New Car? Make sure youve got 3 keys!

angelatgraceland · 22 January 2006 at 1:26AM

A short while ago a friend of mine told me of the expense and almost impossible task of obtaining a key for her new Ford Focus. When they bought the car, they were only goven one key. When trying to get another one cut, they were informed that it wouldnt work as it had to be proggramed as its computerised. To do this you need TWO keys! Therefore, if youve lost or damaged one, you have a big problem.

Well this week Ive just got a new Ford and I learned from that lesson. I was given two keys, and immediately had a third cut and programmed before leaving the showroom. Now, if one gets damaged or lost, I still have two keys so that I can get another key cut.

I thought this information just may save somebody a lot of trouble in the future so I realy hope it helps. Im sure it applies to all programmed keys and not just to Ford-if in doubt, ask your dealer.

ambergold · 22 January 2006 at 1:47AM

How much did it cost to have the extra key cut? Sorry but I dont understand why you need to have a third key cut

If you have two keys could you not get a copy of the spare if or when you need it rather than waste money now on getting an extra key cut in case some day you lose your key?

balsingh · 22 January 2006 at 2:16AM

I recently bought a Focus privately off its 1st owner (02 plate). I was given 1 programmed key with all the buttons and 1 manual key. The owner told me that was all they were given when buying the car from Ford,

angelatgraceland · 22 January 2006 at 2:40AM

If youve got 2 keys and one gets lost you then only have one key.
You need 2 keys to programme a new one. How can you programme a new one if you only have one left>? You need 2 keys. The thirdis to cover me in case I lost one permanently(assuming Id had only the 2) If I lose one now I still have 2 and so can get further key programmed-if I only have 2 now and lose one Im stuck!

angelatgraceland · 22 January 2006 at 2:41AM

ambergold wrote:

How much did it cost to have the extra key cut? Sorry but I dont understand why you need to have a third key cut If you have two keys could you not get a copy of the spare if or when you need it rather than waste money now on getting an extra key cut in case some day you lose your key?

If or when I need one-Id assume Id only have one key left and you need two keys to get a new one!

angelatgraceland · 22 January 2006 at 2:43AM

balsingh wrote:

I recently bought a Focus privately off its 1st owner (02 plate). I was given 1 programmed key with all the buttons and 1 manual key. The owner told me that was all they were given when buying the car from Ford,

Yours is a bit different perhaps. But in saying that, I believe youl find that your "manual" key was in fact programmed by ford. None of my keys actually have any "buttons"-this is just extra. Keys without buttons are still programmed.Check with your dealer what would happen if you lost one, and how would you get a new one if you need 2 keys to programme one.

ambergold · 22 January 2006 at 3:00AM

Thanx angelatgraceland. Why does it take two keys to get a new one I don't understand that bit and how much does it cost to get the extra key cut?

Cardew · 22 January 2006 at 10:30AM

When keys are 'cut' all keys are re-programmed for the individual car. So if you found the lost key it would not work.

I was told by Toyota it is about £40 to programme a remote key. I have read in motoring forums of it costing up to a couple of hundred pounds with some makes.(£170 for a VW, £120 for a Citroen)

I was also told by Toyota that on their newer cars you have to change the battery on the key fob within 30 seconds or so, otherwise you need to get the key re-programmed. If this happens you have to get all of the keys re-programmed.

On a slightly different tack, my wife has an 5 year old Toyota. The battery in the key fob needed changing. This is a standard Panasonic CR1616 'button' battery of the type used in watches etc. Toyota wanted £13.90 for 2 batteries. They are available in shops for £1-£2 and on the internet for pence.

franney · 22 January 2006 at 12:01PM

We took ours to the local dry cleaners where they cut keys and can also programme chipped keys. All key-cutting shops should now have the special boxes that read and write the codes.
It cost us £25 for a chipped key, we only needed one key (don't know why you say you need two keys to get it done)
How much did it cost for you to get your key cut at the showroom?

jackbremer · 22 January 2006 at 1:39PM

what???

two keys needed to get another one made?

what kind of planet is this?

headcovers · 22 January 2006 at 1:57PM

I bought a Peugeot second hand from a dealer and they only gave us one key.

The key didn't work for the remote control locking, so we went to a Peugeot dealer who not only fixed the broken key so that it opened, closed and alarmed the car from remote, but also made us another key.

Admittedly it cost a fortune, but they still did it, so I think that the OP's warning whilst helpful for some is obviously not always relevant.

New Car? Make sure youve got 3 keys!

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