Can a key from a 99 mustang look the same as a 96 mustang?

Question

i was told a 99 steering colum mustang was put in my 96. but the keys looked exactly the same. i know the 96's didnt have the key chip in it since i got a copy that worked from home depot. the 99's have a bigger key because of the chip. was the parts guy that did the install wrong? is it possible to put a 99 steering colum with chip recognition into a 96 that doesnt ?

jeff402006 u work for ford please help. people are giving me all messed up answers and dont know what they are talkin about.

it doesnt work because i lost the key to the 99 (if it even was a 99)i made a copy of the 96 at home depot and it weorked. but supposedly PATS(Padssive anti-theft system) which has the chip started on 1996 mustangs. how did i make a copy of the 96 at home depot and it worked?

Answer 1

the colums are basically the same... , but all the PATS column had was a ring that reads a chip in the key and sends a signal to a module (which was the instrument cluster on the 1999 car) sending a signal to the PCM to allow it to start. If your car doesn't need that pats key to start it before, it won't need it now...

If one part is missing and the car starts, don't worry about it and cut a regular 8 cut key at home depot... just inform the dude that PATS (the chip key thing) was undone on the car....

Answer 2

It sounds like that while the steering column has been changed, the ignition has not. The steering columns are the same for the 96 and the 99. The only difference is in the ignition switch itself. And the chip in the key was an option until 2000 or later. So the 99 column may not have had it to begin with.
If the keys were not oversized to begin with neither has the chip in it. The anti-theft chip was an option in the 90's.

Answer 3

Who cares if it works>?

Answer 4

no its not