Ford F-350 vs GMC Sierra 2500 HD: key replacement compared
Shopping the Ford F-350 against the GMC Sierra 2500 HD? They are a common heavy-duty trucks cross-shop in the Statesboro area, and the key replacement story is different enough to matter. If you are weighing which is simpler or quicker to get a replacement key for, here is the head-to-head: key technology by model year, how a lost-key job actually runs on each, and the field quirks we see most. Call (912) 209-6131 for same-day mobile service on either one.
Ford F-350 vs GMC Sierra 2500 HD at a glance
| Ford F-350 | GMC Sierra 2500 HD | |
|---|---|---|
| Model years covered | 2011–2025 | 2001–2026 |
| Earliest key type | High-Security Transponder | Transponder |
| Newest key type | Proximity / Push-to-Start | Proximity |
| Lost-all-keys handling | Typically on-site via OBD-II | Typically on-site via OBD-II |
| Spare from a working key | On-site, same visit | On-site, same visit |
Key types by year, side by side
Both vehicles changed key technology over their runs, so the right blank, chip, and programmer depend entirely on your model year. Here is what each one uses:
Ford F-350
HU101 blade, 80-bit chip. Remote FCC: CWTWB1U793.
HU101 emergency blade. FCC: M3N-A2C931426.
GMC Sierra 2500 HD
B102 blade, PK3 transponder chip.
B102 blade, PK3+ 46 chip.
Flip remote or proximity option. FCC: M3N-32337100.
Standard push-to-start. FCC: HYQ1EA.
Which is simpler or quicker to key?
Neither the Ford F-350 nor the GMC Sierra 2500 HD typically needs a dealer for routine key work. Both are mobile, on-site jobs: a spare comes from a working key in a single visit, and a lost-all-keys situation means reading the immobilizer PIN through the OBD-II port before enrolling the new key.
The quirk that trips people up on each
- 80-bit high-security cuts. The F-350's HU101 high-security blade needs precise cutting; a sloppy aftermarket cut binds in the cylinder and can break off.
- PK3 to PK3+ change. The Sierra 2500's transponder moved from PK3 to the PK3+ 46 chip in 2008, so a chip from an older truck won't program to a newer one.
How a key job runs on either one
The path works the same way on both. The simplest job on either vehicle is a planned spare made while you still have a working key, because that key acts as the authentication seed and the work is short. A lost-all-keys situation takes more steps on either one, since the programmer has to read the immobilizer PIN before it can enroll a new key. We confirm the exact part by VIN before we dispatch, so the right blank, chip, and programmer are on the truck when we arrive.
Get a replacement key in Statesboro, GA
We are a mobile automotive locksmith and we come to you anywhere in Statesboro, Bulloch County, and southeast Georgia, no tow and no dealership wait, for both the Ford F-350 and the GMC Sierra 2500 HD. Call (912) 209-6131.
Compare the full guides
- Ford F-350 key replacement guide, all years and key types
- GMC Sierra 2500 HD key replacement guide, all years and key types
- All Ford car keys
- All GMC car keys
Frequently asked: Ford F-350 vs GMC Sierra 2500 HD keys
Is the Ford F-350 or the GMC Sierra 2500 HD simpler to make a key for?
They are comparable. A spare made from a working key is the simplest path on either vehicle; a lost-all-keys situation takes more steps because we read the immobilizer PIN first. We confirm the exact path by VIN before dispatching.
Can you make a key for both on-site in Statesboro?
Yes. Both the Ford F-350 and the GMC Sierra 2500 HD are handled by our mobile unit at your location for the large majority of year ranges. Any exception that needs dealer coordination is flagged on the phone when we confirm your VIN, so the work is set up correctly before we arrive.
Do I need the original key to get a replacement?
No. With a working key we make a spare in a single visit because the original acts as the authentication seed. With no key at all, we read the immobilizer PIN and build a key from your VIN. Both vehicles support both paths.