Key Programming: Mercury Sable 1997-2002
Mercury Sable 1997-2005 Key Programming Procedure
The following are the key programming procedures for the 1997, 1999 and 2005 Mercury Sable.
Mercury Sable 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 Sable 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 Sable
In 1999, the Sable was redesigned for MY 2000, removing some of the oval design elements from the 1996 model and replacing them with more traditional appearance. The revamp also included a larger canopy above the rear-seat passenger area, which increased passenger headroom over the tapered 1996 version. The vehicle became more practical as a result of the taller and roomier trunk. The inside was totally redone in favor of a more conservative look. The integrated control console, which incorporated the music system and climate controls into one panel, was preserved from the 1996 model, but the shape of that panel was changed from the contentious oval to a more conventional and conservative trapezoid. To appeal to a broader, non-sporting audience, the suspension was also relaxed. Many amenities, such as four-wheel disc brakes, were removed from the sedan to cut the price and boost profitability; station wagons retained four-wheel disc brakes.
Every trim level of the 2002 Sable came with added features, such as a CD player and power driver’s seat on the GS and a power sunroof or leather inside on the LS. All models now include side airbags and traction control as options. The front and back fascias of the 2004 Sable got minor visual changes, the most noticeable of which was the full-chrome grille. A new instrument cluster and steering wheel were installed on the inside.
Due to the termination of the Mercury brand in Canada, the fourth generation Sable was never sold there. As a result, it was only found in the United States and Mexico.
As a replacement for the Sable, Mercury introduced the Montego in 2005 and the Milan in 2006. The Sable, as well as the Taurus wagon, were phased out shortly after the Montego’s launch; the Taurus sedan was kept in production, although largely for the fleet market. On April 29, 2005, the last Sable left the Atlanta factory.
For the 2008 model year, Mercury introduced the fifth-generation Sable. At the 2007 Chicago Auto Show, the production car, which was developed as a mid-cycle update of the Mercury Montego, brought back the more well-known Sable nameplate. While the reintroduction of the Ford Taurus (renamed the Five Hundred) in 2008 effectively terminated retail sales of the Crown Victoria, the Sable continued in the Mercury model range underneath the Grand Marquis.
