I guess so, my truck is an 'E' truck with the following options:

• 2TEA Customer Preferred Package 2TE
• 26E Customer Preferred Package 26E

 

Well, finally got another key programmed.

First, thank you everyone who posted their thoughts on this. It helped me to have a direction to go to research this. This has been like one of those very minor tasks that turn into a "by gosh, I am going to get this figured out once and for all" kind of thing.Without intending to go into a dissertation, what my research showed me is something I hope will help anyone else trying to get another key for their vehicle.

Basically from 04 to 06, there were some Dakotas and Durangos (and probably others) that were built without the Sentry Immobilizer system (whether ordered that way or not). It was a matter of using up the remaining setups before all cars in 07 were built with the Sentry system. Again this is just the overall summary as some 07's could still be chipless key vehicles. The chipless keys were only used with the keyless entry option alone.The Sentry keys have on their "motherboards" a wound copper chip that acts as the antenna to communicate with the vehicle's computer to get the keys programmed. If you take a keyfob apart on a Sentry system key, you will see this shiny copper antenna soldered to the board. They will not program for a keyless entry only vehicle. Thus, if you have a vehicle without Sentry, the keyfob will not have that shiny copper antenna on the board and it will not program to a Sentry vehicle (as far as I have been able to determine).

On Ebay, where I got my keys, this distinction between Sentry and non-Sentry is often never mentioned in the auction. I came across an auction where the key being sold was described as a "chipless" key and only was programmable for a vehicle that you could start with a regular flat key to begin with. I blinked and bought it. When it arrived, I took it apart and the antenna was not there. I then took my working key apart and it matched the board of the one I just bought. All the other keys I had purchased had that copper antenna but I didn't know at the time that it meant anything.

Now that I had a correct key, I tried to program it using the procedure in the owners manual for non-Sentry keys and also other procedures mentioned on the internet. I just could not get it to program. I ended up having a mobile locksmith come out and he got it to program in about 3 minutes with his programming machine.So now I have two working keyless entry remote keys and about 5 other keys that will work with the car but just not lock and unlock the doors remotely. Sigh.

I hope that my experience will help others who want more keys for their vehicle. There is no need to spend 150 to 300 dollars for a factory key when you just need to know what system you have (or don't have) to get the correct key. The now working key I have cost me $45 and free shipping and the programming of it cost me $20.Evidence seems to point to the "D" packages are the non-Sentry systems and the "E" packages are for the Sentry systems. I cannot say that for sure however.

Thank you again for your assistance and information because it helped steer me to the areas and people to query to get the right answers to know what to buy.My caveat is that I am working mainly with my 2006 SLT Quad Cab so the years in question may vary. The basics of the sentry and non-sentry keys should be accurate.

All my best.

lm700

 

That looks like just one big blob of letters lol. ^^

 

Wow, you're right. Sorry it didn't paste the way I wrote it. I'll edit it. Thanks.

 

Glad you got it figured out and resolved.