Transponder key losing programming?

[Tdbo]

I had a situation with the Ranger in my signature today that has me baffled.
Got in the truck today, drove 25 miles today, and parked it.
Came out, put key in it and it would not start. Tried everything to get it started and finally on a whim decided to hit the remote start. Ripped right off.
As I went about the rest of my agenda, it did the same thing 3 times out of 4 stops. Started right up with the remote.
Drove home and got my spare key, put it in the ignition and the truck started.
Ended up tearing the kick panel off the dash to get the transponder key hooked up to the remote. Put that key in the ignition and it started right up.
Took both the working keys, went to the local Ford dealer and had another one cut. Took it out to the truck, programmed it, and it worked fine. Took the problematic key, programmed it, and it appears to be working fine now. Guys at the dealer never heard of that happening.
Fortunately, I now have a backup for the backup so it will be much easier to deal with should this happen again. Any ideas why this would have occurred?

 

[dishdude]

Is the bad key a factory or aftermarket?

 

[Tdbo]

Factory.

 

[dishdude]

Well that blows my cloneable key theory!

 

[bdcardinal]

Sometimes I have seen intermittent issues with the PATS transceiver that is mounted around the ignition cylinder. 3W1Z-15607-AA is the p/n. It was smart of you to keep 2 programmed keys. Avoiding having to pay to have a key programmed with a scan tool is ideal unless you have a hookup at the dealer or a locksmith.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Sometimes I have seen intermittent issues with the PATS transceiver that is mounted around the ignition cylinder. 3W1Z-15607-AA is the p/n. It was smart of you to keep 2 programmed keys. Avoiding having to pay to have a key programmed with a scan tool is ideal unless you have a hookup at the dealer or a locksmith.



Thanks for the response.
Should this happen again, is the transceiver a major expense to replace?
I have always tried to maintain at least two working keys on all the Fords I have owned for this reason.
This has motivated me enough that I am going to stop procrastinating and get a third key cut for the Mustang when it comes out of storage in the Spring.

 

[bdcardinal]

The part itself is around $41 and to replace it you take off the steering column shrouding and follow the connector. Pretty straightforward.

 

[Tdbo]

Sounds good.
Thanks again.

 

[HTSS_TR]

This is one of the reasons I hate newer vehicle's sophisticated functions. All my cars have nothing as complicate as this transponder key. The old fashion way works all the time.

 

[Jim_Truett]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
This is one of the reasons I hate newer vehicle's sophisticated functions. All my cars have nothing as complicate as this transponder key. The old fashion way works all the time.


? I'm pretty sure the bottom three cars in your sig use a transponder key.

 

[HTSS_TR]

The Volvo is my daughter's car, I rarely drive it so I don't know.

The Honda S2000 key is very small and thin so it may not have a micro chip in it, I don't use/have the remote door lock flop on key chain.

The MB E430 may have or may not have it, I don't know.

One thing I know for sure is non of the cars in my signature has remote starter key.

 

[Jim_Truett]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR


The Honda S2000 key is very small and thin so it may not have a micro chip in it, I don't use/have the remote door lock flop on key chain.


A 2004 S2000 definitely has Honda's Immobilizer system with a transponder chip in the key. Back then the keys were still pretty slim.

 

[Andrew1972]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
This is one of the reasons I hate newer vehicle's sophisticated functions. All my cars have nothing as complicate as this transponder key. The old fashion way works all the time.


Trying to justify driving around in rolling relics?