It is the car that get programmed to accept additional keys. Some other makes have at least some models that program the key instead of the car, but not Contours.

Your search may be helped if you look for PATS.
 
96RedSE5Sp said:
Do another search. There is a ton of info here on how to do this (or maybe is on the old site).

You can buy spare transponder keys from eBay that come with instructions on how to program them for your car. Its very easy.
Click to expand...

Did you read MY post:shrug: I DID a search and found very little. And don't even get me going with the ebay key people. Once again read my post about the "hassle free customer service" I had!
I was able to find a procedure in the how to section. Hopefully it will work. I just need to find a key blank.
 
funinak said:
Did you read MY post:shrug:
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did you read his post, he said check the old forums .... you need to go to the home page and click the link for the old forums, there is still alot of information there that isn't here yet


and on the 98 PATs change thats right, I just assumed since you said a 98 and not a 98.5 that the car was a early 98 with PATs type 1 and not type 5 (iirc) like later vehicles


btw i read a post on fco that said you can get the chip keys at home depot and they program them also ...
 
My build date is 4/8/98 Does that make it an early 98?
OH BTW, where in upstate do you live 96REDSE? I grew up in the Saratoga are.
 
Just tape your transponder key under your steering wheel near the ignition and all of your spares will start the engine.

Just make sure no one can see it from outside the car...
 
funinak said:
My build date is 4/8/98 Does that make it an early 98?
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No. My SVT was built in April '97 and my Sport not long after. I don't know when the production run would've ended for Contours (SVTs stopped in June of '98) but anything built in '98 wouldn't be "early".

Still, Ford is known around here for never being consistent with anything.
 
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Gavin SVT said:
Just tape your transponder key under your steering wheel near the ignition and all of your spares will start the engine.

Just make sure no one can see it from outside the car...
Click to expand...

That completely defeats the purpose of PATS, and unless you cut the "key" portion off, gives thieves a free car. Not the best idea in this situation.
 
If you only have 1 key you will need to have someone program it for you. It cost me 50 bucks to have a locksmith come to me and program 2 keys for me. I got 2 stratec blanks from ebay for 20 bucks.
 
hetfield said:
That completely defeats the purpose of PATS, and unless you cut the "key" portion off, gives thieves a free car. Not the best idea in this situation.
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Yup yet that is how they do the after market remote starters.

While it does work (I tested it when I was in a similar situation) it's definitely not wise. I used to have a 99 SE with only one key and decided I should get some spares. $70 per key, one of which was the wrong model they wouldn't refund. I then had to pay something to have them program a key for me because I only had one and it required 2, but they have a way around that. But it didn't work so I had to pay another $150 to reset the computer because the maximum number of keys were apparently already programmed.
 
I'll Post my reply worth $.02

Once upon a time, I had just bought a '98 Contour,and it had only one key. It wouldn't start all the time, so I just fiddled with it until it worked.

UNTIL the key programming died and would not recognize the encrypted key.

SO, I finally broke down and had it towed to the Stealership and told them what happened and to get me 2 new keys. They gave me lots of BS about diagnostic.... I went rounds with them about that.(Why cant you do what I tell you, but you still charge me diagnostic? I gave up after 3 weeks and getting denied by the head service dept. manager)

SO $265 later, I had 2 new keys

I took the old key, that was not working, and reprogrammed it and it still works great today (late '98 FYI)
 
Gavin SVT said:
Just tape your transponder key under your steering wheel near the ignition and all of your spares will start the engine.

Just make sure no one can see it from outside the car...
Click to expand...

Your kidding RIGHT!! :shrug: I tried this earlier today with one of the wallyworld keys in the ignition and heald the transponder key up against the bottom and top of the steering column and NOTHING!! It would NOT start.
 
funinak said:
My build date is 4/8/98 Does that make it an early 98?
OH BTW, where in upstate do you live 96REDSE? I grew up in the Saratoga are.
Click to expand...


Currently in the middle of nowhere between Syracuse and Binghamton, near Cooperstown. But moving to Cortland.
 
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