slow
Well-known member
Only the expedition got PATS in the older super duty trucks, wasn't until 2008 with the 6.4 that PATS was on most Superduty vehicles.
Fixing a bent key?
- Thread starter NC357
- Start date
Only the expedition got PATS in the older super duty trucks, wasn't until 2008 with the 6.4 that PATS was on most Superduty vehicles.
I guess once the crooks realized how easy it is to pry open a plastic Super Duty door handle with a screwdriver Ford just thought "screw it, the owner probably doesn't want it back anyway".
I locked my key in my rx7 one night downtown Mobile, called a locksmith and he put a blank in the door held with vise grips. He wiggles the key back and forth and cut the key with a file. In under 5 minutes he was in my car
Don't ever get the idea any consumer grade lock will keep anybody out - EVER. There are lots of skilled people who can pick any cheap lock, make a key by eye, or, there are the ever popular bolt cutters and bricks. Car locks and house locks are notoriously easy to defeat...and youtube explains how for all the kids.
Locks only keep out honest people that don't want to do damage...keys were invented solely to make life harder for the owner.
Astrofarian
Member
Further to: James w and SS Dave- I am glad to hear that you have had GOOD experiences and outcomes by working with the dealerships. I did not mean to imply that they were ALL overcharging/gouging customers in their times of need....although re-reading my post I can see how it may read that way. There are certainly great people at dealerships (Indeed, they are probably in the majority) who understand the value of fair and honest customer service. You men and women know who you are but you're probably too modest to take a bow here. Nevertheless, consider yourselves appreciated and move to the front of the doughnut line at coffee time.
To NC 357-I think you got the lowest-cost solution here and I am glad to hear it worked out for you. Myself, however, I would have been more likely inclined to generate a "Truly New" key on my ITL 950 code-cutting machine rather than any form of duplicating. However, not having the opportunity to see your bent key it is obviously impossible for me to say that the key shouldn't have been duplicated. I wasn't there...SHE was and solved your problem using what she thought was the most efficient method at her disposal. Total cost from me would have been in the $10 (Can. $) area just for discussion's sake.
Glad you got this sorted out.....and sorry if I "dissed" any dealership employees.
-M!ke-
To NC 357-I think you got the lowest-cost solution here and I am glad to hear it worked out for you. Myself, however, I would have been more likely inclined to generate a "Truly New" key on my ITL 950 code-cutting machine rather than any form of duplicating. However, not having the opportunity to see your bent key it is obviously impossible for me to say that the key shouldn't have been duplicated. I wasn't there...SHE was and solved your problem using what she thought was the most efficient method at her disposal. Total cost from me would have been in the $10 (Can. $) area just for discussion's sake.
Glad you got this sorted out.....and sorry if I "dissed" any dealership employees.
-M!ke-
Dirtydan69
Well-known member
A good locksmith is worth every penny. I had someone give me a car once. It was in the garage of their parents house I was cleaning out. Called a locksmith. Gave him the vin and he came out with two sets which I verified worked. $150. Well worth it.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Yeah, I was remembering the old keys that had the number on the punchout for the keychain... Never mind...
Tommy
Don't ever get the idea any consumer grade lock will keep anybody out - EVER. There are lots of skilled people who can pick any cheap lock, make a key by eye, or, there are the ever popular bolt cutters and bricks. Car locks and house locks are notoriously easy to defeat...and youtube explains how for all the kids.
Locks only keep out honest people that don't want to do damage...keys were invented solely to make life harder for the owner.
As a fireman I am painfully aware of how easy it is
I have to disagree with this, and it's mainly the entire basis for starting this thread. I didn't want to go near the dealer, because of the combination of all dealer experiences I've had in my life. I'm sure there are a few good people at auto dealers, but that is not the norm. Used car salesman are known as sleezy scum for a reason. Because they are. Those are the same people working at the Ford or any other brand of dealer. Like I said, I'm sure there are a couple good ones, but that isn't what you should expect.
My mother was in the car business for over 35 years and she agrees completely. She hates dealers and dealerships with a passion.
Also, as a completely side comment, their prices are usually too high, and their service not personalized in any way. For example, if I got a new key at the dealer, they would have never offered to straighten my old key for free.
Certain types of jobs draw certain types of people. I could say the same about lawyers - quite a lot of them are sleezy people, that's just how it is.
You may not agree with it, but that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.
ssdave
Banned
I'd in general agree with the dealership service cost comment. But, my experience has been even more so that with locksmiths. The local guy here really rubbed me the wrong way just a bit ago, for instance.
I have a rental house. It has a commercial type deadbolt lock on one door, that you open from either side with a key. It's a Schlage, and an old brass lock on an old door. Not something you want to replace, my house is a 1912 victorian and the lock matches the look.
I had a correct matching thumb turn actuator and wanted to put it on. There's a small cam that the tailpiece rod goes into to connect the bolt actuator to the thumb piece. I didn't have that cam. It's in every locksmiths schlage repair kit, wholesale those parts are $1.12 at the time when I looked it up. I fully expected to pay $5 or $10 for one, and went to the local guy to get one.
He told me no, he would not sell parts. He said that he also doesn't find it cost effective to repair locks, he would come to my house, install a new deadbolt ($57 is what he quoted me for it) plus the service call. Now, the $57 part is a $25 item at the hardware store. I understand he has to make a living, but there's essentially no way I will ever hire him for $100 or more to put a $25 deadbolt lock on my door. I can do the same replacement in a half hour myself, easily. He not only was unhelpful when he could have easily sold me the part for a $5 or $10 profit, he took more time to rudely tell me about how he doesn't do parts for customers than it would have to sell me the part. Just on attitude, I wouldn't go back again. This particular case isn't an expertise one, it's a part changing one.
The hard thing as a tradesman is dealing with do it yourself people, that you see as a threat to you making a living. Unfortunately with the internet, there's a lot of info out there that makes it easy to just go online, get the part, wait 3 days for delivery, and watch a few video's on how to do the install. The way a good tradesman competes is on service and on courtesy. Being rude and belligerent doesn't compete well.
I have a rental house. It has a commercial type deadbolt lock on one door, that you open from either side with a key. It's a Schlage, and an old brass lock on an old door. Not something you want to replace, my house is a 1912 victorian and the lock matches the look.
I had a correct matching thumb turn actuator and wanted to put it on. There's a small cam that the tailpiece rod goes into to connect the bolt actuator to the thumb piece. I didn't have that cam. It's in every locksmiths schlage repair kit, wholesale those parts are $1.12 at the time when I looked it up. I fully expected to pay $5 or $10 for one, and went to the local guy to get one.
He told me no, he would not sell parts. He said that he also doesn't find it cost effective to repair locks, he would come to my house, install a new deadbolt ($57 is what he quoted me for it) plus the service call. Now, the $57 part is a $25 item at the hardware store. I understand he has to make a living, but there's essentially no way I will ever hire him for $100 or more to put a $25 deadbolt lock on my door. I can do the same replacement in a half hour myself, easily. He not only was unhelpful when he could have easily sold me the part for a $5 or $10 profit, he took more time to rudely tell me about how he doesn't do parts for customers than it would have to sell me the part. Just on attitude, I wouldn't go back again. This particular case isn't an expertise one, it's a part changing one.
The hard thing as a tradesman is dealing with do it yourself people, that you see as a threat to you making a living. Unfortunately with the internet, there's a lot of info out there that makes it easy to just go online, get the part, wait 3 days for delivery, and watch a few video's on how to do the install. The way a good tradesman competes is on service and on courtesy. Being rude and belligerent doesn't compete well.
I agree with that also, a locksmith could have been a jerk too - I just got lucky. I actually asked a question on a locksmith board a while ago and found them to be quite a rude and self righteous bunch. Their advice was to go to a locksmith, rather than to tell me how it's actually done, because they felt threatened.
Moral of the story:
Many "professionals" these days are not very professional, and sometimes very hard to find a good one in any field. Just because somebody has a shop or a store or a dealership doesn't mean they are any good at what they do.
I am happy my local locksmith turned out to be cheaper than the hardware store and happy to have a customer - I'll definitely go back there next time I need a key. Obviously not a person of great means making a lot of money, but she only wanted $4 for a key that's only worth $4.
Most of the time if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself. I don't have a key cutting machine yet, but I won't say it isn't on the list.
Moral of the story:
Many "professionals" these days are not very professional, and sometimes very hard to find a good one in any field. Just because somebody has a shop or a store or a dealership doesn't mean they are any good at what they do.
I am happy my local locksmith turned out to be cheaper than the hardware store and happy to have a customer - I'll definitely go back there next time I need a key. Obviously not a person of great means making a lot of money, but she only wanted $4 for a key that's only worth $4.
Most of the time if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself. I don't have a key cutting machine yet, but I won't say it isn't on the list.
Bighead38
Well-known member
I went to a local locksmith a few weeks ago to ask about a spare key for an 87 corvette. Because of the stupid little "chip" on the key they wanted $47. Seemed pretty high to me. I've used this shop in the past and they have always been fair though.
ssdave
Banned
Seems like the "chip" on the 87 corvette key is really not a chip. The GM keys at that time just used a resistor, there's 10 of them is all. You just need to get a blank with the correct resistor, and get it cut. If I remember right, if you have the original key, it has the resistor # stamped on the key blade. A lot of ace hardware's used to have a resistor finder that you stuck the key in and it told you which blank to use. They used to charge less than $5 for those keys. I've had a lock shop (another experience about 5 years ago) try to tell me it was a transponder key, and wanted $50 to duplicate it. I just went to the local ace lumberyard and they did it for me for under $5.