Key change

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Jim Tiberio - 25 Aug 2004 01:22 GMT

We had a set of keys turning up missing while a crew was doing some
improvements. These are for a 2004 Explorer. Does anyone know the cost of
getting new keys and locks and also can the remotes be re-programmed?
Thanks.

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Ratbert - 25 Aug 2004 01:43 GMT

> We had a set of keys turning up missing while a crew was doing some
> improvements. These are for a 2004 Explorer. Does anyone know the cost of
> getting new keys and locks and also can the remotes be re-programmed?
> Thanks.

I bought a new ignition key cylinder for my 96 for about $40, I think.
The locksmith I bought it from took my old key and cut a new key that
works in the doors and in the new ignition cylinder**. Then I popped
the old ignition cylinder in and all was well. If you did this, whoever
took the keys could still unlock the doors, but couldn't turn the
ignition. But if you have remote controls, you probably have an alarm,
and you have to use the remote to unlock the car anyway. On our other
car, we never use the keys in the door. If we tried, the alarm would
disable the car for something like 30 minutes or until the remote is used.

Yes, you can reprogram the remotes. Your manual may have instructions,
or someone else here may know.

**Apparently, the ignition uses the first few notches on the key, while
the doors use the last few notches on the key (or maybe vice versa).
This means that either the ignition or the doors can be re-keyed without
re-keying the other. It also means that my old keys would still open
the doors if necessary. This makes them a pretty good spare key, in
case I lock my real key inside.

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Big Shoe - 25 Aug 2004 13:54 GMT

Last time I had to replace the ignition lock, I found out that the new
key can be cut to work the new ignition as well as the doors. The
comment that the key has a different area for the ignition and the
doors was correct at that time. However, there were several different
ignition locks and you had to use the right one to work with the
doors.

>> We had a set of keys turning up missing while a crew was doing some
>> improvements. These are for a 2004 Explorer. Does anyone know the cost of
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>the doors if necessary. This makes them a pretty good spare key, in
>case I lock my real key inside.

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Ratbert - 26 Aug 2004 01:22 GMT

> Last time I had to replace the ignition lock, I found out that the new
> key can be cut to work the new ignition as well as the doors. The
> comment that the key has a different area for the ignition and the
> doors was correct at that time. However, there were several different
> ignition locks and you had to use the right one to work with the
> doors.

Yes, my locksmith said he had lots of different ones (I seem to recall a
number like thirty or forty) for Fords, and that the Ford dealer in town
calls him when he needs them. There are too many for the Ford dealer to
keep in stock.

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Jim Tiberio - 27 Aug 2004 17:31 GMT

> > We had a set of keys turning up missing while a crew was doing some
> > improvements. These are for a 2004 Explorer. Does anyone know the cost of
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Yes, you can reprogram the remotes. Your manual may have instructions,
> or someone else here may know.

Thanks, I didn't have much luck with locksmiths, they all told me that all
they could do was fix the ignition but access to the vehicle could still be
gained due to programming issues. I ended up just going through Ford, the
cost for keys, ignition and door locks was $175, Labor was $225 and I picked
up a new fb on EBAY for $15 shipped. I hate to spend the money when the
keys could turn up at any time but we know where they were last seen and
they are no longer there. The last thing I want is my wife to come out from
work and find someone sitting in her car

> **Apparently, the ignition uses the first few notches on the key, while
> the doors use the last few notches on the key (or maybe vice versa).
> This means that either the ignition or the doors can be re-keyed without
> re-keying the other. It also means that my old keys would still open
> the doors if necessary. This makes them a pretty good spare key, in
> case I lock my real key inside.

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