why does my ex key work in my wifes ex

[Stic-o]

I put my key into my wife truck today opening for her and said look how stupid I am putting my key in your truck! and then it turned! I was like what the hell! My says "yea so" I said I've heard of this before but do you know what the odds are buying 2 truck at two different times with the same year and it works!

Now I have try the engine, though I seriously doubt that will work cause of the pats system.

 

[Hartman]

Don't know if this is true, but I heard there are only like 10 different key variations.

 

[boominXplorer]

going to the mall parking lot.......

 

[Digger196]

my X key will start my friends 95 F-150 but not get in the door. his key works the same for my X

 

[explr1]

I just went to my local Ford dealer and was able to unlock three out of 11 of their used Explorers/Mountaineers!!! OH S#!T!!! Thats very scary

 

[Nick C.]

I worked with a girl that could get in my old Topaz with her Tempo key and vice versa. Trust...not so fun.

 

[Robb]

I will have to try tomorrow. This will RULE if I can open both my Xs with the same key!!!!

 

[EXRob]

Yeah, I was aware of this, although I didn't know how bad it was.

I was at my friends house and his neighbor has an Explorer. I dont know the guy and my friend doesnt exactly care for him, and he asked if he could borrow my Explorer key to try to open his (Explorer). I said no, for one thing I wasn't sticking around, and didn't trust the guy.

But yeah, this is quite unnerving. Maybe Ford should change their slogan from "If you haven't looked at Ford lately, look again" to:

"If you haven't stolen a Ford lately, try again!"

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

That is some frightening information.

Nice new slogan Rob!!!

 

[Nate1]

I'll have to try this

 

[dman726749]

my mon opned another explorer with her key in a parking lot and the owner came out and they got into a big fight as to who's truck it acually was. my moms truck was two cars down.

 

[RobertF]

This is why when you buy a used vehicle you have it rekeyed by a professional locksmith. Between sloppy 10year old locks and god knows how many of his friends had keys.... it's a good idea I also like to get a new set of plates in case someone had it out for him

 

[EXRob]

Originally posted by RobertF
This is why when you buy a used vehicle you have it rekeyed by a professional locksmith. Between sloppy 10year old locks and god knows how many of his friends had keys.... it's a good idea I also like to get a new set of plates in case someone had it out for him

Good point about the plates. I always get new plates anyways, to be on the safe side.

 

[Pheonixx77]

my ex key opens a buddy's 92 xlt, however t wont start it.

 

[dogfriend]

This isn't just a Ford thing - I remember reading a newspaper article years ago where someone in the San Jose area had a set of "master" keys to get into most Hondas, Toyotas and Mitsubishis. They stole a bunch of cars before they were finally caught.

When I worked for a heavy duty truck manufacturer, there were reportedly only 20 different key combinations available. Even worse, some of the customers had discovered that it was possible to open the sleeper box door by pounding on the outside in the right place to release the lock with no key needed at all.

 

[springtensi0n]

while driving i can take my key out of the ignition. only one way though. when i flip it upside down, it doesnt pull out. if i wanted to, i could start it with out a key =/ just dont turn it all the way when you shut it off. my friends 89 caddie is the same way...

 

[Jefe]

Back before I had a car, I asked to borrow a car and my mom gave me a set of keys. I went out and got in her car, and the key wouldn't turn. . .after a few tries it finally did and started right up. Just then my mom comes out, very surprised to see her car running, telling me that she gave me my dads keys to his Explorer, and I was sitting in her Taurus SHO.

Originally posted by springtensi0n
while driving i can take my key out of the ignition. only one way though. when i flip it upside down, it doesnt pull out. if i wanted to, i could start it with out a key =/ just dont turn it all the way when you shut it off. my friends 89 caddie is the same way...

I had a Toyota P/U that had a key so worn down that you could do that. . i decided to go get a new key since I was afraid I'd leave the ACC or Ignition on one time and drain the battery

Originally posted by Stic-o
Now I have try the engine, though I seriously doubt that will work cause of the pats system.

Yes, but if the key DOES turn the ignition, you could reprogram the PATS system to accept both keys

 

[jrgaylor]

It is true, that their is only so many key combinations.
on older vehicles it is way bad, for example in the 60's and 70's there was only around 6 for gm, ford and chrysler, newer vehicles have more combinations, some makes have around 20 in the 80's, in the 90's though I think they went up to 150's. All these numbers are kinda fuzzy, I do not know if you still can, but you use to be able to buy the whole set of master keys for any make from napa or carquest ( I think one of those two?)
Like we say at work "Locks only keep the honest people honest"
Joe

 

[nserafini]

While not paying attention one afternoon, I drove my '93 taurus to work. At the end of the day, I noticed that I didn't have my key. I figured I'd lost it during the day. So, I called my wife, had her bring the extra set and drove home. After getting home, I realized I had given her MY KEY for the taurus a few days before.

The key for my '93 Explore had been starting my Taurus, and I never even thought twice !!!

Disturbing. All aomeone has to do is go to the mall with a set of keys and walk around for 20 minutes ....

 

[MattStarr]

My key for my 97 X will open the door and start my moms 96 mercury sable.