
Signature
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com
>> I just bought a 2002 Ranger and I did not realize that with a single
>> key I am SOOL if I wish to make a dup.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>Who'd you buy it from? If you got it at a dealer insist on a second key. I got
>a free second key that way when I bought my 2000 Taurus.
A dealer is supposed to know better about how the keys work and give
you the two required keys. They can't claim ignorance and make it
stick, but you might have to make the General Manager or Owner waste
an afternoon in Small Claims Court and a few minutes getting slapped
around by the Judge to get that message across. ;-P
>If you got it from an individual, follow the other's advice.
I strongly suggest that you bite the bullet and have a locksmith
make you a few copies of the transponder key, then stick one of those
'master' keys in a bank safe-deposit box or a home safe along with the
vehicle's Title Slip. Somewhere it won't get lost. Because if you
lose that last key before getting a backup made, you're in a Heap O'
Trouble.
No rules against calling around to local locksmiths and checking
prices. There are several ways to lower the price a little: You
drive there (don't make them come to you), you can take the steering
column covers or the door panels apart in advance and put them back
together when done (if needed) so the locksmith just has to do his
thing and be done. Do it in the middle of the week when things are
slow. Bring a Six-Pack of the locksmith's favorite beverage as a
peace offering...
And if you tape the key inside the column you just made it
blindingly simple to steal the car. They either punch the ignition
lock and it starts (because you've disabled the system), or they
figure out what you did and retrieve the key with a simple
screwdriver.
(If the car is stolen and recovered, and their claims adjuster can't
find any signs of forced entry, your insurance company is going to be
very suspicious...)
Be very lucky it's a simple transponder key and not one of the more
elaborate electronic key security systems that costs you between
$1,000 - $2,000 (and a few days delay with the car out of service) to
get rekeyed and the security computer reprogrammed.
--<< Bruce >>--
Ashton Crusher - 28 May 2007 21:45 GMT
>>> I just bought a 2002 Ranger and I did not realize that with a single
>>> key I am SOOL if I wish to make a dup.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>an afternoon in Small Claims Court and a few minutes getting slapped
>around by the Judge to get that message across. ;-P
I must have missed the law that says every used car must be sold with
two keys.
>>If you got it from an individual, follow the other's advice.
>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>
> --<< Bruce >>--
Tom Adkins - 28 May 2007 22:08 GMT
> I must have missed the law that says every used car must be sold with
> two keys.
Nah, no law. It is a shitty business practice, though, and a SCC judge will take
that into account. It wouldn't really be worth the bother regardless.
Mortimer Schnerd, RN - 29 May 2007 00:15 GMT
> I must have missed the law that says every used car must be sold with
> two keys.
Who can say? I bought my Taurus when it was one year old from a Ford dealer as
a program car. It came with one key. Once I realized I was missing a second
key, I went back to the dealership and accosted the owner right there in his
showroom. There was no argument... he just immediately instructed one of his
minions to make a second key available to me at no charge.

Signature
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com
Bruce L. Bergman - 29 May 2007 02:25 GMT
>> I must have missed the law that says every used car must be sold with
>> two keys.
Not a law anywhere AFAIK, just good business practices.
>Who can say? I bought my Taurus when it was one year old from a Ford dealer as
>a program car. It came with one key. Once I realized I was missing a second
>key, I went back to the dealership and accosted the owner right there in his
>showroom. There was no argument... he just immediately instructed one of his
>minions to make a second key available to me at no charge.
Even if the minions chose to ignore it, the Owner knew that you'd be
in deep trouble with only one transponder key if it came up missing.
And he'd rather fix it now and make you happy than have you in there
on a rampage later, after you had to get it towed in and they charge a
small fortune to tear the car apart enough to figure out the
transponder coding, get the key code off a lock cylinder, and make you
new keys.
Because the three or four people in the showroom ready to buy new
cars are going to hear the commotion when you hit the ceiling, get
spooked, and bolt. And that will cost him a whole lot more than
making you a second key.
--<< Bruce >>--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN - 29 May 2007 05:03 GMT
> And he'd rather fix it now and make you happy than have you in there
> on a rampage later, after you had to get it towed in and they charge a
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> spooked, and bolt. And that will cost him a whole lot more than
> making you a second key.
All true. I was nice about it until I knew whether or not he was going to be
nice about it. And he was, so I stayed that way.
It's been my experience that ranting and raving on initial contact has
unfortunate unintended consequences for the ranter. It motivates everybody to
try to f.ck him. Better to be nice.

Signature
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com
Ted Mittelstaedt - 30 May 2007 08:27 GMT
> And if you tape the key inside the column you just made it
> blindingly simple to steal the car. They either punch the ignition
> lock and it starts (because you've disabled the system), or they
> figure out what you did and retrieve the key with a simple
> screwdriver.
Except that the thieves know which vehicles have the transponder
systems and unless the owner did something stupid like taping
the key on the OUTSIDE of the column where it's clearly visible,
the thieves aren't going to even bother attempting to steal it. Instead
they will just go to the vehicle next to it that doesen't have a
transponder and steal that one.
Ted
Tom Adkins - 31 May 2007 00:06 GMT
>> And if you tape the key inside the column you just made it
>> blindingly simple to steal the car. They either punch the ignition
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Ted
Or drag it up onto a flat bed.