Well today I lost my only key to my 2001 Ranger. Of course the car has the Ford Passive Anti-Theft System, also known as PATS or Securilock, uses a special transponder key as a theft deterrent. Well it doesn’t even matter because I don’t have another key to make a copy, so what can I do? Can a Ford dealership make a copy without a key? Or should I just hotwire the car?

If the cost to make a new key is over $100 its not worth it to me and i would rather make the car start without a key. Can i even do that?

Thanks guys and im sorry this had to be my first post but its been a rough day looking for this damn key.

 

Take it to the dealer. The PATS interlocks over part of the vehicle network with the PCM and there is no simple bypass. It takes a dealer tool to get past it and they charge dear. Sorry, but it looks like a tow truck is necessary.

You CAN'T hotwire it.

 

Welcome to the site, Dan!

That's an interesting question, but aside from John's response, you cannot get this answered on this board. If it was possible, this isn't exactly the type of thing that should be public knowledge, you know?

 

towed to the dealer is the only way....

 

gosh that sucks....2000 ranger, no power nothin=easy

 

You need 2 pats keys that the vehicle already knows to make an extra one anyway.
I suggest you pay and get 2 made at the same time. Then get a 3rd blank and program it yourself (very easy) lock the 2 extras up somewhere safe.. and this wont ever happen to you again.

Rand

 

A lesson to everyone with the PATS system: Make sure you have at least 3 keys at all times. That way, you always have two keys to program a new key with if you loose one. With only one key, you can't do it, and have to pay Ford for the key and $100 program charge. Much cheaper to buy a key and do it yourself.

 

what was already said... you can get extra keys on ebay for about $10 each... i think ford wants $50 or so each

 

Usually $15 plus shipping on eBay, uncut. I got one at the local Ford dealer for $20 and they cut it for free. So, in this case, the total price for the cut PATS key was slightly cheaper from the dealer than from eBay.

Then I programmed it to the truck for free using the owner's manual procedure.

 

I don't believe that it's true that two keys are required to program a pats key. I had a locksmith cut the key and program the computer to accept the transponder and I only gave him one key to copy. Maybe it's different on differnt years, but that's what happened with my 2000.

 

Also can get them here, ordered lots of stuff from there before 17.50+3.50 shipping (and you can get it cut or uncut.
http://www.fordpartsfast.com/fordpartsfast/

Dave

 

A Ford dealer can do it with one key or no keys. Maybe it's similar for a locksmith. At the consumer level, you need 2 PATS keys already recognized by your truck to add a third. The procedure is in the owner's manual.

 

i had it done on my truck... they plug it in a computer and the computer loads all the info... it takes like an hour to load all the stuff

 

Usually a little more than half an hour but they're going to charge you for at least one hour of labor, plus the price of the key. You're looking at AT LEAST $120 before its all done, plus the cost of towing it in. You should get at LEAST 2 keys made so this doesn't happen again. I got a friend at a Lincoln/Mercury dealership to hook up the programmer and not charge me, now my spare key is a Mercury key! I should really get a 3rd one cut.

 

Tom, are you sure you have PATS -- that doesn't sound right to me.

 

Has anybody had trouble with PATS as far as intermittent problems?

 

HOLY OLD THREAD!

But to answer your question the only problem I've had with mine, is the price tag on getting a new one cut.