My new F150 has the tailgate with a lock. I bought it knowing that the tailgate had been replaced and therefore the ignition key doesn't work to lock it.
What is the best way to make it work? I know that re-pinning a tumbler is a PITA. I could probably order a new one from Ford for $200, but who knows if the doors and ignition are the same ones from the factory?
I could originate a new key from the tailgate's lock, but then I would have to have two big clunky Ford keys on my keyring.
Suggestions?
hashtag firstworldproblems
Order a tumbler from vin, or take the tumbler out and give it to a locksmith to have it coded to your key.
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Order a tumbler from vin, or take the tumbler out and give it to a locksmith to have it coded to your key.
Two locksmiths told me that would cost about $125. 
Take lock out, remove tumblers or pins, reinstall whichever pins or tumblers work with your ignition key and leave the rest out, then reinstall lock. One or two pins is enough to keep a screwdriver from working as well as four or five, and anyone who has the tools and was planning on picking the lock would have gotten through all five anyway.
curtis73 wrote:
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Order a tumbler from vin, or take the tumbler out and give it to a locksmith to have it coded to your key.
Two locksmiths told me that would cost about $125.
Around here, if you take the tumbler to them, its about $35. Canadian.
Hmm. I don't do a lot of vehicle locks. But a couple years ago I had to replace the lock cylinder in a Ranger. Simple wafer lock in reality.
The most GRM solution is what oldopelguy said. Take out the tailgate cylinder, use good/working key, and use as many of the wafers as you can to engage the cylinder. You'll see some wafers sticking up and some poking down. The goal is to get them all flush. You can even use a file to knock down high wafers (with the key in place.
It will start looking like this:
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And end up looking more like this. With all the wafers hidden inside the cylinder.
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(Ignore the last one in this picture, it's not actually a lock wafer but rather a keeper that prevents the cylinder from falling out of the cabinet, it was the nearest example to hand)
Try the dealer. When I worked in parts (GM) we would sell new lock cylinders and assemble them to match the key code for the VIN. It only cost as much as the price of the new cylinder unless you had the service department do the labor replacing it.
Streetwiseguy wrote:
curtis73 wrote:
Streetwiseguy wrote:
Order a tumbler from vin, or take the tumbler out and give it to a locksmith to have it coded to your key.
Two locksmiths told me that would cost about $125.
Around here, if you take the tumbler to them, its about $35. Canadian.
I have to shop hard just to get a key originated for that price.
I can believe $125 to rekey a tailgate, if that includes R&R of the tailgate and lock cylinder, at your house.
Pop the lock, rearrange a few of the pins to work with your key, reinstall.
I guess it can't hurt to let my fat fingers give it a shot. It doesn't work now, so the worst that will happen is it won't work when I'm done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX2AH9-isPA
might help
EastCoastMojo wrote:
curtis73 wrote:
I guess it can't hurt to let my fat fingers give it a shot. It doesn't work now, so the worst that will happen is it will be on fire when I'm done.
Fixed that for you. 
I laughed out loud at that. berkeleyer. 
Ford will sell you a tumbler that is matched to your key.
The replacement lock cylinder from Ford will come as a kit that needs to be assembled to your current key. Just build it to match your ignition key. I build all of the lock cylinders for our dealership. I'll do it for you if you want to ship it to MD.
Larry91
New Reader
4/22/21 10:01 a.m.
Typically, a key with a plastic cover on the top and/or was manufactured after 2000 is a key with a chip and needs to be programmed. Therefore, if you lose your Ford chip key, the new key will need to be programmed locally to start the car. If you want to do it yourself, you can look at the site with locksmiths tips https://www.howtobecomealocksmith.org/best-security-cameras/. A couple of times, their advice helped me out. As for the key, I recommend ordering the key programming service from an authorized dealer, but you will have to tow your car to the dealership for this.
This thread...
"$200 from Ford wouldn't be too bad"
"2 Locksmiths told me it would be $125! Oh no!!"
"You can fix that thing yourself in fifteen minutes with a file!"
"I guess lighting my fat fingers on fire wouldn't be so bad!"
five years of silence...
Then an entire flotilla of lockable canoes.
Lol... I missed the 5 year gap.
I mean, I did just order 10 key blanks on ebay for ~$10 since I only have one working ignition key for the Jag and I'm going to see if I can copy a few by hand.
The local ace hardware doesn't have the old school copying machine anymore, only a vending machine-like thing that doesn't store the blank needed so apparently it won't even try.
Saron81 said:
Lol... I missed the 5 year gap.
Me too, I also didn't realize that Curtis was trying to get a key for a truck that he's replaced.
So, whatever happened? We need closure!
