Ford F-150 PAT system for

Question

I have a 2004 Ford F-150 XL. i went to get a key made and it said the key had a chip in it but got one made to open the doors at least, but it started the car fine and i drove it home. could anything bad happen from using a non PAT key

Answer 1

It will start the vehicle a limited number of times (I think it's 15.) Then, the vehicle will shut down and have to be taken to the dealership before it starts again.

Answer 2

Did you have it on a key ring with a PATS key? If you're using a non PATS key and there's a PATS key within a few inches of the steering column, it will work. The sensor is in the steering column and as long as it's receiving a signal, it will start. If you do end up with another Pats key, make sure when you're programming it that you don't have your programmed key near the steering column, or it won't program the new key. There's no grace period or "15 starts", no PATS key, no power to the fuel pump.Otherwise the whole anti-theft purpose of the PATS system would be a waste of time,you could just punch the lock and steal it as easily as the Super duty's can be stolen.   I'd wager you threw the new non PATS key on your key chain with your existing PATS key and that's why it's starting, go try it with the two keys separated.

Edited to add: PATS keys are dirt cheap on eBay, and if you have two working PATS keys you can program the new ones yourself for free. They come with programing instructions and they worked great for me.

Answer 3

Can't imagine why you truck starts without the original key, but as someone else pointed out there may have been a remote start installed at some point.

An old trick with the remote start systems was to tape the original key inside the plastic cover for the column. That way the sensor would see the correct key code and allow the vehicle to start.

I did this with my truck since the dealer told me that a new key would be about $100 for the key and $25 to program it. I figured $125 was way too much for a spare key.  

Answer 4

I have bounced this question off several Ford techs and we all came to the same conclusion, the only way that scenario should happen is if someone has installed a remote start system on this vehicle and have a module installed to allow the truck to start without the Key in it or as the previous answer stated there is a programmed key on your keyring.  The other possibility is the truck doesn't have PATs, was your original key a large plastic key?