'99 - key duplicating problem

[blackkat]

on my recently acquired '99 Cougar, I attempted to have a 2nd key cut for use as a spare (I only got one key with the car).
The new key worked fine in the doors, hatchback and ignition, but, when I tried to start the car....nothing.
The original factory key works fine and the car starts fine with it, so I'm guessing that the factory key may have some sort of anti-theft computer chip in it that prevents the key from being copied and used to start the car. Is this correct and does that mean I must go to the dealer to get a 2nd spare key cut?

While I'm posting, I'll ask another question relating to the keyless entry. My keyless entry fob opens and locks the doors, but, doesn't appear to have a button for releasing the hatchback. Can the hatchback be opened by pressing the buttons on my fob in a special sequence and is there also a special sequence or time for holding the red alarm button to activate the alarm?

Thanks,

[rista]

there is a chip in the key. if you look up by the ring on the key you can see a little offset part, under it is your chip. just goto the dealer and they can make you a new key.

[B3NN3TT]

The dealership will charge you a bloody fortune to program a second key. But once you have 2, you can program more until the cows come home.

Your keyfob SHOULD have a button for the hatch Mine has 4: lock, unlock, hatch, and panic. If yours doesn't, you should buy a new one. Check e-bay, that's where I got mine. My car came without one altogether.

As far as "activating" the alarm- if you mean setting it off, it should go off instantly when you press the red button. If you mean arming it, press the lock button and your lights should blink. If you press it again, your alarm horn should beep. Simply locking the doors with the remote arms the system. Test it next time by trying to get into the armed car by unlocking the door with the key instead of the remote. When you open the door, you should get PURE MAYHEM.

Actually the alarm is annoying as all get-out.:stupid:

[blackkat]

thanks for the info. I was anticipating the dealer charging a lot and that's why I had gone to an inexpensive key cutting place.

the keyless entry fob I got with the car just has 3 buttons....the lock, unlock and red panic button.
When I lock the car though with the keyless entry, the lights don't flash nor does the horn sound.
I have opened the car doors with they key after locking the car with the keyless entry and nothing has happened. When I have pressed the red panic button, nothing happens either. My red flasing dash light works, however.

Were there different alarms that the car came with or alarm changes form year to model year? I'm wondering whether my car has an alarm system?

If only my alarm doesn't seem to be working and the keyless and power door locks appear to work fine, should I be checking for a blown fuse? Where would the fuse box be located and is there a separate fuse just for the alarm system?

[B3NN3TT]

The easiest way to tell if you have an alarm is to look under the hood. On cars with an alarm, there's a button that is pressed when the hood is down, located right behind the passenger's side headlight. It has a little black rubber accordion sleeve around it. It points straight up and the hood presses it down when it's closed. This is the switch that sounds the alarm if the hood is released while the system is armed.

Sounds to me like you have the wrong remote. If you can lock the doors, you should have an alarm as well. Do you have a rear wiper and cruise control? That was part of the package that included keyless entry and all that entails.

But if you see the button under the hood, I'd start shopping for a new remote. Search for "1999 Cougar remote" on e-bay. Here's what they look like:
Clicky! (http://ebay3.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_947ecdd30b2207d4386b1457d7542ad7/i-1.JPG)

[blackkat]

I just checked under the hood and cannot find the security button with accordion sleeve you describe.
My car also does not have the rear window wiper and has dealer installed (not factory) cruise control (it is a separate stalk coming out of the steering column below the turn signal stalk).
My remote does not look like the one you attached a link for as well.
I had thought because I had the flashing red led light on the dash that I had the security system, but, I'm guessing by your post that I do not.
I'm also guessing that perhaps the dealer gave the remote I'm using to the original owner (from whom I bought the car) from his surplus stock of remotes and wasn't necessarily a remote that came with this car. That would also explain why the red panic button has no effect. I guess the flashing dash light simply is of no effect for cars that didn't come with the alarm/rear wiper/cruise package you described.

[B3NN3TT]

The dash light is an indicator that tells you the key you are using is indeed programmed for the car. If you notice, it will blink strangely with a non-coded key in the ignition. The light also assists in programming new keys and remotes. So it DOES have a...tenuous purpose. In addition to being a "dummy" alarm light.

Sounds like you are indeed without an alarm, though. But there should be a remote button for the hatch... ?

[01blkcat]

Originally posted by: Bennett9000
The dash light is an indicator that tells you the key you are using is indeed programmed for the car. If you notice, it will blink strangely with a non-coded key in the ignition. The light also assists in programming new keys and remotes. So it DOES have a...tenuous purpose. In addition to being a "dummy" alarm light.

Sounds like you are indeed without an alarm, though. But there should be a remote button for the hatch... ?

They probably has a base package, like I do, and we didn't get the ability to pop the hatch on our remotes. Ended up just getting a real alarm system that would do the job for me. I would recommend the same to you -- a Viper 500ESP seems to be a good system for our vehicles.

[NorCalCoug]

For the key, buy a blank off of eBay that has the transponder in it; then get it cut. There are directions on how to program the key for your car somewhere on the boards. :) Use the search button to figure that part out. This'll save you around 100 bucks or so.

[blackkat]

actually I was looking on Ebay to see if someone was selling a "chipped" key that would fit my '99 Cougar, but, didn't see any advertised. Do they come up fairly regularly and what price do they normally sell for?

The dealer here wants about $40 Cdn for the spare chipped key and another $40 Cdn to program it.

I tried using the "search" feature to locate posts about key programming, but, didn't turn up anything. Any hints as to what phrase might work to locate those posts? Thanks.

[01blkcat]

Originally posted by: blackkat
actually I was looking on Ebay to see if someone was selling a "chipped" key that would fit my '99 Cougar, but, didn't see any advertised. Do they come up fairly regularly and what price do they normally sell for?

The dealer here wants about $40 Cdn for the spare chipped key and another $40 Cdn to program it.

I tried using the "search" feature to locate posts about key programming, but, didn't turn up anything. Any hints as to what phrase might work to locate those posts? Thanks.

I've seen the transponder key go for under 15 bucks on eBay, but 40 CDN for the key isn't that bad. Program it yourself! Use the search on the boards to find the multiple threads that have created to deal with reprogramming a key. It's not very hard, and IIRC, it only takes about 2 minutes.

[DTADRIAN]

blackkat: I Think I know the way to program your key. Email me for instructions. I also know how to program new remotes with out going to the dealer.

DT

[Mity2]

doesn't owners manual tell you how to program another key to the car? my Focus manual does

[LostRacer]

I thought you had to have 2 programmed keys already to program another???:shrug:

[Mity2]

they can use the computer at the dealer ship to compleatlly reprogram with out the all the programed keys.
for more fees ofcourse

[blackkat]

It appears that dealerships in my city charge whatever they feel like for either the key or programming charges. Costs for the key itself range from $25.50 to $45 and programming costs range from $40 to $90.
All prices are Cdn. dollars. The dealership with the cheapest key price wanted the most for programming so go figure.
I think that purchasing the key blank for $25.50 cdn (approx. $16 US) makes sense as opposed to buying one on Ebay and paying for shipping and duties out of the US to Canada.
I'd prefer to just program the spare key myself if that's possible.
I haven't been able to find the previous discussions here on how to do this yet, so if anyone can recall when they were or has the link that would be most appreciated. DTADRIAN, I've also emailed you as you requested.
Oh, by the way, I don't yet have my manual as I'm still hopeful that my original onwer/seller may still find it, but, if not I'll print off a full copy from dv6cougar's database. I'm guessing that the regular owner's manual would not likely contain detailed instructions for reprogramming a newly purchased spare key blank, but, if anyone has seen it in the manual please say so.
Thanks guys.

[01blkcat]

Originally posted by: blackkat
It appears that dealerships in my city charge whatever they feel like for either the key or programming charges. Costs for the key itself range from $25.50 to $45 and programming costs range from $40 to $90.
All prices are Cdn. dollars. The dealership with the cheapest key price wanted the most for programming so go figure.
I think that purchasing the key blank for $25.50 cdn (approx. $16 US) makes sense as opposed to buying one on Ebay and paying for shipping and duties out of the US to Canada.
I'd prefer to just program the spare key myself if that's possible.
I haven't been able to find the previous discussions here on how to do this yet, so if anyone can recall when they were or has the link that would be most appreciated. DTADRIAN, I've also emailed you as you requested.
Oh, by the way, I don't yet have my manual as I'm still hopeful that my original onwer/seller may still find it, but, if not I'll print off a full copy from dv6cougar's database. I'm guessing that the regular owner's manual would not likely contain detailed instructions for reprogramming a newly purchased spare key blank, but, if anyone has seen it in the manual please say so.
Thanks guys.

If you don't have the second spare key that already came with the car, you're going to have a hell of a time to reprogram a third one... probably better off going to the dealership with the cheapest key, buying it, then taking it to the dealership with the cheapest programming rate... if it costs you less than 50-60USD, then you're probably getting a fair deal.

There are a couple of reports of reprogramming new keys in our manuals, but my 2001 one doesn't have it... I do know for a fact that you need both original keys, however, to make the program, so you might not be able to do it if you had the instructions, anyway.

[B3NN3TT]

Blackkat-

You can order your very own OEM manual for your specific year at http://www.helminc.com. My 2000 was missing the manual when I bought it, and this is where the dealership told me to get one. Shipping was fast, and it also came with a maintenance log and warranty booklet.

By the way, yes- the manual tells you how to program more keys if you already have 2 that work. If you only have 1, like me, you are SOL unless you have the dealership program a second one.:rolleyes:

[blackkat]

One of the dealers here in town had actually told me to use the Helms website as that is how they order any manuals for customers. However, it is the cross border shipping and duties that really add up. A $22 US manual would wind up costing very close to $60 cdn by the time you add in Helms's shipping charges plus duties and taxes to enter Canada. At $70 retail, the Cdn. dealers are only marking the manual up about $10 over the actual cost and since I can get the manual printed off the internet for about 1/3 of that amount, I'll likely go that route if I have to and save the money to spend on other stuff for the car.

I only have the 1 factory key as well, so the manual's method of programming a third key from the 2 factory originals won't work for me either. I am trying DTADRIAN's idea, but, without success thus far, however, I haven't had a chance yet to complete his latest suggestion on how to get my dash LED light to stay constantly on for a short period of time after pulling the key out of the ignition.

[XeX]

you were talkign about seeing if u have an alarm, and i guess you probly dont but try getting in your car, then lockign the doors and starting it, my cougar sets off an alarm when that happens and mine s 99. but if your remote doesnt work for starting the alarm then you might not be able to turn it off. i always press lock and unlock and lock and keep doing that to turn mine off, it eventualy goes off but i dont know exactly how to turn it off if its set off liket hat.

[blackkat]

I don't believe I have the alarm as I don't have the rear wiper nor the spring loaded button under the hood. I've tried locking my doors with the remote and leaving my window down. I then reach in and manually open the driver door from the outside and nothing happens. In almost every car with an alarm that I've owned, that sets it off.
I've also tried DTADRIAN's other suggestion, but, with no success. I cannot get my flashing dash LED light to stay constantly on after removing the key from the ignition.
If anyone recalls a message thread here where someone successfully programmed a 2nd spare key while only having 1 original key on a '99 model, please post the link. The dealers here are asking for 40 - 60 minutes of labour time to program a 2nd key if you just have 1 original key. That seems excessive to me, so it would be nice to know how long it took people here to do it and how difficult a process was involved.