# Re:Are car keys unique?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-car-keys-unique/51577>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [January 24, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-car-keys-unique/51577 "2001-01-24T17:17:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![El\_Marko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@El\_Marko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Marko)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-car-keys-unique/51577/1 "2001-01-24T17:17:33Z")

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A first hand experience tells me that, at least in the case of Fords, keys are still somewhat generic. Not too long ago, I owned a ‘91 Ford Escort wagon (not exactly stylin’ but I was a poor college student at the time). At the same time, my father owned a '91 Escort GT (the sport model). Each car had one key that did everything; doors, trunk ignition. Out of curiosity, I tried my key in the locks on his car and found that while it would not open the doors, it did work in the ignition switch! Draw your own conclusions.

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**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2001, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-are-car-keys-unique/51577/2 "2001-01-25T07:03:42Z")

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[[I tried my key in the locks on his car and found that while it would not open the doors, it did work in the ignition switch! Draw your own conclusions.]]

My conclusion would be that the ignition is worn out and less sensitive than it was. And the link to the Staff Report is: [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcarkey.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcarkey.html)