Rekeying a vehicle

[TexasR.N.]

Howdy All,
Last night my wife's truck and my PSD were broken into. We have been having problems here in the neighborhood, so we started parking them in the driveway instead of leaving them on the street. My wife usually locks her truck but I tend to leave mine unlocked. There isn't really anything in mine to steal and I figured it keeps me from having a window broken out.
However, what they did get was my hide-a-key. So now I need to get the truck rekeyed. Do I have to buy a new ignition and door lock? Do they sell a kit that has the door lock and ignition together? I don't want to have a separate keys for both.
Would it be less of a headache to have an alarm w/ a kill switch put in? Lo-jack maybe? Are OBS style trucks high on the thief truck list?
At this point I am not even mad..............just fed up. Back in February Dallas County had to release 1,000 prisoners due to overcrowding. This week the crime stats came out for the last reporting period. Guess what??????? Crime was up and almost immediately after the releases started. The police chief is working with others to come up with a plan. WHATEVER!!!! I'll give you a plan, get rid of the criminals. I am for greatly expanding the death penalty. Some say that it won't deter criminals.......maybe not, but it will put a dent in their numbers.
In July we are planning to move out the land we just bought. Closest neighbor is 1 mile away. I know things still happen out in the country, but at least out there I can leave my dogs (Great Pyrenees / Border Collie mix approx 80lbs) out (w/o disturbing the neighbors) and they can keep an eye on things.
Sorry, this took a turn from a question to a rant. Thanks for allowing me a place to vent,
Craig

[MrJohnWayne]

I don't know if they sell them in a kit but if you replace the ign lock cylinder you can re key the door locks. They sell lock kits with different tumblers. Had to do that when someone tried breaking in my last PSD

[2.2]

Ford should be able to supply you with a whole set, door locks, tailgate lock and ignition cylidner. you'll probably have to go to a Ford dealer and have them order and install it.

you can get an alarm retro-fitted with motion and door sensors, so you can leave the doors unlocked, but when someone opens one, the alarm will sound. (they use simple push-to-break switches) so that way you can leave it unlocked to avoid a broken window, but as soon as someone opens the door the alarm will go off.

i helped a friend install a whole set when his F-150 was broken into (very rare truck in the UK, someone wanted it) and they screwed up the door lock and ignition trying to force them. not an easy job because it involves removing door panels etc.. and sometimes take more than a whole day. you're better off having a dealership or specialist do it.

[slammedSI]

Hey Craig. I carry ingnition key switches with the key and cylinder. So If you can find a Advance Auto parts near ya. or i can check a price for ya tomorrow.

[StarDriver]

I'd get the truck rekeyed and then put alarms in both vehicles. Theives usually won't mess with a vehicle with an alarm. I'd also look at putting a motion/security light in your drive. PLUS, I'd keep a shotgun loaded and nearby.

[Oddball]

Cheapest way to rekey them is to take the door lock cyls. out yourself. That is pretty self expanitory if you are mechanically inclined. I am not sure on a 1995 but the ignition should be pretty easy to remove. Underneath the ignition there should be a small hole in the plastic cowling. If not, remove the cowling... it takes like four screws. On the bottom side of the ignition housing there is a small recessed hole (about 1/8). In that hole you will see a brass or silver pin. Turn the key to the accessory position (dont start the truck). The accessory position is the only point where you can depress that retaining pin. Push the pin in and pull the ignition out. DONT MESS WITH ANYTHING INSIDE THE KEY SWITCH RECESS. DONT TRY TO START IT OR TURN IT OFF. DONT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. Nothing will probably happen but better safe than sorry. Now that you have all the locks, take them to your local locksmith shop and they will rekey them however you would like. (If you have two ford vehicle of similar years you can have them keyed to match). Should run you about 20 bucks a lock. If you want you can just take the truck down the locksmith and leave it with for a couple of hours and they will do the whole thing for you. You can even have them come to you. It will just cost alot more.

If you can find a new set cheaper then just replace them. Ford orginal lock are used to be manufactured by Strattec (previously known as Briggs & Stratton). I would stay away from the aftermarket locks. JMO.

If memory serves. Ford changed from the double sided 5 cut keys to the 10 cut design in 1984 1/2. I dont know what year the next change was made but they changed to an 8 cut system. Easy way to find out if it is 10 or 8 cut is to see if there is a small grove running down the center of the key. 10 cut dont have the small extra grove. Anyway, regardless of which you have ignition and the doors use differnt parts of the key. The doors use the first half and the ignition uses the second half. Two of the lock wafer in the middle over lap and are used by both. So if you want you can have just the doors rekeyed (which use only the first part of the key) and leave the ignition alone. But a locksmith will have to code the doors different from the original cut and still match the ignition wafers.

I have been a Locksmith for the last 16 years, but I haven't done automotive in a long time. I apologize if the info is dated, and something has changed.

[Oddball]

You can get a alarm installed which uses a RF transmitter for the remote. It will work up to about a half mile give or take, depending on the surroundings. Cool thing about those are if someone is messing with you rig when the alarm goes off or just beeps a warning, the remote will beep at you like a pager. Then you can catch the theives in the act.:bonk: :bonk:

I did this on my 67 mustang and I just didn't install the alarm horn. I hate it when they go off for no reason or when you forget to turn it off.

[Evil Eye]

Man, that sucks! I hate thieves. From the sounds of things, it sounds like you've got a bunch of info to go on. Good luck!

[2.2]

My friend's lucky. he leaves his truck unlocked and running, no-one touches it.

well, who's going to steal a truck belonging to a 6'4" guy who weighs 305lb and benches 550lb?

but for the rest of us, re-keying sounds better.

i didn't know you could have a locksmith re-key your existing locks. i didn't know you could have two trucks with the same key either. when i've got everything going how i want it in a few years (ie '05 F-250 CC and '01 F-250 SC) i might have to look into that. (money allowing..)

theives suck.

[TexasR.N.]

Originally Posted by StarDriver

I'd get the truck rekeyed and then put alarms in both vehicles. Theives usually won't mess with a vehicle with an alarm. I'd also look at putting a motion/security light in your drive. PLUS, I'd keep a shotgun loaded and nearby.

My wife's truck has an alarm on it........of course it only works when armed!!!! My truck being as old as it is, and bone stock I never considered an alarm. But I am now. The motion/security lights we have apparently just gave them light to work by. Shotgun is loaded with double 00 buck. Last night I sat out on the porch and waited to see if they would come back again. After a couple of hours and nothing I called it a night.

OddBall thanks for all of the input. I think I will go with an alarm with the remote starter and pager system like you mentioned.

Also thanks to everyone else for all of the input. Slammed SI I appreciate the
offer on prices but I might just go with the alarm for now.
Thanks to everyone for all of the input,
Craig