FordPass - somebody should get fired

[scoopman]

Are there any known issues with using the fob and PaaK at the same time?

PaaK works for me, but if the phone is not placed on (or near) the charging pad, I'm getting the "Key not found" message, even after it was originally found and while driving or shutting the car down. The right jacket's pocket works better than the special phone pocket on the chest, but still not 100%. I'm done with testing, I just want to drive the car.

happens all the time in just 30 min of using this. Amazing this was considered good enough to release with the car.

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[alexgorod]

For cyber security reasons, Paak constantly tries to verify the presence of keys/phones much more frequently than you might guess.

Of course, it won't shut off the vehicle while the vehicle is already in motion for safety reasons, even it cannot find the keys/phones for a brief moment.

I don't know if I am allowed to talk about the frequency for cyber security reasons, so please don't ask me.

I don't care about frequency, but I care about location. Why it's so sensitive regarding the location of the phone? I think that if I put my jacket's pocket with the phone over the seat belt it finds it, but if it's behind the belt when the jacket is zipped up - it can't.

 

[scoopman]

I don't care about frequency, but I care about location. Why it's so sensitive regarding the location of the phone? I think that if I put my jacket's pocket with the phone over the seat belt it finds it, but if it's behind the belt when the jacket is zipped up - it can't.

This is probably related to BLE reception and the frequency with which they've decided to poll for the PAAK. There seem to be some module updates that might help with the reception....

 

[scoopman]

Is there a way to sign up to be a beta tester of the software? Rudimentary Google searching is not finding an answer. I would imagine that you can find a number of talented, dedicated people on this forum who would be ready, willing, and able to help.

I asked this privately, and was told there is a beta program but I too cannot find any way to join it. They're not using the Play Store beta channel so hopefully someone from Ford can let us know if they want more signal from super-engaged users.

 

[atomdeathstroke]

I'm not having any issues with PAAK. The frunk buttons work just fine.... No issues. I'm thinking that people just aren't setting it up correctly.

EDIT:

iOS 15.1.1
iphone 13 pro max

 

[gordonf238]

I've been using FordPass with our 2018 Expedition for the past four years. I honestly haven't had any issues. It reports gas level / range, and remote start and lock/unlock have always worked. The app is much reliable than our Volvo app, which is a complete disaster.

Maybe it's different with Mach-E?

 

[Fat Mach]

I don't know what's worse, the fact that I can't get FordPass to work AT ALL, or how bad it would be if it did "work."

 

[Mach-e4x]

PAAK works for me most of the time but only after I took off my iPhone case that also held credit cards.
When PAAK doesn't work I just use the door keypad.

 

[DevSecOps]

Why it's so sensitive regarding the location of the phone? I think that if I put my jacket's pocket with the phone over the seat belt it finds it, but if it's behind the belt when the jacket is zipped up - it can't.

Ok let me break this down ... even though I said I would stop talking about this!

• The car is in control of opening the doors and turning on.
• The FP app doesn't control what the car does, it just authenticates to the car "allowing" it to take action
• If the CAR thinks that the phone is outside the vehicle it won't turn on
• 50% of the equation is with the car and the modules/BT antennas.
• We know the location of the BT antennas as shown below
• If your modules are not updated you will have issues. This is a CAR problem and not a FP problem especially if you see it say "Bluetooth Connected" in FP.

I asked this privately, and was told there is a beta program

Yeah they said that the Beta is internal only because they are scared of bricking FP and leaving people stranded.

See here: https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...if-using-paak-without-a-fob.11695/post-289547

 

[Gimme_my_MME]

Ok let me break this down ... even though I said I would stop talking about this!

• The car is in control of opening the doors and turning on.
• The FP app doesn't control what the car does, it just authenticates to the car "allowing" it to take action
• If the CAR thinks that the phone is outside the vehicle it won't turn on
• 50% of the equation is with the car and the modules/BT antennas.
• We know the location of the BT antennas as shown below
• If your modules are not updated you will have issues. This is a CAR problem and not a FP problem especially if you see it say "Bluetooth Connected" in FP.

Yeah they said that the Beta is internal only because they are scared of bricking FP and leaving people stranded.

See here: https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...if-using-paak-without-a-fob.11695/post-289547

I'm internal and I don't even know how to be part of this internal beta

 

[Mirak]

For cyber security reasons, Paak constantly tries to verify the presence of keys/phones much more frequently than you might guess.

Of course, it won't shut off the vehicle while the vehicle is already in motion for safety reasons, even it cannot find the keys/phones for a brief moment.

I don't know if I am allowed to talk about the frequency for cyber security reasons, so please don't ask me.

Now can you explain the “Restart Now or Key Is Needed” message? I get that maybe 1 in 10 times.

Then there are the times the car recognizes my phone to let me unlock the doors, but less than 5 seconds later asks for my password to start the car. Seems like a simple fix would be to reduce the frequency of searching for the key.

 

[Mirak]

When PAAK doesn't work I just use the door keypad.

Yes, that’s the fastest way to get the door open when the car isn’t waking up (whether that’s a PAAK issue or otherwise), but it doesn’t help with getting the car started. Punching in my passcode on the center screen is extremely annoying because it’s at least a 30 second process. The lag time doesn’t help.

 

[scoopman]

Ok let me break this down ... even though I said I would stop talking about this!

• The car is in control of opening the doors and turning on.
• The FP app doesn't control what the car does, it just authenticates to the car "allowing" it to take action
• If the CAR thinks that the phone is outside the vehicle it won't turn on
• 50% of the equation is with the car and the modules/BT antennas.
• We know the location of the BT antennas as shown below
• If your modules are not updated you will have issues. This is a CAR problem and not a FP problem especially if you see it say "Bluetooth Connected" in FP.

Yeah they said that the Beta is internal only because they are scared of bricking FP and leaving people stranded.

See here: https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...if-using-paak-without-a-fob.11695/post-289547

That's a lota attennas! but we all have belts and jackets and other stuff that make it hard to find the BLE on your phone.

Fair enough on the beta, but looks like enough people are getting stranded with the production-channel quality versions .... a small private beta of users (such as active people on these boards) would probably provide them with a little more signal than they are getting now. Clearly what they're doing isn't producing software with enough quality, look at the 20,000 pages of posts from people on this topic.

I'm willing to take on some more risk -- especially if the backup code continues to work.

But ? -- Ford isn't a software company, but hopefully they can think about adopting some practices to get better in this area.

 

[scoopman]

I'm internal and I don't even know how to be part of this internal beta

LOL Maybe they should start with getting feedback from you guys first....

 

[ARK]

Are there any FordPass iOS developers on the forum too?

Aside from the battery drain thing which seems more of an Android issue based on the discussion of location permissions, most of these are also iOS problems.

Or are there some FordPass developers who code features without regard to Android/iOS and then the Android/iOS developers do their thing? Not sure how this works.

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