# Car thinks I'm stealing it

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-thinks-im-stealing-it/18330>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 18, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-thinks-im-stealing-it/18330 "2008-08-18T02:12:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Scott1974](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Scott1974](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott1974)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-thinks-im-stealing-it/18330/1 "2008-08-18T02:12:18Z")

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I have a 98 Mercury Mountaineer and the receiver doesn’t seem to read the coded key. On numerous occasions when I try to start it the theft light will flash and the car won’t start. I have puchased a new key so I know that’s not the problem. Is there any way to disable this feature?

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-thinks-im-stealing-it/18330/2 "2008-08-18T02:42:59Z")

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Is the new key programmed to the receiver? Most times new keys won’t program from the original frequency. Disable? Don’t know.

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**Author:** ![Scott1974](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Scott1974](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott1974)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-thinks-im-stealing-it/18330/3 "2008-08-18T02:48:51Z")

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I had the new key made at the Ford dealership. Also the problem started before we had the new key made, and it persists with the new and old keys.

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-thinks-im-stealing-it/18330/4 "2008-08-18T17:19:35Z")

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At the time you had the new key cut at the dealer, did you mention the problem with the receiver? You MAY need a new receiver module and reprogramming, OR you may need the security system checked.