Tow vehicle "key" question
I have an 09 Ford Escape Hybrid for a tow vehicle. I have to turn the ignition switch to unlock the steering wheel for towing. My question is, instead of using the factory key that has a chip in it...
Forum Discussion
fcooper wrote:Dune Hauler wrote:
Yes you can get a key without a transponder chip. For putting the car into tow mode you do not need to start it, so a non-chipped key would not hamper your ability to tow. the transponder only interrupts the starter circuit.
On my older Honda, I use a non chipped key for towing, but simply hold the chipped key against the non chipped key to start the car so I can run it through the gear sequence to prep for towing. This may or may not work on newer vehicles.
Fred
Fred, you found the trick that is hard to explain to others.
off the subject a poor mans fix for cheap transponder key duplication is to epoxy the transponder chip to the inside of the steering column and then use plain keys.
