Ok, so when I purchased my car from the GMC dealer, it only came with one key. I've ordered one off of ebay instead of paying $60 or so for a new PATS key as I've heard. Do I really need to have a dealer or locksmith program the second key or can I do it myself? Also, if I have to have it programmed, how much will it cost on average?
You will have to have the dealership program it. The only way you can program a key is if you already have the two that came with the car. So the whole system needs to be programmed for the new keys.
In the Toronto area I use a locksmith and it's $60 including the key. Most dealerships can't do it so they call a locksmith and they stick it to you with a double charge.
You can also find the odd locksmith that will program keys cheaper than a dealership, so it's not like you only have one choice of places to go for programming. Call around and get some prices and find out if the locksmith can program them. Only a few locksmiths invest in the programming machines.
In order for you to program a NEW key, you have to have TWO original keys that came with the car. In your case any Ford dealer will help but like you said it is expensive.
I am not sure whether a locksmith can help you program one.
I programmed two new keys for my car( one spare and one for the bypass module for remote start alarm) and it is not difficult to do.
Actually, in the owners manual you will find a "how to" in programming a key or when you order something from eBAY a "how to program it" is included.
it was going to cost me $190.00 for a new key for my car. i lost one of the origanals and now that its getting down to around 0 degrees up here i wanted an extra key when they told me that i just laphed. it still cost me 20 dollers just for a key for hte door so i can lock my car and let it warm up and unlock it when i leave. Its a rip off!
it was going to cost me $190.00 for a new key for my car. i lost one of the origanals and now that its getting down to around 0 degrees up here i wanted an extra key when they told me that i just laphed. it still cost me 20 dollers just for a key for hte door so i can lock my car and let it warm up and unlock it when i leave. Its a rip off!
Until someone jimmys your door and has a free car without doing any real work since the key was left in the ignition. I plan on putting remote start on the wifes car like my truck has, but I have to get my new key programmed once I get it from ebay.
Wow, I called my local ford dealer today to check on the price of programming my pats key once I receive it. He said $80. That's rediculous. Any place else I can go that might be cheaper that anyone knows of? Would you think that the GMC dealer I bought the car from would be able to do it?
Yeah that is very expensive, You have to take it to the dealership because the computer will need to be calibrated with the key, The dealership I work for charges $20 it doesnt take much time for them to program it most of the time is spent waiting on the computer to do the work.
i spent 240 dollars for two keys and remotes, the keys at the dealer where only 30 dollars...but the programing was 80 dollars. i only had one key to start with...they do cost alot of money
Note to all those out there with two keys. Read the above and heed.
Now is the time to buy and program a third key before you lose one of the others.
You can buy one for $20-25 or less now and program it yourself following the owner's manual proceedure. Wait until you lose a key and you must use a dealer to program it at substantial cost.
This post was about programming with only one. When I bought the car, we were only given one, didn't think to ask about a second. Now, it'll cost $80 to get it programmed.
Why? Well, it does make some sense. If you could self-program a new key with only one key, a valet or parking lot attentant could make a copy. By requiring two keys for self-programming, you can lend you key to someone and they cannot make a copy that will start the car.
Of course, a dealer doesn't have to charge $80, but if you look at their hourly rates and the use of the machine they had to buy to do it, it makes some sense. Dealers overcharge for a lot of things due to their cost structure.
Hourly rates, I agree. The machine does all the work though, except for the few minutes of pushing buttons or typing things in. $80's a bit rediculous.
Do you think If I called another Ford Dealer, they might have a cheaper price?
"Do you think If I called another Ford Dealer, they might have a cheaper price?"
Wouldn't hurt to try. The $80 is at the hign end of the range I've heard. When I bought my Focus, the saleswoman explained very carefully about the keys and programming, recommending I buy a key ASAP for $20 as if I lost one it would cost $50 for the programming. Obviously she had some unhappy customers that lost keys in the past.
you can get the keys cut at selected places, but not everyone cuts these keys.
Once you get the new blank cut, you can still get it programmed at some (very few) locksmiths. They will need a special machine to program the new key, and the locksmiths are usually a lot cheaper than getting it programmed at a dealer.
Here's an example: (prices are Canadian)
I called a dealer and the said $45 for the blank key and 1 hour of labour to program it, which their rate was $110. A total of $155.
I called a locksmith and he said $45 for the blank, and $40 to program with the machine. I told him I had a blank already, so he said $5 to cut it and $40 to program with the machine. (I bought 2 blanks from eBay)
once you get your new keys programmed check out a site called streetkeys.com, that's where I got my extra key for about $17.00. The whole program sequence takes about 30 seconds to do it yourself. Keep that extra in a safe spot so you aren't left with only one key in the future.
It isnt the same car,,,,,,, But the same BS.. I have a 97 Jag.. Bought an extra key, ask the Jag dealer what it takes to program it.. "OH, a tech needs to use a computer to program it" $80... BS! I found online.... 1 click blink the lights, 2 pushes, done..... $80 is total BS,,,, at least for the Jag.. Maybe the Focus is the same..
kodpkd - sounds like your Jag has a key with a built in remote, like the key fob that comes with the Focus.
THAT is easier to program to the car, did an extra for my Focus and all you need is ALL the fobs you want to use on hand at the same time.
The Focus KEY on the other hand, has an RFID chip inside, and the car's computer has to recognize that chip to allow the car to start.
The programming assumption, as mentioned above, is that anyone with TWO keys already in the system is likely to be an owner or authorized user - so an additional key can be added by that person to the list.
If it was easy, it wouldn't be much of a "security" system...
Thank you for the info.... You are correct the Jag key fob is different than the new Focus remote key. It is all about security. I think I will get a 3rd key in case I loose a key. BUT,,,,,,,, I still think it's a total rip off when a tech geek gets $80 to program a key for a car you just spent $$$$$$$$$$$ on for 30 seconds of work..
With the current shop labor rates (at least everywhere I've seen), that's less than an hour's worth - and I've yet to see a shop that charges less than .5 hrs. for anything.
I'm sure I'll whine if I manage to lose a key B4 I get around to getting a third (Car came with two). So far I just bought a second fob so at least I'd have two of them. It's one of those things you tend to put off until it's too late, 'cause you don't need it TODAY....
My REAL whine about shop rates is the sad fact that in the last 30 plus years, MOST of the increase in rates has gone to the expenses of simply maintaining a shop facility - NOT to the people doing the work.... Mechanics used to get approx. 1/3rd of the shop rate in pay, now it's down to approx. 1/5th, with a FEW being lucky enough to pocket 1/4. And the largest cost increase is insurance, since lawsuits are the "Get Rich Quick" scheme of the era....
Proprietary hardware & software to diagnose & maintain vehicles costs the shops tens of thousands, we're lucky with the OBD laws that "generic" codes can be read with "generic" equipment - NOT the case when dealing with ANYTHING other than automobiles sold in the USA, or ones that use that standard for convenience....
I have a Ford transit Connect. The dealer cannot even cut keys. Only their supplier [Motorcraft?] can do it
While keys may be expensive
I have a 'dumb' key hidden on the outside someplace and a 'real' key hidden on the inside someplace. Two spare keys at home.
No matter what, I can get home rather try to figure out how to tow a car out of an airport garage with a circular ramp.
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