Mercury Mystique anti-theft key?

Maintenance/Repairs
1

I bought a used 2000 Mercury Mystique one week ago and the other day it simply stopped working. It was running and suddenly just stalled and wouldn’t start again.



After a ridiculous series of events, the car finally got towed to a service station and I’ve just heard fromthem that think the problem is with the anti-theft key.



Apparently the key I received with the car is not the original key, it is a copied key that doesn’t have the encoding for the alarm system.



Is this possibly the correct answer? Would I have been able to drive the car for an entire week before it stopped working?



Please help! I don’t want to pay $150 for a new factory-made key if it won’t solve the problem.

2

You would not have been able to drive the car for a week if this was the problem. The engine would have shut down within a couple seconds after you started it the first time. I suggest you get the car towed to somebody qualified to work on it, not a service station.

3

Does your car have a red LED on the dashboard? Does it flash slowly when the car is not running? Does it flash quickly when it does not start?

4

So, these guys are telling you that your car has an antitheft system that will allow a theif to drive around for a week before activating? I don’t think so! I’d be embarassed to suggest that as a cause.

Take it elsewhere.

5

The shop may be correct, maybe not. When the anti-theft system faults, it can cut fuel injectors action and spark action. A Ford/Mercury repair bulletin Article No. 99-26-6 can familiarize you with the anti-theft system.
The V6 engine (2.5L) has a timing chain which is good for the life of the engine.
The 4 cylinder engine has a timing belt, with an expected service life of 100,000 miles. The average mileage on your car is about 108,000 miles. The timing belt, if it’s the 4 cylinder, could have slipped.
The gods are smiling upon you, the www.gates.com site doesn’t list the 4 cylinder engine as being hurt if the timing belt slips. If it turns out to be the timing belt, on the 4 cylinder engine, make an offering of thanks to the gods (keep’em smiling)!