OEM built-in center console lock... Who Knew? (I certainly didn't know)

[Victorog]

Hello folks, never leave your key fob in your truck or car locked away, remember if the vehicle is broken into it can be driven away like nothing ever happened. Then it makes it look like you handed the keys to the would be thief.

I have a safe in mine and I always have my key fob. Learnt the hard way. Apple phone or not, drove my truck for while with my phone and I kept getting a notification passcode will be required on next start, well I thought I knew my passcode and surprise I didn’t remember. Long story short vehicle did not start with my iPhone or Apple Watch, I had to uber home to get the keys and round trip cost was $73. So always have your key fob. Turns out there was an update to the truck hence my issue.

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[21st Century Truck]

Yep. Wouldn’t take much to pop that thing open. Probably could do it with a large screwdriver.

Agree - although that would definitely constitute a prosecutable crime.

Let's remember that these things exist for many scenarios, not necessarily only the Zombie Apocalypse maximum-fear scenario.

To wit:

- hotel valet
- dealership service(s)
- keep stuff like temporarily confiscated cellphones away from teenagers and preteens on a longer trip
- keep personal stuff away from nosy girlfriends' / boyfriends' / aunts' / cousins' / friends who we we loan the car to / roommates' hands and eyes.
- controlled medicines on a trip
- store one's Bitcoin stash oh wait that one wouldn't work.

The BLUF is: it's a reasonable security compartment that we all already had paid for -- THAT is the value here.

 

[RickLightning]

Agree - although that would definitely constitute a prosecutable crime.

Let's remember that these things exist for many scenarios, not necessarily only the Zombie Apocalypse maximum-fear scenario.

To wit:

- hotel valet
- dealership service(s)
- keep stuff like temporarily confiscated cellphones away from teenagers and preteens on a longer trip
- keep personal stuff away from nosy girlfriends' / boyfriends' / aunts' / cousins' / friends who we we loan the car to / roommates' hands and eyes.
- controlled medicines on a trip
- store one's Bitcoin stash oh wait that one wouldn't work.

The BLUF is: it's a reasonable security compartment that we all already had paid for -- THAT is the value here.

I find your post lacking in credibility. You let a valet drive your truck? You loan it out to people?

WTF is wrong with you?

I was a valet for a year in high school. Since then, I can count on a few fingers the number of times a valet has touched my vehicles, in 50 years.

 

[21st Century Truck]

I find your post lacking in credibility. You let a valet drive your truck? You loan it out to people?

WTF is wrong with you?

I was a valet for a year in high school. Since then, I can count on a few fingers the number of times a valet has touched my vehicles, in 50 years.

...and I find Your post based on self-reported high school data, a year or two out of date

In my high school days which have continued on to 2025, we treated and continue to treat our cars as Slurpee cups, as illustrated by the "sharing is caring" spirit. It's just a car. Unless of course I'm sharing it with a teenager or a preteen, or (worse) a nosy aunt. Or unless I want to keep friends and neighbors out of my medicinal drivin' whisky.

 

[DreamBrother1]

Folks,

While trying to install the DIY double-nickel spring stiffener mod on the center console "desk" today, I took a good look at the pivoting armrest / desk surface.

On its front lip where the push-to-open console box latch is, I saw a mysterious slot. Could it be? YES it is! it's a built-in OEM 90 degree lock for the center console ?

I pulled out my fob key, which I have also matched to my spare wheel lock, and voila!
See the two pix.

This 90 degree lock works by blocking the push-to-open front latch.

Now I don't need to buy the console safe.

Where you installing the fold flat work surface? If so I'm interested in how that went as well and info about parts/cost/steps

 

[21st Century Truck]

Where you installing the fold flat work surface? If so I'm interested in how that went as well and info about parts/cost/steps

When I was installing the 20 cent (four nickels, two per side) stiffener mod under the two springs that hold the work surface open above the console when it's opened. A mod by CTUAN.

 

[ryun]

Didn't we all get a separate key for this lock? My '23 did. Only reason I found out about it too.

Good info to know about the keyfob key working. Hadn't known about that. ?

 

[RickLightning]

Didn't we all get a separate key for this lock? My '23 did. Only reason I found out about it too.

Good info to know about the keyfob key working. Hadn't known about that. ?

Both fobs and the standalone key are identical.

 

[stealthchaser]

That is true. Likewise a grinder battery tool can cut open a door, and a hammer and a blanket can reasonably quietly bust a window.

I'm sharing info about a likely little-known lock inside our cab (that btw we had all already paid for), and not advocating for any Ford lock's absolute security.

I , for one, did not know about this lock. So THANK YOU!!!

 

[NeighborGeek]

I just joined the club, picked up my 2025 Flash on Monday. It came with the key for that compartment in the lock, so I couldn't miss it. I am disappointed though that I don't have the work surface. Hard to say how much I would actually use it, but it seems like a great feature. I wonder how much they saved by eliminating it on the 2025 flash?

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