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I just picked up a 93 aerostar for cheap, that runs really great and has actually had maintenance done on it!
It is just a beater with a heater, but the 4 cylinder will be much easier on gas than the 350 I'm driving. The best part is I'm working off the whopping $300 I paid for the van... So no cash outlay...

The only thing is.. it has no door keys....
Since this is pretty old technology.. no smart stuff.. can I get the door keys replaced from Ford by using the VIN number? I'd like to be able to secure my groceries and supplies while I'm in the big city, without resorting to a pad lock.. (which I have done in the past)..

Any help is appreciated..

Ciao Y'all...

reuben....

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I don't know for a fact, but I would think that vehicles that old, it would be the case. There's a Ford dealership in Wasilla. Give them a call and ask.

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I would think any good locksmith could do it.
They should have access to all the codes they need to make one and I would think they would be cheaper the a dealer.

93? Weren't they still using the same key for the door as the ignition?

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In this case no.... All the fords I ever owned the door key was round or oval, and had were not interchangeable with the door...

The last time I lost a door key a locksmith charged me nearly $100 to cut a new key.. that was for a Subaru, back in the late 80's...
I guess I'm thinking of that expense that makes me think a dealership might be better..
But with as advanced as vehicles are these days, I'm wondering if Ford could/would do it....

I blew a belt on my old 3/4 ton chevy a few years ago, while going through Wasilla... I walked into the Chevy dealership.... turned around and walked right out!!....

There was no way they would have a belt for a 68 4x4!!....

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I used to have a Ford key of that era that would open at least half the Fords of that same era that I tried it on. Apparently Ford wasn't very creative in their key design/technology. My wife and my ex-SIL had '94 Windstars that had interchangeable keys. Left my brother's house one day and drove home then realized wed taken my SIL's keys. I'll see if I still have that old key; if I do, it's yours.

I will ask my son tomorrow( a locksmith). If you don’t ask the dealership you don’t really know if they have the belt. Two ways of taking care of the key problem: Dealers are notoriously expensive-they aren’t locksmiths. My son goes to the dealership to make keys for them. Ask the locksmith for a quote. He can change the door lock to accept the ignition key, or he can use a feeler gauge to figure out how to cut a key for that lock. Good luck. The locks may already have been changed before.
gramps

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That cannot be done. The door and ignition keys are different shape (not just the head) the blade is something like this .|* and *|. mirror image of each other.

Any chance you have the key codes? in that era they would have been a disc about the size of a nickel.

If you want to work on it yourself I can send you parts and directions. I have keys, tumblers, even locksets (not a full A* set though) The front doors are easy. The hatch and slider are a little tougher. Only because they are harder to get to. I did a lot of locks back then.

Lifetime Ford mechanic and engineer speaking.

edit

Just thought of another DIY option. We (you) can take apart one lock and it can be decoded. I've never seen a lock decoded with out pulling it and taking it apart, but maybe a 'smith can.

edit #2

Forgot about ten cut versus five cut. Look at your key are there ten notches evenly spaced (some may be the same height) or five? To make matching keys ten cut would be more difficult, but swapping out front door lock cyls should still be easy.

I guess I'm way out of date. My '78 uses one key for the door and ignition and another for the trunk.

_________________
Jeepnik "AKA Old Eyes"
"Every man should have at least one good rifle, and know how to use it." Dad
"Go low, go slow, and preferably in the dark." The old Sarge (he was like 25)
The man who says a thing can't be done is usually interrupted by the man who is doing it.
"Freedom is never more than a generation from extinction." Ronald Reagan

I had two Aerostar vans that used one key for all four doors (R,L,slider but I think the rear door had an rextra oval key that did not turn the ignition.

But if you have that problem, any professional locksmith will rectify the issue. Hint: a hack will squint at the first few attempts...

Drift: both were great vehicles and one went tens of thousands of desert highway miles plus a couple 2500-mile runs.

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Hardest part of fixing door locks is getting to it (in my case it took about five minutes for the first one, much less for the second). Read the book or go on line and watch a video. I bought new locks for my Jeep doors online. I'd imagine they are available for other cars as well.

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Jeepnik "AKA Old Eyes"
"Every man should have at least one good rifle, and know how to use it." Dad
"Go low, go slow, and preferably in the dark." The old Sarge (he was like 25)
The man who says a thing can't be done is usually interrupted by the man who is doing it.
"Freedom is never more than a generation from extinction." Ronald Reagan

It doesn't happen to have keyless entry does it?
If so you may be able to get a fob at a salvage yard and program it to your car,if it doesn't have to be programmed by a dealer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8akZoFrPvo

Hi,

I had a '90 Subie that came with a half dozen keys, all worn badly (this would be early 1999. One still had the code number on it. Locksmith charged me $15 to cut one from that code, then the standard $3-$4 each for a few spares. I have no idea if they can cut one from the VIN though, and even then, wouldn't it only work if the locks were the ones the vehicle came from the factory with?

Rick C

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Go online and buy new door locks with the key. Easy to swap and not a worn out rekey. If you have the PATS ignition key they are at least $60 to get a duplicate. Take the trim behind the steering wheel off and you'll find a ring around the ignition with wires. Take it off and tywrap the head of your key to it. Now it bypasses the system and any $1.50 key will work.

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Thanks for all the input...

I'm afraid I don't have much patience for mechanic ing!..... I get angry quick.. that is were the booze actually helps me... I say, "screw it", after a few minutes and do something I'm better at!!....

In this case the van is very old school... manual windows, no auto door locks etc... a base model I guess...
The door key is not mirrored opposite the ignition key, like all those I have owned before... I think I still have a set of keys to my long gone 92 explorer... I'll dig those out just for giggles...

If I recall, the car companies only made so many combinations of keys, so I thought a VIN number might hold a code.... I had to get a new key for one of my ATV;'s... Nelly Belle.. all I had to do was pull the switch out a bit and read a number, and the dealership went and got me a replacement, out of the back... and Nelly is a 95.. I'm hoping it won't be much of a pain..

I have as much need as many.. maybe more, to secure my stuff up here... I have a very valuable dog, as well as a few guns with me most the time. And I have had stuff stolen out of my vehicles before... such as my (dad's), torches, etc.....

I appreciate all the input... I'll start calling tomorrow.. since this all took place on a weekend... figures.... right!....

I'm just hoping NOT go the pad lock route.....

Konichiwa amigo's.....

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