Unable to Pair and Reset Phone As A Key

[Bluecat400]

I’m having a lot of trouble with PAAK, potentially in connection with 1) getting a new iPhone and 2) having a lot of PowerUp updates over the last couple of weeks.

I got a new iPhone 14 Pro, installed FordPass, got CarPlay, etc. going, and then tried to setup PAAK. It kept failing and specifically said it couldn’t connect to Bluetooth in the car. (It got stuck on the part where you copy the pairing code and wait for the prompt to come up and paste the code.) I previously had PAAK working fine on my iPhone 12 Pro, though I confess I haven't tried to use it since the last slew of PowerUp updates (including the recall update) were installed over the last week or so.

I read that a good step when you have trouble is to Reset Phone as a Key on the vehicle. Problem is that option is greyed out in my car. I can do a Master Reset or a FordPass Connect Rest (or Vehicle Hotspot Reset), but Phone As A Key Reset is greyed out and unavailable. See photo below.

I called Ford, and after 45 minutes on hold, they told me first that I needed to upgrade my iPhone to iOS 16.3 (which doesn’t exist yet) and then to take it to the dealership for troubleshooting.

Before I do that, which sounds like it will be a huge hassle, has anyone encountered this type of situation before – specifically “Phone as a Key Reset” being greyed out? Any suggestions for next steps short of making an appointment, hauling the car down there, waiting for hours, etc.?

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[reeflife]

Yes! And it just happened this week. I didn’t call and my 14pro max has 16.02 I finally deleted phone as key (need to have the car key you used on your old one! Make sure the ford pass app is updated as this is the best way to add the paak through the app. I also had to do a reset on steering wheel

 

[Bluecat400]

When you say you deleted paak, what do you mean? On the phone or the car? As shown in the photo I can’t seem to do it from the car… and I already deleted it from the phone.

 

[reeflife]

When you say you deleted paak, what do you mean? On the phone or the car? As shown in the photo I can’t seem to do it from the car… and I already deleted it from the phone.

In the car with new phone and key and then use Ford Pass to add the phone.

 

[Bluecat400]

Sadly when I try that, it errors out each time

 

[reeflife]

Did you try to reset the screen?

 

[Bluecat400]

Did you try to reset the screen?

By pressing the two steering wheel buttons? Yup. I have tried that a couple times now.

 

[reeflife]

I am thinking you may need to delete the profile and make sure nothing shows in Bluetooth in the sync screen. Make sure you have your key, phone and delete all other phones and devices. It should work fresh as a new car.

 

[Bluecat400]

I am thinking you may need to delete the profile and make sure nothing shows in Bluetooth in the sync screen. Make sure you have your key, phone and delete all other phones and devices. It should work fresh as a new car.

Unfortunately I tried that also with the Ford rep on the phone ?

have you ever experienced the Reset phone as a key being grayed out?

 

[reeflife]

How about a master reset? Also make sure the old phone and any phone close to car is removed and out of the range of Bluetooth

 

[Bluecat400]

How about a master reset? Also make sure the old phone and any phone close to car is removed and out of the range of Bluetooth

That I didn’t do. Ford told me it would require re-registering the car and reprogramming a bunch of stuff. Is that true?

 

[reeflife]

That’s interesting they said that, as I would think you would just delete the car in the app and reset and then add back on car in app and then confirm the email in the car and then go back to app and add paak and follow the instructions in car.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Sadly when I try that, it errors out each time

Hi there. Could you please send us a private message with your VIN and dealership information? I'd be happy to look into your Mach E's connectivity concern.

 

[Bluecat400]

Hi there. Could you please send us a private message with your VIN and dealership information? I'd be happy to look into your Mach E's connectivity concern.

Thank you!

 

[Bluecat400]

Unfortunately it looks like this will have to go into the dealer after all!

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