Keys

Optimistic Paranoid

Optimistic Paranoid

Adventurist
Ignition keys for newer vehicles are ridiculously expensive. I've had a couple of dog tags cut to keep on my key rings. They read:

REWARD IF FOUND
MY NAME
MY CELL PHONE #
MY EMAIL
@MY PROVIDER

I will gladly slip somebody $20 to return keys that would cost me $50 or more to replace.

Dog tags hold 5 lines of 16 characters. My email is longer than 16 characters, which is why I split it between two lines.

I have also invested in colorful skins for my keys and dog tags. These make it easy to find dropped keys whether they are in high grass, snow, desert sand, etc.
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I lost my keys once while Ann and I were hiking in Pisgah NF. Took a few hours but she found them in a field where we were searching for plants. The dog tag would not have helped in that situation, but the colored skins would have. Fantastic idea.
 
Years ago, our new Oldsmobile (that should give you an idea of how many years ago it was) came with a keychain that included a lost key registry/return service. Unique ID number which was supposed to allow return of the keys and they included a reward as well. Accomplished similar but maintained anonymity if you had other keys (house, etc) that you didn't necessarily want to be traced to you.
I've also added color key covers to make it easier to find and to distinguish keys when the household is full of similar-keyed vehicles.
 
The Sequoia I just purchased came with a single key that was a copy, no original master keys. The local locksmith wanted $175 to make a new master key. The dealership charged $120. I paid the $120 this morning and now have a master key that I can use to program others utilizing built in features of the vehicle. I plan on making two more keys myself and always having a spare at home. I like the dog tag idea, that's going to have to happen as well.
 
Good idea on the colors and tag.

I'm in the habit of always carry spare vehicle keys on me. Getting spare keys is usually the first stop after getting a new (to me) vehicle. The current one is the exception. The hardware store wants $80 I think for a spare chipped key. The dealer says they are something like $50 and only $75 more to code it so it works.

It still surprises me how easy it is to carry a spare door/ignition key, and how few people do. A single key in the pocket or a pair like older vehicles needed doesnt take up much room.

Whats the difference between a master key and a copy?
 
I always carry a spare key for the truck safely secured in the glove box in case I lock myself out of my truck when travelling.

Wait, uh...
 
Malamute said:
Whats the difference between a master key and a copy?
Click to expand...

Depending on the vehicle you sometimes must have a master key (or even two) to create more keys. Generally there is a limit to the number of master keys that can be created before the anti-theft module must be reprogrammed. Often times you can create additional "copy" keys with a higher (or no) limit. If you can purchase a blank chipped key via amazon, ebay or the dealer and convince an Ace Hardware or locksmith to cut it you can often program it yourself using a comical series of actions within the vehicle. I programmed a Ford key once with actions including cycling the ignition from off to on a certain number of times, opening and closing the drivers door a certain number of times, buckling and unbuckling the seat belt and some other random action like blowing the horn. It's amazing the little things programmed into vehicles that aren't commonly documented. That same F150 had a secret diagnostic screen built into the instrument cluster that you accessed by holding down the odometer reset button while cranking the vehicle.

I just ordered a set of aftermarket OEM style keyless entry remotes since my Sequoia didn't come with any (previous owner lost them) but is equipped with keyless entry. At $40 for 2 vs the $190 the dealer wanted for 1 I'm going to take a stab at programming those myself:

  • Driver’s door open, key removed from ignition switch
  • Within 5 seconds: Insert and remove the key from the ignition twice
  • Within 40 seconds: Close and open driver’s door twice
  • Insert and remove the key from the ignition switch. Close and open driver’s door twice
  • Insert the key into the ignition switch and close the driver’s door
  • Within 40 seconds
  • Switch ignition ON and OFF once to program a remote transmitter code whilst retaining the original codes or twice to program a remote transmitter code whilst erasing the original codes. Three times to check how many remote transmitters are currently registered or fie items to erase all registered codes
  • Remove key from ignition switch: System should now lock and unlock vehicle once, twice or five times depending which mode has been selected. One to four times slowly, to indicate number of remote transmitters registered
  • Within 40 seconds: Press and hold LOCK and UNLOCK buttons simultaneously for 1.5 seconds
  • Within 3 seconds: Press LOCK button
  • System should now lock and unlock vehicle once to confirm registration twice to indicate registration has failed
  • Within 40 seconds: Repeat button procedure to program remaining remote transmitters
  • NOTE: to exit programming mode: Open driver’s door
  • NOTE: A maximum of 4 remote transmitters can be programmed
 
4x4x4doors said:
Years ago, our new Oldsmobile (that should give you an idea of how many years ago it was) came with a keychain that included a lost key registry/return service. Unique ID number which was supposed to allow return of the keys and they included a reward as well. Accomplished similar but maintained anonymity if you had other keys (house, etc) that you didn't necessarily want to be traced to you.
Click to expand...

My father - sorry if that makes you feel old - had something like that on his key ring. I think it was Disabled American Veterans who ran it. If you found the keys, you could drop them in any Post Office box and the PO would forward them to DAV for return to you. I don't know if they still do that or not.

Any way, if you're traveling, it doesn't do you a lot of good for your keys to be mailed to Washington so they can be mailed back to your last known - and hopefully still current - home address.

Good point though about not having your address on a ring that has a house key on it. I carry a spare vehicle door key in my wallet, but not a spare house key because there will be ID in the wallet telling whoever finds it where the key fits. I keep a spare house key hidden in all my vehicles in a magnetic hide-a-key box that can only be accessed from the inside.
 
I carry two sets of keys. One in my right pocket and one in my left. The right set of keys has a long red "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT" tag on it. Red = Right. This is my primary set of keys. If I can't find them there is a 99% chance they are in the ignition. Being a Jeep with manual locks, and having a trailer with three locks on the cap, plus the trail hitch pins a second set is a must. The left set has a black tail with "PULL FOR ADVENTURE" on it. Black = Left (mainly because there is an L in black). Those keys are almost always in my pocket since they are only ever used to unlock doors if/when the Jeep is parked. I don't have a problem losing keys <knocks on wood> as much as I have a bad habit of locking them in the Jeep while they are in the ignition. This SOP (red/right, black/left) has pretty much become second nature for me. So much so that I start looking for two sets of keys whenever I drive something other than the LJ.

All that said... Really dig the DogTag issue and will have to get some made. Really like that idea.
 
Gallowbraid said:
  • Driver’s door open, key removed from ignition switch
  • Within 5 seconds: Insert and remove the key from the ignition twice
  • Within 40 seconds: Close and open driver’s door twice
  • Insert and remove the key from the ignition switch. Close and open driver’s door twice
  • Insert the key into the ignition switch and close the driver’s door
  • Within 40 seconds
  • Switch ignition ON and OFF once to program a remote transmitter code whilst retaining the original codes or twice to program a remote transmitter code whilst erasing the original codes. Three times to check how many remote transmitters are currently registered or fie items to erase all registered codes
  • Remove key from ignition switch: System should now lock and unlock vehicle once, twice or five times depending which mode has been selected. One to four times slowly, to indicate number of remote transmitters registered
  • Within 40 seconds: Press and hold LOCK and UNLOCK buttons simultaneously for 1.5 seconds
  • Within 3 seconds: Press LOCK button
  • System should now lock and unlock vehicle once to confirm registration twice to indicate registration has failed
  • Within 40 seconds: Repeat button procedure to program remaining remote transmitters
  • NOTE: to exit programming mode: Open driver’s door
  • NOTE: A maximum of 4 remote transmitters can be programmed
Click to expand...

Are you sure you're not also supposed to say "Abra-Kadabra" or "Shazzam" or something out loud as part of this process? :D
 
Optimistic Paranoid said:
...Good point though about not having your address on a ring that has a house key on it. I carry a spare vehicle door key in my wallet, but not a spare house key because there will be ID in the wallet telling whoever finds it where the key fits. I keep a spare house key hidden in all my vehicles in a magnetic hide-a-key box that can only be accessed from the inside.
Click to expand...

I stopped carrying any other keys on my main vehicle key. If somebody jacked my vehicle, I didn't want them to get anything else useful, especially the gas key. I believe its also hard on the ignition locks to some degree having junk hanging off it, besides just being annoying to me, stuff clacking around. Not giving any other keys to repair or oil change people was also a thought.

I used to have a spare set of truck keys zip tied to the frame underneath, but realized all the minimum wage oil change people in Flagstaff would be aware of them. Just carrying a spare set alone or on my house key ring in my pocket has been fine for many years. I took the remote off the ignition key also, helping reduce the chance of a lockout and not contributing to fumbling with it on the same ring. It lives in my vest pocket, along with the ignition key when its not in the ignition, and has been very happy there since vests became common for me.
 
Malamute said:
I used to have a spare set of truck keys zip tied to the frame underneath, but realized all the minimum wage oil change people in Flagstaff would be aware of them.
Click to expand...
Once bought a used 4x4 from a dealer. Eventually found three (yes, three) separate sets of keys zip-tied to various spots on the frame. Guess the PO had a problem with locked/lost keys.
 
Orange or high-viz nylon lanyard from Home Depot clipped to the key ring. Doesn't prevent you from losing the but it makes it a hell of a lot easier to find them. Plus you can wear a spare around your neck.
 
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