Do not try and start your truck with an after market plain key if you have a Sentry Chip key! A plain key is OK to open the lock on the door!
If you try the plain key it will start the engine but the engine will quit after a few seconds....try this a total of three times and the truck will not start no matter which key you try to use even the original. The computer senses tampering and shuts down. The truck will have to be reprogrammed before it will restart. This as told to me by the guy at the dealership. Anybody else here this?

 

Thats very interesting,on my Laramie you cannot unlock the door with any key without setting off the alarm .Even using the sentry key will set off the alarm unless you dissarm the alarm first before you open the door.I do carry just a plain key in my wallet just incase I was to lock my keys inside the truck.It is also useful for the kids to listen to the radio too while I am in a store say,no one could break in and drive off with them and the truck.

 

No alarm involved here......do not use plain key to try and start truck

 

It tells you all this info in the owners manual.

 

I believe there's a timer involved. May have to wait for several minutes before trying again.

MikeyB

 

Hmmm I have a couple of plain keys for when I do lock my keys in the truck. I have started the truck once with one just to make sure it will not run. Wonder if the number of tries does reset??

 

I have a plain key I use to run the truck from time to time. Some mornings I start it and let it run for a bit while I am loading or if I know I am going in and out of stores I use it. I start the truck by holding the sentry key up to the ignition while I turn the ignition to run with the plain key. Once the sentry light goes out, I start the truck; the plain key can start it and keep it running after the code is read. I use the keyless entry to lock it if I leave it to go in a store (ie I keep my regular keys on me).

My logic is it's one less expensive key to loose if I missplace it, and if someone does break into my truck and happen to take it, at least they will have one more hassell to overcome. Also, if they happen to drive off with it and happen to turn it off, at least they cannot restart it and may abandon it. I keep the plain key in the truck. My keychain is already bulky enough.

I have not tried starting it more than once with the plain key. This does happen by mistake from time to time though.

 

What page does it tell you 3 tries and it will not start?

 

OK, you're right. I couldn't find that in there. All they talk about is unathorized keys shutting you down.

 

Do the Sentry Keys have a battery that can be replaced? My key buttons won't lock or unlock the truck unless I am within about 40' of the truck. It would work out to 100'+ four months ago when the truck was new. I am thinking a week battery has reduced signal strength, thus reducing distance.

 

Yes you have to replace battery....number in manual....can't think of it off hand....sorry

 

If it's the combination key and fob the battery should be a CR2032.

MikeyB

 

Does the key need to be re- programmed when you change the battery?

 

Does this apply to the key with the big molded plastic part with panic button and such? Or are you all refering to another kind of key. Also are the alarms standard,, I am not sure if I have one or if its activated.

 

I've heard of this happening right in the dealers service bay. They didn't even know what happened to it!