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i am a dealer mechanic at unfortunately a non ford brand. But I know exactly what the process is to cut and program keys. Keys can be cut by any skilled locksmith or person that knows how to operate said machines. But the programming is done on dealer specific programs with dealer specific obd2 connections to the vehicle. It pays .5 ( half hour) where I am to program a key that takes no time( 10 minutes or so)
This being said I know for a fact dealers make healthy profit on labor and parts. BUT, nothing can work as good as a dealer cut and programmed key. So my advice is make friends with ford techs. Drop em a 6 pack and hand em a ford key and see what happens haha. Key programming is vin / immobilizer coded. I don't see how anyone but people in the know can do it right.
i am a dealer mechanic at unfortunately a non ford brand. But I know exactly what the process is to cut and program keys. Keys can be cut by any skilled locksmith or person that knows how to operate said machines. But the programming is done on dealer specific programs with dealer specific obd2 connections to the vehicle. It pays .5 ( half hour) where I am to program a key that takes no time( 10 minutes or so)
This being said I know for a fact dealers make healthy profit on labor and parts. BUT, nothing can work as good as a dealer cut and programmed key. So my advice is make friends with ford techs. Drop em a 6 pack and hand em a ford key and see what happens haha. Key programming is vin / immobilizer coded. I don't see how anyone but people in the know can do it right.
PATS isn't a mystery. You can dink around with it yourself with forscan and a bit obdii adapter. Any locksmith with a box can do just as good a job as Ford.
I don't know, BigTater has a point thought because I just called a mobile locksmith company (Pop-a-lock) and as soon as I mentioned I'm looking to buy two keys off of eBay, he tells me they aren't good and they're Chinese crap. Tells me he hasn't heard of an ebay or craigslist or amazon key that hasn't failed within 90 days. Told me $128 for the key, programming and warranty that comes with it.
SO, should I not buy the keys and fob off of Ebay or what? I don't want one of the bulky/fat headed clone keys. I want the one that is close to the OEM key as possible. I wonder if Ford even offers the OEM key style or if it's one of those obvious clone keys like this one I have:
I have personally bought 2 different keys off of eBay and they both worked fine. Amazon is a little more reliable. 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ford F-Series Blank Transponder Ignition (2 keys needed to program)
That key should work but like I said. Some dealers won't program a key they didn't sell you. Call a few lock Smith's and dealers to see if they will program a key for you and what the cost is.
Like I said the keys on eBay work fine if you're careful about who you buy from. I know from experience. Both my $10 keys from different sellers on eBay worked fine. I had two master keys and programmed them myself.
I have personally bought 2 different keys off of eBay and they both worked fine. Amazon is a little more reliable. 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Ford F-Series Blank Transponder Ignition (2 keys needed to program) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005OZNZD0..._nZU3ybBFD0Y6F
That key should work but like I said. Some dealers won't program a key they didn't sell you. Call a few lock Smith's and dealers to see if they will program a key for you and what the cost is.
Like I said the keys on eBay work fine if you're careful about who you buy from. I know from experience. Both my $10 keys from different sellers on eBay worked fine. I had two master keys and programmed them myself.
Local locksmith cut it. I programmed it on my own as I still had 2 master keys. Like I said I did this with both my 10th gen and my 11th gen. Made sure before I signed the paperwork that the dealer provided me with 2 master keys. Ordered 2 new keys, programmed them myself, kept the master keys in a safe place at home and only used the keys I programmed.
How can you tell the difference between a "master key" and a regular ford key?
Don't know what you mean by regular ford key? There are "master" keys that can be used to make your own "clone" keys. Clones cant program new keys but masters can. Any key with the correct chip can be programmed as a master or cloned.
Do some networking or bite the bullet
