Lost or need to reprogram your key fob for your 1996 Lincoln Town Car? It can be a frustrating situation, but luckily, programming a new or existing key fob for your 1996 Lincoln Town Car is a straightforward process you can do yourself at home. This guide will walk you through each step to get your keyless entry system working again, saving you time and money compared to dealership programming.
Understanding Your Lincoln Town Car Keyless Entry System
The 1996 Lincoln Town Car is equipped with a keyless entry system that allows you to lock, unlock, and potentially activate other features of your vehicle remotely using a key fob. This system relies on a combination of components:
- Key Fob (Remote Transmitter): The handheld device you use to send commands to your car. It operates on batteries and communicates wirelessly.
- Keyless Entry Keypad: Located on the driver’s side door, this keypad allows you to enter a 5-digit code to unlock your car and is also crucial for programming key fobs.
- Keyless Entry Control Module: The “brain” of the system, this module receives signals from the key fob and keypad and controls the door locks and other functions.
Before you begin programming, ensure you have the following:
- Your 5-Digit Permanent Code: This code is essential for entering programming mode. We’ll explain how to locate it in the next section.
- Your Key Fob(s): Make sure they are equipped with fresh CR1616 batteries, oriented with the ‘+’ side down against the plastic in the battery compartment.
Step-by-Step Guide to Programming Your 1996 Lincoln Town Car Key Fob
Follow these steps carefully to successfully program your key fob:
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Enter Programming Mode via Keypad: Locate the keyless entry keypad on your driver’s side door. Enter your 5-digit permanent code into the keypad. Enter each digit firmly and wait momentarily after each press to ensure registration.
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Initiate Programming Sequence: After successfully entering the 5-digit code, press the “1-2” button on the keypad.
- Confirmation: If you’ve correctly initiated the programming sequence, the door locks will cycle – they will lock and then immediately unlock. This lock/unlock cycle is your visual confirmation that the system is now in programming mode and ready to learn a new key fob signal.
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Program the First Key Fob: Within 7 seconds of the door locks cycling, take your first key fob and press any button on it.
- Success Indication: If the programming of this key fob is successful, you will see the door locks cycle again (lock/unlock). This confirms that the car has recognized and stored the signal from your key fob.
- Failure and Troubleshooting: If the door locks do not cycle after pressing a button on the key fob, the programming has failed for that fob. Here are a few things to check:
- Battery Condition: Ensure the CR1616 batteries in your key fob are new and correctly installed (‘+’ side down). Weak batteries are a common cause of programming failure.
- Timing: Make sure you are pressing a button on the key fob within the 7-second window after the door locks cycle in step 2. If you exceed this time, the system will exit programming mode.
- Repeat Step: If you suspect a timing issue or battery problem, repeat steps 2 and 3 carefully.
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Program Additional Key Fobs (Optional): If you have additional key fobs to program (you can program up to 4 for your 1996 Lincoln Town Car), you must program them immediately after the first, within the same programming session. Within 7 seconds of the door locks cycling after programming the previous fob (or after step 2 if programming only one fob), press any button on the next key fob you wish to program.
- Confirmation for Each Fob: The door locks should cycle (lock/unlock) for each successfully programmed key fob. Repeat step 4 for any remaining fobs you need to program, always acting within the 7-second window.
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Exit Programming Mode: Once you have programmed all desired key fobs, you need to exit the programming mode. There are two ways to do this:
- Simultaneous Keypad Press: Press the “7-8” and “9-0” buttons on the keypad simultaneously. This is the quickest way to exit programming mode.
- Wait for Timeout: Alternatively, if you do nothing for more than 7 seconds after the last key fob programming step, the system will automatically time out and exit programming mode.
Locating Your 5-Digit Permanent Code
The 5-digit permanent code is crucial for initiating the key fob programming process. Here are the common locations where you can find it:
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Owner’s Manual Package: Check the original owner’s manual package for your 1996 Lincoln Town Car. Often, there was a credit card-sized keyless entry code card included in the owner’s manual materials. This card should have your 5-digit code printed on it.
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Trunk Label: Look inside your trunk, typically on the right side lift-support arm or nearby paneling. There may be a computer-printed label affixed in this area that contains the 5-digit code. The label may be somewhat hidden, so inspect carefully.
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Keyless Locking Control Module: In some cases, the code is directly on the keyless locking control module itself. This module (part number: F6AB-13C791-AA) is located inside the driver’s side door. Accessing this module might require some disassembly of the door panel. This is usually a last resort if the other locations are not fruitful.
Alt text: Close-up of a 1996 Lincoln Town Car key fob and the keyless entry keypad on the driver’s side door, highlighting the components needed for key fob programming.
Conclusion
Programming your 1996 Lincoln Town Car key fob is a simple procedure that can be completed in just a few minutes by following these steps. By understanding your keyless entry system and carefully executing the programming sequence, you can regain the convenience of remote keyless entry without the expense of a dealership visit. Make sure to double-check your 5-digit permanent code and use fresh batteries in your key fobs for the best results. Enjoy the ease of keyless entry in your classic Lincoln Town Car!
