Stranded - phone as a key stopped working

[xycarp]

I’ve been using phone as a key on my 2022 Lariat for a few years without issue. It would occasional make me have the app open, but otherwise worked great.

I made the mistake of taking a road trip without the fob, now I’m stuck. It just randomly stopped detecting the phone key. My wife is using FedEx to send me a key fob, but they didn’t deliver it as promised (hopefully they will tomorrow). On a whim I went and tried the truck with the phone and it started. Once…. Now it’s not working again.

Any ideas?

I pulled the power from the battery and it didn’t help. Also disconnected and reconnected the phone, restarted it… what else can I try?

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[K6CCC]

Can't you use the password. Another recent thread talks about that very thing.

 

[flyct]

It doesn't help you today but I'm a suspenders and belt kind of guy. I have multiple backup plans in case the PaaK doesn't work.

1- PaaK as Primary (hasn't failed as of yet)
2- Keypad on door as a backup to get into the truck
3- Once in the truck, I use the Password Backup. I have several passwords in case I forget one
3- A Programmed Key FOB locked in the Center Console Safe stored in a Faraday bag. I also have a personal Protection device locked in the safe

 

[xycarp]

Can't you use the password. Another recent thread talks about that very thing.

I had a backup passcode and it worked fine. It stopped working during this event. It doesn’t even prompt me for it any more.

 

[xycarp]

It doesn't help you today but I'm a suspenders and belt kind of guy. I have multiple backup plans in case the PaaK doesn't work.

1- PaaK as Primary (hasn't failed as of yet)
2- Keypad on door as a backup to get into the truck
3- Once in the truck, I use the Password Backup. I have several passwords in case I forget one
3- A Programmed Key FOB locked in the Center Console Safe stored in a Faraday bag. I also have a personal Protection device locked in the safe

The only thing I didn’t gave was the fob in the truck. I will consider that. The door code works but the backup code to drive stopped working too.

 

[flyct]

These are the Faraday Bags I use. 2 for $10. Amazon sold almost 60,000 with decent reviews.

 

[RickLightning]

1. press brake for 15 sec
2. wait 15 sec
3. press and hold Start Button and Brake Pedal together
4. code prompt should pop up

 

[hturnerfamily]

My PRO SR does not have the Paak and other 'upgraded trim' options, so....

- Primarily, I do NOT carry a keyfob, but I leave it locked in my center console. This allows the truck to always recognize it, and allows me to always hop in and turn it 'ON', no matter how I get into the vehicle, locked, or not. Basically, it is Always in Standby Mode.
I mainly have to be very careful to, yes, Always LOCK the truck when I walk away, with the APP, when away from home. I generally also leave the truck 'ON', especially for keeping the CLIMATE ON, when needed, when leaving for a short time.
Even then, the truck will eventually turn OFF, on it's own, regardless, if I am away too long. I can turn the CLIMATE back on, if needed, from afar, with the APP, if I wish, at any time. This also automatically LOCKS the doors, if they are not locked already.
[ this is where I would like to see the Ford APP show, persistently, the status of the Door Locks. Currently, when you open the APP, it only shows the two door lock options, Lock or Unlock, but no status as to which status it is already in. I do like that they have listened to us and are now providing both a haptic feedback, and the Green 'Checkmark', when a status changes, such as now 'Locked', but this is only until you exit the APP, or your phone screen is turned off, etc ]

- Second, I took the skeleton 'emergency' key from the keyfob, and mounted it within a magnetic 'hidden key box' on the lower frame. I've never had to use this, but, it's a backup, for entry, just in case my APP does not respond, or cannot connect, or even if it just spins and takes too long.
There might be one issue that could arise if using this key - the truck may think someone is breaking in, and the alarms and bells and whistles might start going off. I don't suspect this to be the case if an active keyfob is already in the vehicle, but, who knows... better minds might be able to say for sure...

- Third, and probably most convenient as an 'emergency' backup for entry, I ordered a Ford SECURICODE wireless keypad to mount to the truck.
I decided that while most might mount this pad to the door frame, where Ford would typically locate it, I did not want it exposed to the public, and since it's mounted with double-sided tape, potentially stolen, or even to fall off while driving.
I found that since the Chargeport door is not lockable, and always available to access, it also has the exact amount of room on the back of the door to mount this keypad, and it is also safe from the wind, and even prying eyes.
PROGRAMMING: While it could probably be paired/linked to the truck with Forscan, or a similar Ford software/programming tool, I took mine to the dealer and had them do it for me. It has worked flawlessly since, and I'm able to program my own CODE for Unlocking the doors, and it responds instantly, always.
I use this relatively frequently, as sometimes, in certain areas, or maybe the time of day, or clouds, or weather, the Ford APP is slow to respond. Even on several instances it became a requirement since the Ford APP was actually DOWN, or had logged me out, maybe for an update, etc.
It's so nice to have this 'manual' method, just in case, especially when you know it will always work.
[ and for those considering this SECURICODE wireless keypad, there are Two versions from Ford, one for vehicles WITH Remote Start, and one for those vehicles WITHOUT Remote Start. While initially I 'assumed' that all our trucks HAVE remote start, we actually DO NOT, or, at least my PRO SR does not. 'Remote Start' from Ford requires your keyfod to have a REMOTE START BUTTON, which mine does not. So, the second version, or version "B", is the keypad to pair/link with your truck. ]


I think I have taken my keyfob out of the truck on one single instance since I've owned it, in over 61,000 miles. The other keyfob stays at home, just in case, and I simply use it as a way to easily Lock, or Unlock, the truck when walking out to the garage, or carport, etc., or to lock the truck, at night.
I might would like to have Paak and/or Walkaway automatic locking/unlocking, but, so far, it hasn't seem to be any big need.
The same goes for BlueCruise, which so many seem to 'have' to have. The simple addition of LaneCentering and AdaptiveCruise on my PRO make driving long distances, ON ANY ROADWAY, ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, a breeze. It works. A simple 1lb wrist to the 2pm position on the steering wheel also solves all 'hands on' alerts along the way. Nice.

This is simply an Amazing Machine.

 

[fhteagle]

One of the updates around september of last year wiped door and backup start passcodes . Ford didn't announce that this occurred, but you're the fourth or fifth person I've seen here that has bumped into that problem.

@Ford Motor Company still owes us an explanation about how this happened, and how the engineers are going to prevent this happening again in any future updates. No, I am not letting BrIAn off the hook about this.

 

[21st Century Truck]

A fob = an old-school, fail-safe method. In the pocket, in a Faraday bag, somewhere... anywhere on the truck.

"Have fob, no problems".

 

[xycarp]

1. press brake for 15 sec
2. wait 15 sec
3. press and hold Start Button and Brake Pedal together
4. code prompt should pop up

Thanks. I tried this and it still doesn’t offer me to enter the code. It never even prompts me to enter it.

 

[xycarp]

I just got an update that FedEx won’t deliver the fob until Monday. So much for guaranteed over night.

Is there a more direct way to force the drive password prompt to appear. I’ve not even been able to try my password.

 

[RickLightning]

Thanks. I tried this and it still doesn’t offer me to enter the code. It never even prompts me to enter it.

Do you get No Key Detected?

Are you pressing brake pedal, then start button?

 

[xycarp]

Do you get No Key Detected?

Are you pressing brake pedal, then start button?

Yes, I get no key detected. I do not get a prompt to enter my backup passcode.

 

[Henry Ford]

Ideas...

Restart phone, update app, remove and reinstall app, make sure phone is as close as possible to the cup holder of the center console.

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