OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
You are screwed if you end up losing both keys.
Expedition has been sitting all summer. It needs upper/lower ball joints, tie-rod ends and a trans cooler line. We've only ever had one key for the truck, but two fobs. Never got around to making a 2nd key after the first one was misplaced years and years ago. All of the aforementioned front-end goodies save the cooler line were replaced back at around the 150,000Km mark, it now has ~300,000Km on it, and this generation of Ford loves front end parts so that considered, it has been pretty good.
Went to Ford to get a new key made based on the VIN. They told us that they do not keep a record past 10 years. This blew my mind. It blew the mind of my Chrysler buddies too, who can apparently make a key for anything ever recorded in the system when it became computerized, which means we are talking 80's easily. I believe this is the case for all the other manufacturers too. With the price of storage, I'm not sure what the heck Ford's logic is based on here but it means I have several expensive options:
1. Get a locksmith to disassemble the ignition to be able to create a new "original" key for the vehicle. Then have the ECM reprogrammed to accept the new key.
2. Get a whole new suite of locks and ignition from Ford, get them to reprogram the ECM to accept the new keys.
3. Go to the wreckers and find a similar vintage Expedition that has its key and take all the locks as well as the ECM and fit them to my vehicle.
4. A hybrid of #1 and #3 with a wreckers ECM but having my own key pattern ground onto a new key with the "mate" as the pairing source. Might have to use the donor ignition for this one temporarily to perform the procedure. Prevents a total vehicle rekey and Ford from having to flash the ECM.
and:
5. Say screw it, pull the wheels and tires off it along with the battery and replace it, since it is worth less than $2K at this point and the body is starting to go on it. The tires are only a couple of years old and probably worth $7-800 with the rims (LTX M/S2's). It has been a great winter beater these last few years but the salt and sand has really wreaked havoc on the body, despite it getting sprayed. The rockers below the front doors on either side look like swiss cheese, and this only really started at the end of last winter. Amazing how fast it progresses
My issue with #5 is that despite the value of the vehicle, in recent years it has received:
1. New rad
2. New rear diff seal
3. New brakes
4. New tires
5. New battery
6. New front-shaft u-joints
I can pull the battery and tires, but the other stuff is a little hard to swallow. I'm probably looking at more than what the vehicle is worth to do the above repairs in conjunction with the key issue. ARG! Was just going to cut out the rockers and put new repair panels in but the time and effort in conjunction with all these costs...........
Worst part is that of course it runs perfectly. Engine uses no oil, trans is fantastic. Would make a great beater for a mechanic who has wreckers access and some spare time. I travel more than I am home as of late so taking care of this in a timely manner is also an issue.
Expedition has been sitting all summer. It needs upper/lower ball joints, tie-rod ends and a trans cooler line. We've only ever had one key for the truck, but two fobs. Never got around to making a 2nd key after the first one was misplaced years and years ago. All of the aforementioned front-end goodies save the cooler line were replaced back at around the 150,000Km mark, it now has ~300,000Km on it, and this generation of Ford loves front end parts so that considered, it has been pretty good.
Went to Ford to get a new key made based on the VIN. They told us that they do not keep a record past 10 years. This blew my mind. It blew the mind of my Chrysler buddies too, who can apparently make a key for anything ever recorded in the system when it became computerized, which means we are talking 80's easily. I believe this is the case for all the other manufacturers too. With the price of storage, I'm not sure what the heck Ford's logic is based on here but it means I have several expensive options:
1. Get a locksmith to disassemble the ignition to be able to create a new "original" key for the vehicle. Then have the ECM reprogrammed to accept the new key.
2. Get a whole new suite of locks and ignition from Ford, get them to reprogram the ECM to accept the new keys.
3. Go to the wreckers and find a similar vintage Expedition that has its key and take all the locks as well as the ECM and fit them to my vehicle.
4. A hybrid of #1 and #3 with a wreckers ECM but having my own key pattern ground onto a new key with the "mate" as the pairing source. Might have to use the donor ignition for this one temporarily to perform the procedure. Prevents a total vehicle rekey and Ford from having to flash the ECM.
and:
5. Say screw it, pull the wheels and tires off it along with the battery and replace it, since it is worth less than $2K at this point and the body is starting to go on it. The tires are only a couple of years old and probably worth $7-800 with the rims (LTX M/S2's). It has been a great winter beater these last few years but the salt and sand has really wreaked havoc on the body, despite it getting sprayed. The rockers below the front doors on either side look like swiss cheese, and this only really started at the end of last winter. Amazing how fast it progresses
My issue with #5 is that despite the value of the vehicle, in recent years it has received:
1. New rad
2. New rear diff seal
3. New brakes
4. New tires
5. New battery
6. New front-shaft u-joints
I can pull the battery and tires, but the other stuff is a little hard to swallow. I'm probably looking at more than what the vehicle is worth to do the above repairs in conjunction with the key issue. ARG! Was just going to cut out the rockers and put new repair panels in but the time and effort in conjunction with all these costs...........
Worst part is that of course it runs perfectly. Engine uses no oil, trans is fantastic. Would make a great beater for a mechanic who has wreckers access and some spare time. I travel more than I am home as of late so taking care of this in a timely manner is also an issue.
