I'm gonna throw the BS card on that dealer. These keys do not have any sort of computer chip that gets recognized by a antenna ring on the ignition. You can go to any Walmart and have a key made. I did and it starts the truck just fine and it is just a metal blank. The cluster would have nothing to do with vehicle security even if our keys had a chip. It would be the ignition switch and starter. Call another dealer and get a second opinion. I will call the three near me and see what they say.

 

The more information that's gathered, the better off we can be. I had another chat with a salvage yard today (they advertize clusters for sale on EBay). The person I talked to told me of a 2006 they just got in; it was a "rollover", and the insurance company totaled it. They removed the cluster and installed it in another truck which belonged to one of the workers. Started up just fine. He did state though that it was an STX cluster, going back into another STX. It does prove that if there was a special key, and if its programming was stored in the cluster, the truck would not have started.

Lenn, you are correct about the key; nothing special. When I bought my used truck, the dealer cut me a key, as they only had the one. My salesman said they had to do it, as the key was "special". He handed me this new key. I looked at it and asked what the heck was so special about it. He smiled, winked, and walked away.
I have no fob, and my STX has no factory alarm system, other than the red light on the drivers side dash that flashes when the truck is off. I have no idea what that is about, other than to fool some dumb thief.
One speedometer shop assured me that some Fords do store a security code, but that its in the ECM and not in the cluster, and that it is for the key ring fob.

 

Well I have called all three dealers here. They told me that when they replace speedo's they order them from the factory with the mileage already programmed in. One- "Kinsel Ford", told me that they have had reprogram requests before but they, too have to send them off wich ended in a net result of about $400 for the customer. I think that with the digital readout, $300-$400 is pretty standard for a reprogram from the places willing to touch a digital odo., or at least that is the information I have been able to gather.

 

i have a 2004 stx and just a few minutes ago i bought a lariat gauge cluster and it works just fine in my truck. so far the only things i have noticed are the door chime doesn't work if you leave the keys in or lights on and open the door, and i can't use the trip meter because the button is separate from the gauges on a lariat.

update: the "door ajar" is not working that is why the door chime doesnt work. also when i open the door the dome light doesnt come on. other than that everything works great.

all the gauges work


all the lights work (including flashers, blinkers, and panel dimmer)


my stock gauge cluster

 

^ I just did this too...as my stuff don't work either. I want them too tho...Will re flashing the cluster help?

 

On my wife's car there is a tamper proof sticker in the door sill that indicates the gauge cluster was replaced and the mileage it was replaced at. There is a 10k mile difference between them. Is this acceptable to you? You could probably get a sticker indicating the replacement at such a time that the mileage would be correct? 80k on the clock + 10k = 90k total miles?

I would be **** and want the numbers to match but $400 is way to steep. I would be annoyed with things not working.

Do the STX not have the chipped key with the immobilizer type-o deal and the higher trims do have it? Not sure how the cluster ties into the ignition. I would have thought them separate.

Why is having the keys matched such a big deal? Is this an added expense or just an inconvenience? Do they just need to make them match during the flash? I know replacement keys like that can be expensive (my previous car, the keys would have been $600 to replace!!!)

 

My 06 STX has the chipped key. I went to walmart had them cut a key for me. It cost $2-$3. It unlocks the door but WONT start my truck. The dealership wanted $110 for a new key! $25 for the key $85 to program it. Now thats some BS!

 

Makes sense though.

I mean it is better than somebody just hot-wiring your truck and stealing it.

I was more wondering if the cluster had to be matched to the keys. If you just needed to have one or the other programmed then what are you going to do?

 

A PATS ( passive anti theft system) key is around 25 dollars. If you have a flashing red light on the dashboard when the truck is off, you have a PATS system.

The ECM will store up to 8 keys.

The keys are mechanically coded by cutting them, the computer has to be taught that the key is for that vehicle. the key heads have a RFID chip in them that is read by a sensor mounted near the ignition cylinder.

You need 2 keys that are already programmed to the truck and work in order to add more keys.

If you don't have 2 working keys, the only way to re initialize a key is send the truck to the dealer.

If you have 2 keys that start the truck it is easy to add keys 3 through 8.

If you need more than 8 keys, the dealer can disable part of the PATS system.

 

Good call!