WARNING about backup start passcode

[starrtech2000]

Well, I’m stranded with my truck two hours from home because of phone as a key being a piece of junk.

even though my phone was connected to my truck enough that CARPLAY worked and I could open the door locks with the FordPass app, the vehicle told me No Key Detected and I had to enter the backup start code to drive. When I stopped for dinner, I thought I’d try removing and re-adding my phone as a key while I had it turned on. It wouldn’t complete the pairing process. When I got back in the car after stopping for dinner, still no PAAK. Then I tried to just use the backup code again but no backup code screen showed up, no matter what I did.

Apparently, with NO WARNING, if you remove a phone, the truck also REMOVES THE BACKUP START CODE, meaning you have no PAAK and no other way to start the truck without the physical key.

ANOTHER GENIUS Engineering moment in the books for Ford!

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[GDN]

I'm not sure there is much they can do, but if you don't have it - (800) 241-3673 is Ford's Road side assistance.

 

[Scorpio3d]

Sorry this happened to you!
This is why I carry my key fob-just in case!

 

[RickLightning]

Yes, removing the phone deletes the backup code. I never travel anywhere without fob.

Tip - create two identical passcodes if you have 2 phones.

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

It does warn you that by removing PaaK you will lose backup start passcode. Did you read the pop-up warning before you hit ok?

 

[awilli1010]

Carry a fob in a faraday case/bag. I have mine locked in my console vault. I don’t trust the paak enough not to keep the fob nearby.

 

[Maquis]

You removed PAAK even though you didn’t have a fob with you? ??‍??‍

 

[RocketGhost]

That's the way I would expect it to work. If I remove a phone from PAAK, I want it to also delete the backup code associated with it. Removing the phone means I don't want whoever has that phone to be able to access my truck.

Do you have to have a key in the truck to add a phone as PAAK?

My truck often does not recognize my phone. Opening the FordPass app on my phone and waiting a few seconds fixes it.

I always take a key when I travel since PAAK can be buggy. I'm just glad Ford gives us regular keys. Some other EV brands do not.

 

[G-Zeus]

If your PAAK doesn't connect, go into Bluetooth settings and enjoy watching the connection keep trying to engage, disengage, engage, disengage... sometimes watching it for a bit seems to make it work! No idea why it does this, is it an Apple issue, a Bluetooth issue, a Ford issue?

And for sure, have your key fob in a Faraday case somewhere in the truck for this exact reason. I learned that lesson the hard way too.

And as others have said, you can't add a new PAAK without your keyfob anyway. Sorry that happened to you.

 

[starrtech2000]

It does warn you that by removing PaaK you will lose backup start passcode. Did you read the pop-up warning before you hit ok?

Interesting. Neither my wife or I noticed this so I have trouble believing it’s an obvious warning… I’m pretty detail oriented but maybe in the panic of the situation and the frustration with the garbage technology reliability on these trucks I missed it.

There should be big red letters saying “Do not remove your phone link without having the key with you” or something.

Logic would dictate that the BACKUP passcode is there so you can start the car if you DON’T have your phone. Assuming that deleting your phone connection would delete the thing that lets you start the car without your phone is nonsense. Those should not be related.

 

[starrtech2000]

You removed PAAK even though you didn’t have a fob with you? ??‍??‍

The car was on and at the screen that allows you to modify paak settings. If there was something that said “don’t touch this without your key fob” I would have considered it differently. I didn’t click “remove the ability to turn the car on like you just did using a password” I clicked remove phone connection.

 

[RickLightning]

When you setup PaaK it offered to let you setup a passcode. There is no other way to setup a passcode without setting up PaaK. That connection is pretty clear.

I can see how in the heat of the moment you didn't realize that, but I can't see why you thought it important to try and fix PaaK while on a trip, given that the passcode worked.

Of course had you setup your wife's phone with PaaK and a passcode, you wouldn't have had any issue.

 

[roddiaz1]

Thanks for the warning. Good to know.
I will be sure not to delete phone unless I’m at home with my fob nearby.
In my experience, I agree that PAAK is a bit temperamental, to me it is like a beta version of a feature, not quite ready for prime time.
Also, would love it FoMoCo offered a smaller version of the fob. Why is it so large compared to other makers?

 

[RickLightning]

Thanks for the warning. Good to know.
I will be sure not to delete phone unless I’m at home with my fob nearby.
In my experience, I agree that PAAK is a bit temperamental, to me it is like a beta version of a feature, not quite ready for prime time.
Also, would love it FoMoCo offered a smaller version of the fob. Why is it so large compared to other makers?

Because it's happy to see you?

 

[Heliian]

Why is it so large compared to other makers?

We need a fob measuring contest.

Actual answer, there's a real key inside of it.

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