Originally posted by brianl703:
I was worried that the key would get damaged or lost.



Your worries are not unwarranted. Last week, the key that I was using stop working.

I was leaving work in the evening. I put the Silencer "key" into the Silencer switch, and then turned the ignition key. Nothing! I tried this about 100 times. I finally got a ride home from a coworker.

The next day, I returned to work with the spare Silencer key. It worked.

For now I have turned off the Silencer security system by using the bypass that connects to the back of the switch.

96 Contour SE Duratec V6 24-valve 2.5L ATX 108,000 mi. Replaced: crankshaft w/ DMD, EGR valve (clogged), EVR, DPFE, PCV valve, evap emissions hose & tube (cracked), window regulator (broken), LH & RH PCV tubes, UIM gasket (leak), ignition coil