If you enjoy learning how things work, automotive locksmithing is a fantastic profession. It even let’s you work as your own boss. You can start as a mobile locksmith service provider. With new cars and locks entering the market even year, you always have something new to learn.
Today, let’s learn about how Ford car’s Tibbe keys work, and how to find the key code of any Tibbe key from an emergency locksmith in San Diego, CA. Don’t you want to understand your car’s Tibbe key code?
Tibbe keys are high-security keys used in motor vehicles introduced by Ford Motors in 1982. The Tibbe key is based on a specific key code which is derived on the basis of three different cut angles of eight ridge on the lock rim. These cut angle key codes are located near the tip.
There are three types of cut angles, flat, medium or full. Each of these cut angles are given a corresponding number code for their angle of cut, 1 for the flat cut, 2 for the medium cut and 3 for the full cut. A full Tibbe key code is a set of eight number code and may look like 2-1-2-3-3-1-2-3.
A Tibbe key code consist of 8 numbers, each representing the angle of cut. You will see a slim rib on each side of the key, search for the cuts on the tip of the rib. You must keep following points in your mind, before you start decoding Tibbe key code.
The first numeric key code is always at the end furthest away from the tip of the slim key.
Never read and calculate the circular end at the tip of the slim rib. The circular end on the tip represents the end of the key.
There are 8 cuts in a key and each cut has 3 depth/cut angles. Each of the cut is assigned a specific number:
1 = flat or no cut
2 = mid angle cut
3 = full angle cut (angle cut almost touches the rib)
Search for the end of the key, which is the first key code. Simply, go to the end which is furthest away from the tip and that is your first key code.
Starting from the first cut, measure the cut angle and write down the number code of the corresponding cut angle.
Continue the same process till you reach end of the to the tip (circular end on the top of the slim rim).
Sometimes adjacent angles will be the same and will be represented by two numbers being the same. So, it’s always advisable to re-check the number code1 = flat or no cut
2 = mid angle cut more than two times.
Once you have completed decoding the key code, it should look like this 2-2-3-1-1-2-3-2 or different numeric code in similar pattern.
Remember, there are often two adjacent cuts with the same cut angle.