Key Tracker?

[Farafield]

Any chance the key fob has a tracking device in it?

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[Maquis]

No

 

[frautumn]

Mine does, with the help of an AirTag plus a Ford key fob holder. Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MMBJH3Y

 

[sgtcasey]

Mine does, with the help of an AirTag plus a Ford key fob holder. Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MMBJH3Y

Do you just slip the AirTag into the sleeve with the key fob?

 

[chl]

Short answer, no tracking device, but will send out RF that could maybe be tracked.

Key FOBs send out periodic RF signals, sometimes constantly sometimes only in response to a signal from the vehicle (which is how thieves intercept the code and clone them in parking lots) so if you have a FOB signal 'tester' that can send out the vehicle signal if needed and detect the FOB signal and then indicate strength as you get closer to it, in theory you could use that kind of equipment to find it (if it is lost).

But my wife would say just whistle to St Anthony and it will show up.
My theory is what ever you lost is within 10 feet of where you think it should be - usually true.

In the mean time, phone as key?

Key FOBs are expensive and have to be programmed - sometimes you can buy a 'generic' one for your make and model and program it your self, otherwise the dealership might charge a fee for programming it to your truck.

I did that once when one of my kids lost her key FOB, alas.

 

[flyct]

Short answer, no tracking device, but will send out RF that could maybe be tracked.

Key FOBs send out periodic RF signals, sometimes constantly sometimes only in response to a signal from the vehicle (which is how thieves intercept the code and clone them in parking lots) so if you have a FOB signal 'tester' that can send out the vehicle signal if needed and detect the FOB signal and then indicate strength as you get closer to it, in theory you could use that kind of equipment to find it (if it is lost).

But my wife would say just whistle to St Anthony and it will show up.
My theory is what ever you lost is within 10 feet of where you think it should be - usually true.

In the mean time, phone as key?

Key FOBs are expensive and have to be programmed - sometimes you can buy a 'generic' one for your make and model and program it your self, otherwise the dealership might charge a fee for programming it to your truck.

I did that once when one of my kids lost her key FOB, alas.

OEM Key FOBS can be purchased from many online dealers. I always order 2 additional FOBS with new cars for about $100 each. The owner's manual has instructions on programming them yourself. The only issue is getting the hard key cut. I have paid anywhere from $5 to $15 for a dealer to cut the key I provided.

The only issue is you need 2 already programmed FOBS to self program one yourself.

I keep a programmed FOB in a FARADAY bag locked in my console safe. I keep another in my house and another in my cabin. I never carry one with me.

I've used this online dealer multiple times and have never had an issue with any FOB they have provided.
https://www.carandtruckremotes.com/...ghtning-smart-remote-key-fob-w-power-tailgate

 

[chl]

OEM Key FOBS can be purchased from many online dealers. I always order 2 additional FOBS with new cars for about $100 each. The owner's manual has instructions on programming them yourself. The only issue is getting the hard key cut. I have paid anywhere from $5 to $15 for a dealer to cut the key I provided.

The only issue is you need 2 already programmed FOBS to self program one yourself.

I keep a programmed FOB in a FARADAY bag locked in my console safe. I keep another in my house and another in my cabin. I never carry one with me.

I've used this online dealer multiple times and have never had an issue with any FOB they have provided.
https://www.carandtruckremotes.com/...ghtning-smart-remote-key-fob-w-power-tailgate

I saw this post on this forum about programming a new fob, fwiw:
-----
I like PAAK but it's not quite as reliable as I'd like, but I also hate how large the stock key fob feels in my pocket. I wanted to 3D print a case for my F150 fob but didn't want to accidentally break one of my two factory keys, so I ended up buying a fob (part number FRD-164-R8304) from carandtruckremotes.com which had a fair price ($120 with tax and shipping). The fob arrive within a few days.

With two functional keys (i.e. before you lose one!), you can program a 3rd key. Easy enough, right?

I then followed advice on other threads (here) and a YouTube video (here) but the new key would not program. I contacted the website where I purchased it for advice and they said to contact a locksmith. Prices for programming and cutting the backup key ranged up to $280. No thanks.

After many attempts, I ended up programming the key with the following steps. These mirror the instructions in the user manual, with a few small differences:

1) Start with truck off, and all doors closed
2) Remove cup holder cover to expose backup key location
3) Place working key #1 in the backup key location with the battery cover removed, backup 'hard key' removed, and the buttons facing the frunk
4) Without pressing the brake pedal, press and release the ignition button (turn on accessory mode)
5) After 'dinging' stops, press and release ignition button (~5 seconds)
6) Remove key #1
7) Place working key #2 (without battery cover or hard key) in the same area within 5 seconds
8) Without pressing the brake pedal, press and release the ignition button (turn on accessory mode a second time)
9) After 'dinging' stops, press and release ignition button
10) Remove working key #2
11) Immediately place new/unprogrammed key (wit battery cover and hard key removed) into backup key location (<10 seconds)
12) Without pressing the brake pedal, press and release the ignition button (tun on accessory mode a third time)
13) You should notice the hazards flash and a note on the driver-oriented display confirming the key has been programmed
14) After 'dinging' stops, press and release ignition button, turning the truck off

Now you should have a working key.

If these steps don't work, make sure your fobs all have new batteries.

I probably tried this 8 times without success, so some combination of fob orientation, battery cover removal, and removing the backup 'hard key' was the voodoo I needed for success.

----
good luck

 

[flyct]

Any chance the key fob has a tracking device in it?

These guys sell a Bluetooth tracker advertised to have a 350-foot / 105-meter Bluetooth range for $25.
https://www.carandtruckremotes.com/products/tile-mate-bluetooth-tracker-key-finder-and-item-locator

Just yesterday I used my FOB to verify it still worked. Then later I lost it. I looked all over. My wife found it in the drawer that I store it in. If only the Find My iPhone app would work with all devices. We tend to use "Find My iPhone" APP several times a week to locate our phones and iPads in the house.

 

[chl]

These guys sell a Bluetooth tracker advertised to have a 350-foot / 105-meter Bluetooth range for $25.
https://www.carandtruckremotes.com/products/tile-mate-bluetooth-tracker-key-finder-and-item-locator

Just yesterday I used my FOB to verify it still worked. Then later I lost it. I looked all over. My wife found it in the drawer that I store it in. If only the Find My iPhone app would work with all devices. We tend to use "Find My iPhone" APP several times a week to locate our phones and iPads in the house.

LOL, there's a song about that as I recall...aha, Tom Rush!

 

[K6CCC]

If only the Find My iPhone app would work with all devices.

I am getting really bummed that the Find my iPhone website only works with iPhones and iPads and NOT with AirTags. For AirTags you MUST use an Apple device. I have a work forced on me iPhone that for the most part I despise. However I have several AirTags because they work so much better than any other similar tracker. The bummer is that I will return the &^%$# iPhone when I retire in a few weeks. After that unless Apple changes their tune, my AirTags become worthless junk to me.

 

[NeighborGeek]

I am getting really bummed that the Find my iPhone website only works with iPhones and iPads and NOT with AirTags. For AirTags you MUST use an Apple device. I have a work forced on me iPhone that for the most part I despise. However I have several AirTags because they work so much better than any other similar tracker. The bummer is that I will return the &^%$# iPhone when I retire in a few weeks. After that unless Apple changes their tune, my AirTags become worthless junk to me.

Airtags are pretty dependent on you having an iphone or ipad. Their location only gets updated when an iOS device comes within range and detects them. Then there's the ultrawideband chip in the phone, which is used for the precision location feature. The web site could always show where the airtag was last seen by an iOS device, such as showing it at your home or work address, but it would never be able to help find an item within the home because that requires the ability to receive that ultrawideband signal from the airtag in real time.

 

[K6CCC]

Airtags are pretty dependent on you having an iphone or ipad. Their location only gets updated when an iOS device comes within range and detects them.

Correct about when they update, but there are gazillion iPhones wandering around. It's rare for any of my four AirTags to not update within a few minutes when anywhere in the public. I just looked, the AirTag in my Lightning parked at work and the one in my wife's car parked at home both have updated in the last 5 minutes. The Drone and laptop bag have not, but they are in the back room at my house where there should not be anyone with an iPhone until I get home from work.

The web site could always show where the airtag was last seen by an iOS device, such as showing it at your home or work address

Depends on what you are trying to do. If what you are trying to do is determine that my wife is currently at Walmart, or which yard my drone crashed into (never happened, but I do have an AirTag that flies with it), the website info would be fine. For the local direction finding, you have to have one of the newer iPhones (which work is not supplying).

 

[flyct]

LOL, there's a song about that as I recall...aha, Tom Rush!

Thank for posting the video. My wife and I are still laughing.

 

[chl]

Thank for posting the video. My wife and I are still laughing.

An oldie but a goodie!

My theory is that at some point in our lives, we've accumulated so much knowledge and information that our brains reach their capacity so nothing more can get in to stay, and important things even start to leak out!

At some point, with all the leaking, we realized we have forgotten more than we ever learned!
It's a paradox.

 

[frautumn]

Do you just slip the AirTag into the sleeve with the key fob?

no I used a separate AirTag holder like this (Amazon link):
https://a.co/d/bVZ3Vs7

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