SEL Switchblade Key.

[EddieWinslow]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/280705802364 purchased that about 3 months ago (bought it before i got my car in from the factory). Finally after 3 months i have it working fully. read below for details if you wish

with many headaches, one being the canada post strike, I now finally have it fully working.


long story short, when i originally got the key, he sent me the unit with the wrong key blade, i messaged him and he right away sent me the proper blade.

While i was waiting for the blade i programmed the keyless entry remote. the instructions he sent me were wrong, so i had to experiment with the whole thing myself. finally finding the right combo and the remote works perfectly (actually has better range than the OEM key)

finding someone to cut the key was no easy chore, but did find a local locksmith who has a "laser key cutter". which isn't a laser cutter at all but just a small grinder that cuts into the side wall of the blade compared to just cutting groves into the sides. over 2 weeks of trying to find the proper code to decode the key and cut it. lots of calls by the locksmith to tech support for his machine. He is the only guy in the Windsor area that has one of these, so i had no choice but to wait.

after it was cut, programming the transponder chip inside was not working. emailed the guy again, he found out ford uses a new 80bit encryption compared to the older 60bit (these numbers could be wrong, i am just going from memory). anyways he sent me a new chip with instructions. changed the chip, tried the transponder programming again. it failed.

turns out the instructions again were wrong. I was the first 2012 focus customer he had, he assumed the programming for the remote and the transponder chip were all the same...they were not. experimenting i finally got it to work. in the end i now have a fully working Ford Flip key. video and pictures are posted below...

Emailed the guy back explained what i had to do. he stated that he will be updating all instructions for the 2012.
artiway is the seller on ebay (for his real name he goes by Welly), he is very easy to deal with. he is in Taiwan and shipped everything to me free of charge, and it only took a week.

For those like me that don't like the OEM key and find it big and annoying, i highly suggest this key. 55 bucks for the key. it cost me 25 bucks to get the key cut that will vary depending on who you have available to cut it. (My ford dealer couldn't cut them, same with mazda,VW, BMW, Mercedes etc). For those in the Windsor area Enterprise Locksmith was able to do it.

For those who are ordering, just make sure you tell the guy you have a 2012 so he can swap out the transponder and key blade for you, so you don't have to go through a 3 month fiasco like i did.


TL DR:
i have a working Flip/switchblade key that fully works with my 2012 Focus SEL. the ebay link is posted above.

YouTube Video

if you have any questions feel free to ask.

[Sponsor]

[Magnitude]

Wow, thats a pretty serious process for a key! I feel the same way about the OEM, so this is at the top of my list.

Great job, what was that vibrating in the video?

[EddieWinslow]

Originally Posted by Magnitude

Wow, thats a pretty serious process for a key! I feel the same way about the OEM, so this is at the top of my list.

Great job, what was that vibrating in the video?

yeah i bought this even before i got the car as when i did a test drive i hated the key. hopefully me being the lab rat i worked out all the quirks and it should be smooth sailing for anyone else buying one.

the vibrating was me getting a e-mail to my phone while using it to record. thing never stops

[Magnitude]

Good to know, I dont really need a key with built-in vibration. At least I dont think I do.

[SkyPilot]

thats a lot of hassle for a key man lol but glad to see you got it working.

now is what he originally sent ya is the key blade and chip that would work in older foci like my 04?

[EddieWinslow]

Originally Posted by SkyPilot

thats a lot of hassle for a key man lol but glad to see you got it working.

now is what he originally sent ya is the key blade and chip that would work in older foci like my 04?

yeah it was a lot, but again i was the lab rat testing this out for the 2012. so now that all the info that was needed is now figured out, should be a very easy process for everyone else.

the key can work with almost all focuses. on the ebay link he lists the year range that it will work for.

[chopper dave]

Can you measure the thickness of the switchblade key?

[EddieWinslow]

Originally Posted by chopper dave

Can you measure the thickness of the switchblade key?

1.5cm's thick...sorry only ruler i have at work is a metric one. but thanks to google and its handy conversion calculator:

1.5 centimeters = 0.590551181 inches


here is a picture of the side showing it in relation to the key blade

[iso3200]

Thanks for "taking one for the team". I'll definitely be doing this soon! I can't stand the oem key.

[EddieWinslow]

no problem happy to do it.

if anyone in here orders one and needs help with programming the key less entry or transponder chip let me know.