Key Replacement Question

So...my wife lost the second key to our '07 Taurus, and I need to get a replacement. The local shop can't make another without two keys, and the stealerships are saying it's going to have to be rekeyed and it'll cost me around 100 bucks!

Anyone know of an easy way to get a copy made without having two keys?

I think what they are saying is a second key will have to be cut from the existing key and both keys reprogramed with a scan tool.

One-hundred bucks sounds about right.

Unfortuately, this is one of the things you should do right away when you first get a car and still have two keys. Cutting the key is no problem but programming them is. If you have two coded keys it's really easy to program a third or fourth or more keys yourself but if you have only one coded key then the stealership gets to hose you.

sorensenj is correct.

According to the manual you need two keyfobs that are programmed to be able to program a third and then a fourth. The limit is four. I tried 5 and the fifth didn't work.

With only one key, you have to have the dealer program the key because they have to hook up something to the car. This is supposed to prevent a car thief from stealing your car and then cloning the fob if they just have the one that they stole.

When I bought my 07 500 SEL (used, two years ago), the dealer gave me only one key and charged me $50 for the second. Best $50 I every spent.

I got extra four keys and four fobs on ebay cheap, had my local locksmith cut them for $1.50 each and then programmed all four fobs for nothing. Now my wife and kids can come and get the car anytime they want.

You will have to bite the bullet and go to the stealership! No way around that with only one key!

How do you program the extra key(s) yourself?

The instructions will be found in the manual for the vehicle. If yours is misplaced you can find it online.

I was looking at the manual for our 08 T/X this weekend and it says you can program up to 8 keys yourself. 4 of the ikf (integrated key fob) and 4 regular chipped keys. We bought the car used so we don't know how many of each have been made but what if all had been made for the previous owner? Can that be reset by a dealer? Or do I have to have them make the keys also? Anyone had any experience with this problem?

You must have at least 2 programmed keys to do additional keys.

As far as the programming with one key goes, call local locksmiths. I have a guy that will come to me and program a second key for 65 bucks.

If they have the machine, they can also wipe out the additional keys on memory and reprogram the existing and new keys, so you have a 'clean slate'.