PSA Warning: PAAK might leave your Mach-E (or possessions inside) vulnerable to theft

[Mach1E]

Disable Bluetooth? Seems a bit inconvenient.

My PAAK doesn’t seem to work unless I have the FordPass open (which I only do if using PAAK since I use the fob almost exclusively).

Can’t we just close the FP app?

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[alexgorod]

I wonder if result is caused by this OTA

 

[Ajax]

Disable Bluetooth? Seems a bit inconvenient.

My PAAK doesn’t seem to work unless I have the FordPass open (which I only do if using PAAK since I use the fob almost exclusively).

Can’t we just close the FP app?

That's what I do! I have a small garage and a lot of bikes that I ride more than I drive, so I park on the street unless I'm charging. I have faraday covers for both key fobs and quit the Fordpass app as soon as I get home to be on the safe side. No issues so far!

 

[garyd9]

I wonder if result is caused by this OTA

I don't have that OTA. In fact, the newest OTA I have on my car is the 5.1.1 powerup.

 

[MellowJohnny]

Let's be honest - if a would-be thief approached your car, under the ideal circumstances, you'd still need to explain to them how to open the door.

No issue

 

[garyd9]

Disable Bluetooth? Seems a bit inconvenient.

My PAAK doesn’t seem to work unless I have the FordPass open (which I only do if using PAAK since I use the fob almost exclusively).

Can’t we just close the FP app?

You are correct that PAAK doesn't work if the FordPass app isn't running in the foreground _or_ the background. (For those unaware, a phone app is frequently running in the background even if you can't see it running. Both android and iOS have methods to forcibly close apps.)

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

Just keep in mind, if somebody really wants what's in your car, they'll break a window. Keep your stuff out of sight. No excuses in the Mach E between the covered cargo area under the hatch and the frunk (which I would think most thieves would not even know about).

 

[HoosierMachE]

Since PAAK rarely ever works anymore, I guess this makes my MME more secure.

 

[n2585722]

With PAAK enabled my 12v battery has drained down low enough to get a warning twice. I had no issues with it until I enabled PAAK on my phone. I have been disabling bluetooth on my phone and have not had an issue with the 12v battery since. So it is not just someone getting in the car that you need to worry about. It can also run down the 12v battery if you are not careful.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Just keep in mind, if somebody really wants what's in your car, they'll break a window. Keep your stuff out of sight. No excuses in the Mach E between the covered cargo area under the hatch and the frunk (which I would think most thieves would not even know about).

True but we have had thieves who were opportunistic, walking down the street and stealing out of cars that were left unlocked.

PaaK or fobs in close proximity within the house could potentially result in the cars seeming "unlocked" under these circumstances, at least assuming the thief knows how to open a Mach E door.

 

[thenew3]

Just tested it again. Phone in garage, Car parked in driveway just outside of garage, (roughly 1.5 car lengths away from the phone). I can lower/raise windows and open/close rear hatch and frunk from the ford pass app (BT connected), but walking up to the car, pushing the door open button does nothing on any of the 4 doors.
Tested on both my Android (Samsung S23U), and my son's iphone (15 pro). Both setup as PAAK.

Have to get the phone within about 5 ft of the car for the door buttons to work.

 

[sci_goat]

I would love it if the PAAK was that sensitive. my experience has been that even with the phone in my pocket, I walk up to the car and it won’t open until the 5-10 presses. It’s particularly bad if I am trying to press the button on the liftgate.

Same with the FOB. I can be 20 feet away and pressing lock or unlock, and it doesn’t respond. There’s no point in having a fob with this car. If I want to check that I locked it, I have to walk all the way back to the car, just like in the old days. compare this to my 2018 Camry where the key fob button works from across the parking lot every time, and the door handle touch sensors (which are also proximity sensitive.) work flawlessly as well

 

[garyd9]

Have to get the phone within about 5 ft of the car for the door buttons to work.

That's interesting and you aren't the only one who reports a short range. I wonder why it differs for some. Different modules in the cars? Different antenna arrangements? Different module firmware? No idea...

 

[thenew3]

That's interesting and you aren't the only one who reports a short range. I wonder why it differs for some. Different modules in the cars? Different antenna arrangements? Different module firmware? No idea...

I got the 24-PU0301-BLM-PE update about a month ago. Prior to that update, I basically had to stand next to the door with the ford pass app open (phone screen turned on) in order to open the door.

Since I got that update, I can now open the door if the phone is within 5 feet and don't need to have the phone screen turned on and ford pass app open in foreground around 90% of the time.. So PAAK is a lot more useful now.
Once every few days I still need to turn on the phone screen and open the ford pass app in order for the door to unlock. This seems to be more frequent on the iphone then on the android.

As far as what you mention about modules, antenna, firmware..... not sure. Mine is a 2021 Job 1, got 6.14.0 late May and 24-PU0301-BLM-PE a few days later. Nothing since.

 

[Mach-Lee]

That's interesting and you aren't the only one who reports a short range. I wonder why it differs for some. Different modules in the cars? Different antenna arrangements? Different module firmware? No idea...

Different phones. The Bluetooth signal coming out of some phones is a lot stronger than others. iPhone 15 Pro Max is apparently a blaster.

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