This is topic KEY QUESTION in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by 98snakebite (Member # 1295) on :
 
I lost my only key for my snake about two months ago. So i took it to the dealership and they had to search for the key code of the original on the ford website. They took forever to find it. Anyway they had to cut me two new keys. Everything was good again. Two months later my old set shows up in my mailbox. (some nice people after all) Today I picked up the old set by accident. I try to start the car, alternator sounds fine, ignition isnt kicking in, car will not start. After a dozen attempts it finally dawns on me that I have the old set. So I go get the new one and after one attempt car wil not start, second attempt it starts. Wanted to be sure so I tried a bunch more and everything was fine . Im pumped but a little confused because the dealership never changed anything in my ignition or ever went into my car. Right after I put the old key in and car starts but immediately shuts down. I look over the two keys and they are different, but how can they change the keys and not change the ignition slot. Is it something to do with the computer or what. Anway im done. [Confused]
 
Posted by Bill/APEX Motorsports (Member # 636) on :
 
It's called PATS, or Passive Anti-Theft System. Your ignition key is coded to the anti-theft system in the computer. If the key's signal doesn't match that of the PATS, the car won't start. The dealer didn't do anything with the ignition or the profile of the physical key--it's all done within the computer.
 
Posted by griffined (Member # 1330) on :
 
If they had to reset your computer when you got the two new keys, then it doesn't "know" about your old ones.

You can follow the key programming instructions in the owners manual so the old key(s) and openers will work on you reprogrammed computer.

Ed
 




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