Key Programming: Mercury Grand Marquis 1997-2011
Mercury Grand Marquis 1997-2011 Key Programming Procedure
The following are the key programming procedures for the year 1997, 2006 and 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis.
Mercury Grand Marquis 1997
ORIGINATE NEW MASTER KEY:
1. Put the new key into the ignition. Turn it to the ON position. The dashboard security light will flash for 15 minutes. Once the dashboard security light stops flashing, you have five minutes to begin Step 2.
2. Turn the ignition OFF and then back to the ON position. The dashboard security light will flash for 15 additional minutes.
3. Repeat Step 2.
4. Once the dashboard security light has turned off for the third time, the key will be able to function in the car. It has been programmed into the car’s computer and has replaced ALL previous electronic key codes — the computer will not recognize any other key.
ADD DUPLICATE KEY:
1. Put the current key into the ignition.
2. Turn the ignition ON and back to OFF.
3. Remove the current key and insert the new key, turning it ON. You MUST do this within 15 seconds.
4. The security light will switch on for two seconds, confirming that the key has been successfully programmed into the vehicle.
Mercury Grand Marquis 1998 +
ADD KEY (Requires two working keys):
1. Put a current key into the ignition.
2. Turn the ignition to ON, then back to the OFF position.
3. Remove the key and insert a second key. Turn it ON and back to the OFF position. You MUST do this within five seconds.
4. Before ten seconds have elapsed, put a new key in and turn the ignition ON. After one second, turn the key back to the OFF position.
5. The dashboard security light will glow for three seconds. This confirms the programming of the new key has been successful.
About Mercury Grand Marquis
The Grand Marquis received major cosmetic updates for 2003, and the Ford Panther chassis was overhauled for the first time since its launch in 1979. During the 2000s, Mercury introduced two more full-size sedans: the 2003-2004 Mercury Marauder and the 2005-2007 Mercury Montego (rebranded the 2008-2009 Mercury Sable). Furthermore, the Grand Marquis has largely replaced the Ford Crown Victoria in the retail market since the CV was discontinued for the 2008 model year. This was mirrored in the style of the fourth generation Grand Marquis, which shifted to the more generic look of the third-generation Crown Victoria, merging features of both vehicles into a single model that would service both client bases.
In 2010, the Grand Marquis passed the Cougar as the Mercury brand’s longest-running nameplate, having been in production for 35 years. After a brief production run, the final versions for retail sale were made in September 2010. The manufacture of fleet models was supposed to finish in December 2010, however it was delayed owing to a parts shortage at the St. Thomas, Ontario factory. On January 4, 2011, the last Grand Marquis was manufactured at St. Thomas; it was the last Mercury manufactured by Ford.
While the aesthetic changes to the 2003 Grand Marquis were evolutionary, the improvements to the Panther platform were significantly more profound. To boost chassis rigidity, an all-new frame with fully boxed and hydroformed frame rails was adopted. The front and rear suspensions, as well as the brakes, were changed to improve handling. A quiet EBD brake booster with a mechanical panic aid system was fitted. The new suspension modifications necessitated the use of wheels with a large positive offset. Rack and pinion steering was used to replace the old recirculating ball system in order to improve steering precision while lowering costs. The rear-axle ratio in basic Grand Marquis was 2.73:1; in LSE and handling suspension variants, the rear-axle ratio was 3.27:1. The handling package was standard equipment on LS-trim export vehicles.
The Handling and Performance Package, as well as the 5-passenger front bucket-seat option, were both removed for 2008; both were similar to the Crown Victoria’s LX Premium Sport and Handling Package. These were the only Grand Marquis models made for North America after 1992 that included twin exhaust.
