Door locks going south?

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I've been noticing that the locks on my 2001 Ranger XLT are becoming
harder and harder to unlock with the key. I have to wiggle and jiggle
it to finally get it to release the lock. Anything I could do, short
of taking the door apart?
thanks.

Re: Door locks going south?



Go to a locksmith and have new keys cut. Take the truck to so they can get
it just right. Please don't go to the hardware store or the department
store, go to a locksmith.



Re: Door locks going south?




Can't. I was told the key has a chip in it and only Ford can make
one...at a cost of $90 each!

Re: Door locks going south?





Can't. I was told the key has a chip in it and only Ford can make
one...at a cost of $90 each!

That depends, do you have two working keys with the chips in them?  If you
do, there is a simple procedure to program your own third chipped key with
the cars ignition system and your two keys.  Just got a free key cut at my
ford dealer and programmed with the car, took about 10 seconds...



Re: Door locks going south?




Unfortunately I have only the one key. I guess I could get a regular
key for the door, as I read the info here the chip is only for the
ignition. SO I'll have to live with the one ignition key. I heard
somewhere that a car stereo shop could program a key for you, at way
less than Ford charges. Any idea on that?

Re: Door locks going south?



In article


So is this to open the lock manually or to start the engine?  I thought
that you could get a conventional key from a locksmith and it would
still turn the tumblers in the lock for the door?  And the only reason
you need the chip was if you want to use the key to start the engine.  
For my '99 Ranger, I keep a spare key for the door in my wallet and then
I can leave the vehicle keys locked up when I am away.  Don't have to
carry the keys all over Hell's half acre that way.

Or has something changed again?

H.

Re: Door locks going south?




Hmmm, good question. I have one key only. It opens the door and starts
the engine. I guess I could get another door key without the chip in
it?

Re: Door locks going south?



In article


Probably, but it would only open the doors.  If that is OK with you?

H.

Re: Door locks going south?




Yeah, that would work. I have no problem with the ignition.
Thanks, all!

Re: Door locks going south?



On Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:12:40 -0800, H-DGuzzi rearranged some electrons to
say:


bb64df58df57@d70g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...

While it is true that the key has a PATS chip in it, any competent
locksmith will have the correct blanks and can make a key for you.  You
can program the new key yourself as long as you have two working keys
already.  Read your owner's manual.


Re: Door locks going south?



I also have a 2001 Ranger and my driver door was getting hard to open. I
sprayed it with white grease, WD40 should also work. Get it inside the lock
and work it a bit and it should be good for many more operations.



Re: Door locks going south?





Grease / WD40 is not a good idea as it attracts dust.  Get a little
graphite and spray it into the lock and work it a bit.  It will loosen
things up without attracting the dust.

Honest.

HR.

Re: Door locks going south?





Not to mention the ignition may not like that stuff ether.
The things we have to go through because of "things" that
should have been culled at birth weren't.

Whitelightning



Re: Door locks going south?



wrote:
Watch it....2001 XLT Ranger. Wife opened door with remote, stuck in
ignition key, started it to warm it up. Shut door and locked it with
remote. You can't open with remote with engine running. Got $2 keys
for door only, from Ford. Taped key to wife's forehead. or we each
carry one in wallet.





Re: Door locks going south?




I've got a 98 ranger with the same problem, only it's really bad.  I
can usually get it, but it takes close to a minute more often than
not.  2 other people have tried for minutes on end and failed, seems
I've developed the knack.  I had ford cut me a new key from the vin,
and it was worse than the well-used copy that came with the used
truck.  They told me that it was common on these trucks, and tried to
sell me new locks, which I didn't care to pay for.  The locksmith
thing is a good idea, I'd be curious to hear how the new key works if
you take this route.

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