Down to one keyfob

[angusog]

Hello all, I've done a search on this but not found any solution.
I have a '97 Explorer and one of my two keyfobs now doesn't work (not the battery). I'm worried that the other keyfob breaks as then I'll be stranded..
Can the immobiliser be by-passed?...it seems more trouble than it's worth taking into account the radio interference problem.
Also, has anyone found out how to program a new remote, supposing I can find one of the Single Button (Bosch) types?
Thanks in advance.

Angus

 

[DjDom]

Go to ebay, buy a new fob for about $10.

Programming it is as easy as turning the key to the run position 8 times fast, back and forth withing 20 seconds I think it is. Don't actually start the truck.

Then press the lock button on the keyfob and it's done.

 

[angusog]

Go to ebay, buy a new fob for about $10.

Programming it is as easy as turning the key to the run position 8 times fast, back and forth withing 20 seconds I think it is. Don't actually start the truck.

Then press the lock button on the keyfob and it's done.

Thanks Dj, I've tried that and it doesn't work on mine. I think that method refers to the keyfobs which have more than one button. Mine is the Bosch single button type and unfortunately for me, that seems to be a problem one.

I'd love to by-pass the damn immobiliser. What with the radio interference problem you can get with this type and the keyfob problems it's just a pain.

 

[DjDom]

Ohh, it's an aftermarket system then?
Yeah, i had a cheap system in my truck, when someone would unlock their car, it would mess with my alarm.

I pulled the whole thing out and put a new one in.
If you have any experience with electrical, you could pull the alarm out and put a new one in.

 

[angusog]

Ohh, it's an aftermarket system then?
Yeah, i had a cheap system in my truck, when someone would unlock their car, it would mess with my alarm.

I pulled the whole thing out and put a new one in.
If you have any experience with electrical, you could pull the alarm out and put a new one in.

No it's the original system. My Ex has had only one previous owner (apart from the dealer I got it from). The dealer bought it from the original owners widow after he had a heart attack and died.
He was the service manager at the Wolverhampton (Midlands of England) Ford branch and he had just used it as a weekend car. It had 34,000 miles on the clock and what with the first owners job it obviously had a Full service history. I got it about 3 years ago and it's just turned over 40,000 miles now.
It's as original as they come.
I like the car, it runs as sweet as anything and starts first time every time.
But I think the immobiliser / keyfob / programming mystery is a BAD idea, probably why the '98 onwards models went to the new (pats) system.
I do have electrical experience but I'm not touching the system, I think it is quite involved..more than people seem to appreciate.

 

[DjDom]

It can't be a stock system if it's a 1 button fob. All the Ford Fobs looked the same back then. What you're describing is not a Ford fob, it's an aftermarket system.
Someone had to add it in.
Get it removed by a professional if you don't want to mess with it.

 

[BigRondo]

The OP is in Scotland. As far as I know, they have different security/alarms over there. Who knows? Hopefully the OP will return......................

 

[angusog]

It can't be a stock system if it's a 1 button fob. All the Ford Fobs looked the same back then. What you're describing is not a Ford fob, it's an aftermarket system.
Someone had to add it in.
Get it removed by a professional if you don't want to mess with it.

The keyfob has the correct Ford Logo on it.

The system is original, as is the whole vehicle.

I think this is the system which was installed in U.K. (right hand drive) vehicles. I think that after 1998 the single button fob sytem was replaced as there are some 3 or 4 button types around. The single button type seems to be rare / impossible to find here.

This problem crops up from time to time over here, check this link..

http://www.justanswer.com/ford/14gv3-re-programme-remote-single-button-key-fob.html

The post usually dries up suggesting that maybe the OP got nowhere as per the above example.
Note that the OP has been advised re the "turn the key 10 times" thing (doesn't work on the feyfob with the single button type sytem).

I'm waiting on someone here giving me pin numbers / info on how to bypass the immobiliser. Also waiting on an auto electrician friend who is on holiday, hopefully he will be able to help, especially if he has pin numbers to go on.

I am pretty scunnered with it all (a Scots word, here's a definition)...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=scunnered

I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks for the interest.

Angus

 

[DjDom]

Ah, that makes sense then. I didn't know you were in Scotland.
European systems were different. You know what, maybe Si knows. He had a UK Ex.

How to tag someone..
[MENTION=43299]blueka[/MENTION]

 

[blueka]

The UK Explorers had a single button fob for their first year, going to a 3 button fob from 98, they have an electronic immobiliser, that is turned off with the fob, you have to take it to a dealership to get another one programmed to work... a reputable alarm installer could probably bypass it and install something from clifford or something I suppose...

Incidentally, Fobs from North American Explorers don't work as they run on different frequencies..

There was a guy in South Wales that was parting them out, not sure if he's still running or not, you can try him, but, either way, it's gotta go to the dealership if you can find a working single button fob

Si