Lauren K
Feb 10, 2021
Keys are an important part of your vehicle, they help you get in it, they help you start it, and they help you drive it.
So, what happens when you do not have a key? You can start your Ford F-150 without a key if you follow these steps.
How do you start a Ford F-150 without keys?
Over time, the mechanisms inside the ignition can become worn. Because of this, it may be possible to start your F-150 with just a flat head screwdriver. However, this trick only applies to models with a traditional key, not a push-button start.
Though most people are not out there trying to start their cars without their keys, there are some cases in which you might need to start your truck without the key. We are here to help you figure out how to do that and to figure out why you might need to do so.
Why Does My Truck Start Without a Key?
The starter of any car is made with a series of grooves and ears that help to match the key to the vehicle. These ears and notches may wear down over time which makes it possible for the starter to engage, even with a key to turn it.
Not all trucks are going to work this way, but there are certainly some that will start without a traditional key, so to speak.
You do still need something to put into the ignition to get enough traction to turn the starter, but if you have a truck that has these busted or missing ears your truck will start without a key.
Knowing how to do this can be a good thing when in the right hands, but for some, this is a surefire way for your truck or vehicle to get stolen and driven off, even if the culprit does not have the key.
How to Start Your Ford F-150 Without a Key
The easiest way to start a Ford F-150 without a key is to use a flat-head screwdriver as leverage. You simply put the flat head of the screwdriver into the ignition and turn it as you would your normal key.
If your truck is one of the aforementioned trucks that has a broken ear or a starter that does not have the grooves and ear all intact, it will start with the screwdriver being used as a “key.”
If this does not work or if your truck is a newer model that does not require an actual physical key to start, you are likely going to have a remote to start your vehicle. If you lose that remote you can always use equipment that helps to capture the signal that the remote would send to the vehicle.
If you cannot start the truck with a flat-head screwdriver or with any sort of device that helps with keyless start, you can also break the steering pin in the steering wheel.
This will free the steering wheel and allow you to steer the vehicle, but it will not start the ignition. This is handy if you have a car that has a dead battery and the steering wheel is locked and you cannot unlock it with the key to get it to move.
Why Might You Need to Start Ford F-150 Without the Key?
There are any number of reasons that you might be trying to start your vehicle without the key in your possession. You might have lost it and just need to get somewhere desperately, so desperately in fact that you do not have the time or the patience to wait for a tow company to take your vehicle to the shop to have a new key made.
You may have broken the key and are just using the vehicle to get around your personal property and cannot justify the expense and trouble that it would take to get a new key. Whatever your reasons are for wanting to start a truck without a key, these steps will help you do so with some ease.
When it comes to owning any sort of car, it is always best to have resources on your side that help you to learn what you need to know quickly and easily. Vehicle History is just such a resource. With a huge range of information at your fingertips Vehicle History can help you learn all you need to know about your Ford F-150.
Owner Reviews
Mama bear on August 21, 2021
This article has so many things wrong with it it's not even funny
This article is so wrong has so many misleading fax it it's not even funny whoever wrote this should be shot dead on sight they have no idea or clue about how a car works or truck the only vehicle you're going to start without a physical key is something that's like 1994 or down because anything over 96-95 or above has to have a transponder in the key to meet with the vehicles PAT system you can break the column or break the ignition tumbler all you want without the key you can't make contact to the Pats system which is the vehicle anti-theft system it Patton Ford and something else in Chevy you should take this article down it's so false
Facts on October 5, 2021
Your wrong
There are several years of the f series newer than your 96 that don't have the pats system I have an 01 f150 and 99 f250 both are hot wired due to baby momma drama and no spare. You can remove the ignition switch from bottom of steering column by takenthe two Allen head bolts holding it in then pushing the bar forward that protrudes from the switch and using a screwdri er to pry the wheel lock spring down to free up the wheel. Two ears one mouth for a reason!so you listen more than you speak quit spreading stupidity with misinformation its contagious
Jessie Crauswell on April 6, 2022
Minenotursleave8@gmail.com
I have both a 98 & 99 my 98 f150 has switch on dash and I hooked that up myself but I just lost my key on my 99 and bout to go and hot wire this b***h and will let tall know and to get pass the pat system you need resistors that mask match the signals
I used to steal cars on December 7, 2021
Former car thief:
ALL OF YOU ARE WRONG. YOU CAN STEAL ANY CAR OR TRUCK WITHOUT KEY OR SPECIAL s**t UNTIL ROUGHLY 2008. FORD IS NOTORIOUS: 1 FLAT HEAD SCREWDRIVER AND A SET OF VICE GRIPS AND THANKS FOR YOUR F-350! LMAOOO YALL DUMB ASF
paul meding on January 19, 2022
Medingtac@gmail.com
Screwdriver method does indeed work. Roomate lost my keys to my 82 Bronco --works, and car thieves stole my 2003 F350... Luckily my trailer had a flat so police pulled it over and i got it back.
Dan on November 17, 2022
97 f150
I lost my key the truck can start without it but only if ignition isn't turned back all the way like it is so is there a way to unlock the ignition without causing damage
Lost keys on September 2, 2022
Lost keys
2002 f150 lost the keys used a flat head to turn ignition how do I bypass the emooblizer cause it just turns over but isn't getting any fuel or spark
What can I do on December 11, 2022
All it takes is a flat head screwdriver.
I'm lost and confused with everybody's input.i lost my key to my 2001 Ford f150. So I could use flat head screwdriver to get my truck started.
Ray W on July 20, 2022
Can I start my ford lariet without a chip key with screwdriver plz help
Vehicle 2006 f150 ford lariet lost keys it’s a chip key I guess how do I start itI’m supposedta b moved but I can’t figure out how
Bilbo Baggins on October 2, 2021
They guy above is an idiot
The 97 Ford f150 does not have a transponder chip in the key. The guy above should be shot dead on sight. And its facts not fax, idiit
I work on my own f150 on January 15, 2024
Lost key
Most of you guys on here are funny and stupid . You can stay your f150 with another ford key with our f*****g up your truck
Rick on December 16, 2021
Ford F150 2003
Hey so im getting mixed messages. I lost my keys and truck has been sitting for a month. What are my realistic option boys
Lost my keys on March 22, 2022
Help
How do I:do it?I'm desperate broke n theres nothing left to flip in my apt looking for my keys . How do I do it
Drifter Lewis on January 28, 2022
Drifter
So... To be clear? I don't need a key to restart my 97 f-150?
Kev on January 30, 2024
How
So how you get past the security part for a 2006ford f150
F150?theif. on December 27, 2021
F150 thief. I’d like to talk to the guy that used to steal trucks
I’d like to talk to the guy that used to steal trucks.
Spell check on October 28, 2021
State champion
Idiot not idiit
Right on January 16, 2023
Wrong
Wrong
Lauren K
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Ford F-150: Starting One Without Keys
