2000 Ford Focus Key Replacement

The 2000–2004 Focus uses the same key setup, so everything on this page applies to those years too. The full picture is on the Ford Focus key guide.

2000 Ford Focus: key facts

Key type: Transponder chip key
Push-to-start: No
Transponder chip: 4D60
Programming: OBD
All keys lost: We can originate new keys on site

H74-PT/H86-PT blanks with the Texas 4D60 chip — the US Focus is an outlier that did not use the 4C chip of other 2000s Fords. 4D60 and 4D63 are not interchangeable.

What kind of key does a 2000 Ford Focus use?

The 2000 Focus uses a transponder key, not a push-to-start fob. The plastic head holds a small chip, and the car's anti-theft system (Ford calls it PATS) has to read that chip before the engine will run. The blanks for this car are the H74-PT and H86-PT, and the chip inside is the Texas 4D60 family.

This is worth knowing because the US-market Focus is an outlier. Many other Fords from the 2000s used a different chip, called 4C. The Focus did not. If someone online or at a hardware counter tells you 'it's a standard Ford key,' that can lead you to buy the wrong part. 4D60 and 4D63 chips look similar on a listing but are not interchangeable, so the chip has to match what the car expects.

The car also has a mechanical backup key setup, which matters when we are cutting and testing the blade before any programming starts.

Key type: transponder, no push-to-start
Chip family: 4D60 (verified against two supplier references)
Blanks: H74-PT and H86-PT
Programming method: through the OBD port

Duplicate key or all keys lost: what changes?

On this car, both situations are workable. They are just different amounts of work.

If you still have a working key, a duplicate is the simpler job. The original key needs to be present for the copy, and we cut the new blade and program the chip to the car. If you have been meaning to get a spare, doing it while you still have a key is the more economical route.

If every key is lost, we can still make a new one. That means cutting a key to the lock from the car itself, then programming the new transponder to the car by OBD. Nothing here needs a tow to a dealer, and our programming for this year does not depend on special NASTF secure-data registration. A mobile van can come to the car, or you can bring it to our Westwood storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd.

Confirm the year, model and that the car is a US-market Focus.
Check the ignition and door locks and cut the blade to match.
Match the chip type (4D60) to the car before anything is programmed.
Program the key through the OBD port and test it in the ignition.
Test the doors and make sure the engine runs and keeps running, not just cranks.

Why a 2000 Focus key can fail even when it looks right

Most of the calls we see on this setup fall into a few patterns, and they are the ones this car's data points to.

Worn ignition lock wafers on high-mileage cars: the key sticks or will not turn. Sometimes the lock is the problem, not the key.
Worn 8-cut key blades that stop turning the locks. A copy of a worn key copies the wear.
PATS theft light flashing: the engine cranks but will not start because the chip was not read.
Hardware-store copies cut without a transponder: they open the doors but will not start the engine.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

We answer around the clock, every day of the year.

Call (213) 577-1366

What affects the price of a 2000 Focus key?

We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the real cost depends on the situation in front of us. These are the things that move it:

Whether you have a working key is the biggest factor. A duplicate is usually the lighter-cost option; all keys lost adds cutting from the lock and more programming steps. Whether the ignition is worn matters too, since a sticking lock may need work before any new key will behave. The number of keys you want programmed, and whether we come to you or you come to the storefront, also play in. Finally, time of day counts for after-hours and emergency calls.

When you call (213) 577-1366 we will ask the questions that decide these things and explain the cost structure before we start.

Working key available, or all keys lost
Condition of the ignition lock and the existing blade
Number of keys needed
Mobile visit or storefront
Time of day

What we confirm by VIN, and why call us

The chip data for this year is verified, but we still confirm the exact blank and chip by VIN or in person before cutting anything. Given that 4D60 and 4D63 are not interchangeable, a quick check is cheaper than a wrong key.

Wilshire Lock & Key has been in business since 1987. We are one company with a storefront and our own mobile vans, not a dispatch service passing your call along. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith, including us, for it.

If you want to see what we do for the rest of the model, start with the Ford Focus key page, the wider Ford key replacement section, or our full car key service overview. To describe your situation, use the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 2000 Ford Focus need a transponder key?

Yes. It uses a transponder key with a 4D60 chip. A plain cut key may open the doors, but the engine will not start unless the chip is programmed to the car.

Can you make a key if I lost all of my 2000 Focus keys?

Yes. All-keys-lost is possible on this car. We cut a key to the lock and program a new transponder through the OBD port.

Do I need my original key to get a copy?

For a duplicate, yes, the original key needs to be present. If you have no key at all, we handle it as an all-keys-lost job instead.

Why does my Focus crank but not start with a new key?

The anti-theft system is probably not reading the chip, and the theft light often flashes. This is common with copies cut at a hardware store without a programmed transponder, or with the wrong chip type.

Is the 4D60 chip the same as 4D63?

No. They are not interchangeable. This is why we confirm the chip and blank by VIN or in person before cutting or programming.

Can the key be programmed without going to a dealer?

Yes. Programming for this year is done through the OBD port, and it does not require NASTF secure-data registration.

My key is sticking in the ignition. Is a new key enough?

Not always. On high-mileage Focus cars the ignition lock wafers can wear, and the key may stick or refuse to turn. We check the lock and the blade together so you do not buy a key that cannot fix the problem.

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Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-11.