Hi
I've got a Mk6 escort estate as a run about and the key has snapped
Ford have told me that they can't just cut me one key with the red chip in it, they can only do three - one red and the other two black with the red chip in them - at a cost of £60 plus an hours labour to code the keys to my imobiliser which is another 65 fucking quid

What i need to know is if i go to the scrappers or ebay and buy a full lock set, will ford be able to code them to my imobiliser and do i need the totally red key to do this cos all of them on ebay are missing it.

cheeRS

 

so can you not just get one cut from timpsons or any other key cutters they program keys i know fords have stopt the red key as with out it you couldnt do anything with programing i think if youve still got the red key you can program it your self just put the red key in turn it on for and off then stick your new unprogramed key in and it should be done

 

yeah i've not got the totally red key just the black one with the red chip in it

 

Sorry mate .. Because it is the Red key that you dont have ... or is knackered ...
this is a dealer job. All the codes have to be cleared out of ECU on the computer, and new codes programmed in.

You really should not be using any RED key daily .. only for emergency situations!

Scrap parts wont help much. You need a RED key .. the master. If you got a complete set, including red key, Dealer would still have to reprogramme the lot to get it working!

The dealer costs are mostly in the programming time.

 

i didn't know about this red key stuff when i bought the car, all it came with was one black key that has now broken.
after speaking to ford today it seems the cheapest solution is to buy a full lock set from the scrappers and replace all the locks and ignition barrel and then get ford to reprograme it, but this is still an expensive doo.

the guy at ford said all i need is two black keys with the red chip, not the totally red one is that true?

 

perhaps a hunt around the internet might show you how to reprogram the keys yours self - so long as no extra equipment is needed.

 

what a mates used to do to save money for people was to remove the chip from teh key witht a scribe and put this in you r newly cut key, with some superglue to hold it in , jobs a goodun

 

thats a wicked idea Dave, never thought of that, it worth a go and will save me shit loads if it works