Who can cut a chipkey cheaply (I can do the programming)? Edit: Too late.

[CZroe]

On a '96 Ford Taurus, I can program the chipkey myself with only one remaining key. Ace Hardware is supposedly much cheaper than a dealer but even they charge $80 to do a chipkey and they made it sound like they won't help me if I provide my own blanks and programming.

My sister's last key fell off the keyset several times today due to a crampon losing the spring, so after that close call I just bought two blanks on eBay. I want to get this going before it's too late.

Edit: Too late. See post 10.

 

[Raizinman]

Whenever I purchase a new car, I always order off ebay two extra chipkeys blanks. I take them to Home Depot, Lowes, or a locksmith to have them cut the key. Then I program them using the owners manual from the car. Usually a special pattern of inserting the good key, turning the ignition key 4 or 5 times, put in blank key, soforth and soforth. Each manufacturer is different and there normally is a limit on the amount of keys you can copy. On a Mercedes I had, it required the dealer to cut the keys for me. It was a bit more than Home Depot, but they had better key cutting equipment. If you can't find anyone to cut the key, just go to the dealer. I believe they charged me $15 per key just to cut them.

 

[HarryLui]

I bought the chipkeys blank on eBay, too it to an ace and had them straight cut it. If one won't do it, go to another one.

 

[Gibson486]

My mazda has a chip key and it came with a wrong spare key to a different car. Problem is, i did not find out until a year after i bought it. Oh well....I guess i will have to be very careful so i do not lose my only key.

 

[kornphlake]

I bought a blank on ebay and had it cut at home depot for no charge. After I walked out of the store with the $30 cut blank in my hand I realized that if the key didn't work in the door I'd just wasted $30 and of all the keys I'd had copied at home depot only about 50% worked the first try. I got lucky and that key worked without problems, but I should have taken the blank to a locksmith instead. Call a few locksmiths and ask if they'll cut a blank you supply, some won't, some will, they won't guarantee the job though, if the key doesn't work you're out of luck.

 

[Vette73]

I got homedepot to cut mine. I buy one without a chip from them and go test on my door. If it unlocks my door I go back in and have them cut the rest.

I keep the non-chip one with me to show I already paid something so I have never been charged to cut the chipped keys.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

FYI the home depot and lowe's "quick cut" machines don't seem as consistent as the hardware store+old man that knows what he's doing.


Anytime you provide your own key like this is worth a trip to a locksmith

 

[CZroe]

FYI the home depot and lowe's "quick cut" machines don't seem as consistent as the hardware store+old man that knows what he's doing.


Anytime you provide your own key like this is worth a trip to a locksmith

The cost of a locksmith will quickly eat up any savings.

I bought the chipkeys blank on eBay, too it to an ace and had them straight cut it. If one won't do it, go to another one.

How much?

 

[KK]

I had one of my kids bend our windstar key and when I went to bend it back, it broke. I got my pocket knife out and whittled away most of the key until I got down to the chip. I bought a blank key that had a little compartment you could place the chip into. I took it down to Home Depot and they cut the key for me. I put the chip in and I was good to go. While researching during that episode, I saw where if you had 2 keys you can program a third by yourself, but if you only had one, then you were pretty much SOL and had to go to the dealer to get a replacement. After I got that one key going, I ordered another blank key with a chip in it, and went to Lowes to get it cut. Guy said he'd cut it, but couldn't guarantee it which is understandable. I did the programming sequence and so now I got a third just incase.

 

[CZroe]

Well, I ordered my blank chipkeys a couple days ago and just found out that my sister's keys are missing. She blames me too.

Basically, I was working with her and borrowed her keys to get my motorcycle gear out of her car. When I returned, the room with her purse had several other ladies' purses right next to her, they were all in the same room, and I didn't know any of them. They did not know I was her brother and probably thought I had no business unzipping any of the purses there, so I set them directly in front of her purse where she couldn't possibly miss them.

I guess someone moved them or knocked them off or something. I had to leave early on my motorcycle to go to my regular job, where I have my phone switched off. She couldn't reach me and probably assumed that I still had them or didn't return them because she's home now, without them, and furious at me saying that they are gone and that I'm going to be responsible for the costs of re-keying the vehicle if that's needed.

Fuuuuuuu...they had better turn up. She says that she's asked everyone already. D:

 

[Ichinisan]

Pssst. YGPM.

 

[Vette73]

If you live near North VA I can program new keys for $20 each, yes even if you don;t have a orignal. Just need the chipped key cut.

i.e. get a ford dealer to cut a regular key for the car and have someone like me with a programer program the new keys.