valet key alert

[gary s]

we received an e-mail from the office management group at our rutherford, nj office regarding vehicle thefts.

thieves are breaking into vehicles and using the valet key to steal the vehicle. the valet key is usually located in the owners manual and most people leave them there and never use them.

just a heads up !

 

[Tom Schindler]

Huh? Valet key? Me gots no valet key.



I just love my Ford products.





Tom

 

[gary s]

don't worry,



fords are not the targeted vehicles.

 

[EddieS'04]

My '88 t-bird came with some cheap. One time use key, in the owners manual...

Looked like sheet metal and didnt match the notches on the main key.

 

[Kevin Lang]

thieves are breaking into vehicles and using the valet key to steal the vehicle.

Valet key? Is that one of those keys that starts the car and opens the door but not the trunk/glovebox?



Seems pointless today as I rarely see a locking glovebox, and most cars have interior trunk releases that have trunks. (If it doesn't have a trunk, then the valet could just grab it anyhow, right?)



Now, this might just be me, but the valet key should be smart enough to cause the interior trunk release to disable, or it is pointless...and if it is smart enough to do that, it should be smart enough to interfere with some lowlife jacking your car.



I thought that I head that some of these types of keys only allowed the car to be driven a few miles at most, which sounds dangerous but logical.



My 1992 LeSabre came with a 99% pointless "convenience key", one that opened the doors, but NOT the trunk/locking glovebox nor did it start the engine.



Just further proof that drivers don't read their manuals

 

[Bill Barber]

Whats a Valet?

 

[EddieS'04]

Whats a Valet?

Bill, thats the guys that joy ride while you eat...:lol:

 

[Dan Long]

Typically there's a switch in the glove box that disables the trunk release, or the trunk release is in the glove box. You then lock the glove box and it can't be opened with the valet key, so anything in the trunk is also locked up.

 

[Bill Barber]

Eddie

Colonal Chickin, Mikey Ds, Round table pizza is all take out

 

[gary s]

eddie,

:lol::lol:

my brothers car was stolen at my sisters wedding by one of the valet parking.

found the car 2 weeks later and the guy did it up with extras like he owned it :lol:



btw, no valet parking at the burger king i went to tonite

 

[Tom Schindler]

My 1992 Escort came with a CC key that you stick in your walled in case you locked your keys in the car. nice feature, but I like my keypad better.



As for a valet key, let them have it. They ain't starting a Ford without a transponder key!



I am very happy the Fords are not on the targeted vehicle list. Keeps my insurance cheaper.





Tom

 

[Dan Long]

Valet keys WILL start the car, just not open the trunk or glovebox. The CC keys will usually only open a door in the event you locked your keys in the car. Our Lexus key is that way.

 

[Johnny O]

Heck, I don't even have a cabin air filter. :huh:

 

[Don Donaldson]

The valet key also usually has some "conditions" associated with it such as a speed limit/ low rev limit. For example the car may not be able to go over 30 mph when the valet key is used. Ford calls this "MY Key" programmable keys (although all ford "MY KEY" keys can be programed with different conditions not just the valet). Honda and Toyota also have such keys with pre-programed car conditions on higher end models.



-Don D.

 

[EddieS'04]

The Keys on my '88 bird were before the chip.