# Mercury Mystique anti-theft key? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 5, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-mystique-anti-theft-key/13650 "2008-05-05T15:12:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rlisette\_715](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c67d28/32.png) [@rlisette\_715](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rlisette_715)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-mystique-anti-theft-key/13650/1 "2008-05-05T15:12:18Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![silvergc1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@silvergc1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/silvergc1)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-mystique-anti-theft-key/13650/2 "2008-05-05T15:17:34Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-mystique-anti-theft-key/13650/3 "2008-05-06T21:12:55Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-mystique-anti-theft-key/13650/4 "2008-05-06T21:17:36Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mercury-mystique-anti-theft-key/13650/5 "2008-05-06T21:47:41Z")
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](http://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)!