BlackBeast
Member
- Joined
- August 26, 2014
- Messages
- 18
- Reaction score
- 3
- City, State
- Bellevue, WA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2008 Sport Track Limited
I thought I'd share my experience in case anyone else wants to try this. I bought a integrated flip key from eBay because I was annoyed by having a separate remote and key.
The one I bought was just a shell - it included the blank key, and the case with the button silicone skin. I had to transfer the internals and battery from my OEM remote into the chassis of the flip key. However, everything fits correctly.
Issue 1: You have to remove the key blade from the chassis to get it cut - it won't fit properly in the machine. Be careful not to loose the spring that flips the key
It flung out when I opened it and it took me 10 minutes to find it
Issue 2: We have a transponder in our keys - without it, the key will turn but the truck won't start if it doesn't detect the transponder chip. If I held the keys together while I turned the ignition it would start, but holding the original key against the steering column would not start when I turned the new key, so it has to be really close to the key barrel.
There is a little slot inside the flip key to hold the transponder chip, but there didn't seem to be an easy way to open our key (the black end) to get it out. So I took some box cutters and got to work
If you cut along the seam of the plastic slowly until you can separate the two sides of the key, you'll see a round section inside that the key end hooks around. The chip is molded into that round plastic section. Be very careful not to cut into the chip - it is hard to see because it's the same color as the plastic. Once you've identified it, you can carefully peel it out.
After I transferred the chip into the new flip key case and closed it back up, the ignition detected the chip in the new flip key and it started right up. Now that I have the chip, I can also experiment with other integrated key solutions.
I didn't really take pics, but if I open it back up, I'll post some pics.
The one I bought was just a shell - it included the blank key, and the case with the button silicone skin. I had to transfer the internals and battery from my OEM remote into the chassis of the flip key. However, everything fits correctly.
Issue 1: You have to remove the key blade from the chassis to get it cut - it won't fit properly in the machine. Be careful not to loose the spring that flips the key
It flung out when I opened it and it took me 10 minutes to find itIssue 2: We have a transponder in our keys - without it, the key will turn but the truck won't start if it doesn't detect the transponder chip. If I held the keys together while I turned the ignition it would start, but holding the original key against the steering column would not start when I turned the new key, so it has to be really close to the key barrel.
There is a little slot inside the flip key to hold the transponder chip, but there didn't seem to be an easy way to open our key (the black end) to get it out. So I took some box cutters and got to work
If you cut along the seam of the plastic slowly until you can separate the two sides of the key, you'll see a round section inside that the key end hooks around. The chip is molded into that round plastic section. Be very careful not to cut into the chip - it is hard to see because it's the same color as the plastic. Once you've identified it, you can carefully peel it out.
After I transferred the chip into the new flip key case and closed it back up, the ignition detected the chip in the new flip key and it started right up. Now that I have the chip, I can also experiment with other integrated key solutions.
I didn't really take pics, but if I open it back up, I'll post some pics.
