Help PATS left me stranded!

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1955moose

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What was it that Volkswagen used to say, farfeknugen! We won back in 1945, their winning ever since!

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Drae

Drae

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What happened to your spare chip key? Vehicles come with 2. When I go to my Gym, I leave my chip key, and grab my valet key, non chip, just to open door, my key pad on door is wonky. I wouldn't want to lose or damage the chip one. Pass key was $2.00, chip key $ 300.00, no brainer!

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I bought it used last November and it only came with one key. It all started when I unlocked the car with the key because I don't know the door code either. After that the truck was pissed and nothing I did worked.

The PATS key has a tuned coil in it that is encased in a glass tube. It should be waterproof. The pushbuttons and battery in the key/fob should have nothing to do with the car's ability to start. The coil in the PATS system is passive. It uses no power.

Yeah I don't think it being wet was the issue because I eventually got the fob working. I think when I tried to disable the alarm by putting the key in the door and ignition is when it shut down and wouldn't allow me to start. It won't crank over like the older Expeditions. It was just silence and I could here the relay when I turned the key to start it. It's at the dealer here in Anchorage now so I will find out the quote some time tomorrow.
 

Cdunn08

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Try Car Key Express I use them for my work and they are able to program keys for a lot cheaper and they come to you. I have had a BMW key fob made and programed. It think its half the price !
 
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Drae

Drae

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Try Car Key Express I use them for my work and they are able to program keys for a lot cheaper and they come to you. I have had a BMW key fob made and programed. It think its half the price !

They are not in Anchorage at this time.
 

CoryBrown50

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COMPLETELY side topic....I understand your pain on the Mini key....got in 1 morning with the fob and tried to start it, was like there was a starter interrupt installed or something....best deal I could find was here: https://thebmwminipartstore.com/

$140 2 years ago.....without valet key, as mine was still there.

Lucky for me, they are local......

On the truck, I agree, if you are getting FOB wet often, have a duplicate non RFID made and hide the expensive key inside. We go to the water park regularly and this is the best way.
 

1955moose

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Drae, what I can't wrap my head around is how putting a valet, non chip key in a door could activate the pats system. I do it daily when I go to my gym. Mine is 2000, did they change something on newer models. The door shouldn't have any electronics related to the security system, am I wrong guys? Does the key tumbler in the door recognize the chip? It would make sense. But what about when a tow truck driver uses a slim Jim to open the door. Does the pats activate?

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rjdelp7

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Your RFID chip is sealed in plastic, your door remote is not. Try starting without unlocking doors, prior. If theft is flashing re-insert key, the opposite way. If still flashing wait 10 minutes and retry. Most key shops will "make" a new second key for around $70. I had a local, mobile key man do it in my driveway. The previous owner also lost the spare.
 
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Drae

Drae

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Drae, what I can't wrap my head around is how putting a valet, non chip key in a door could activate the pats system. I do it daily when I go to my gym. Mine is 2000, did they change something on newer models. The door shouldn't have any electronics related to the security system, am I wrong guys? Does the key tumbler in the door recognize the chip? It would make sense. But what about when a tow truck driver uses a slim Jim to open the door. Does the pats activate?

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It wasn't the Valet key it was the chip key. It was wet and the buttons wouldn't work to open the doors. I had to dry it out more after I unlocked the door with the key to get it to work. This is when the contacts for the buttons got mangled. I'm guessing since the fob wasn't working the truck didn't recognize the key. When I tried to start it when the alarm was still going off, I assume that's when the truck went into protect mode. Well $423 later and I now have 2 new keys and the code reset for the door and it's all fine like nothing happened. $155 a key wasn't terrible for the turnaround time. Just another expensive lesson learned in my life.
 

rjdelp7

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I had H3 Hummer, that would not start. The theft light was flashing. ONSTAR, offered a tow. A few minutes later it started. I was told key was not recognized(bad key) and anti theft activated, after several tries.The system reset on its own after 10 minutes. I think your fob actived your anti theft. The key may be still good.
 
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Drae

Drae

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I had H3 Hummer, that would not start. The theft light was flashing. ONSTAR, offered a tow. A few minutes later it started. I was told key was not recognized(bad key) and anti theft activated, after several tries.The system reset on its own after 10 minutes. I think your fob actived your anti theft. The key may be still good.

LOL if you would've seen this key you wouldn't think it was good from the start. The previous owner drilled a hole through the key blade and the fob where they come together and had a nut and bolt in it to hold them together. I'm surprised it lasted this long. I had to take all this apart to dry out the key fob and may have damaged the key and fob to where it wouldn't work together anymore. I would have replaced it a long time ago if I knew they would give me 2 keys for $310 vs 1 key for $299.
 
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