PAAK Failed, no backup Start Passcode

[awp0]

It's the same process, but on rare occasions the car simply doesn't prompt for the passcode. I've never had the issue personally, but plenty of people have. You also never know when you might need a surprise tow or somebody has to drive you to the emergency room. A hidden fob in the car solves all of that.

Well, after almost 2 years of occasional backup passcode usage, I finally experienced the problem that people have been complaining about. My phone died while I was at a restaurant. I was able to get into the car with the door code, and then I was able to get the prompt for the passcode to start the car, but it just wouldn't present the keyboard for me to type anything in. I tried it repeatedly (using brake pedal, start button, obviously tapping inside the text entry box, etc) and nothing would make it work. Thankfully the USB ports were working, so I was able to charge up my phone enough to power it on and then use PAAK. Anyway, yeah, maybe a little scary. I'm a believer now.

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[Todd44]

Well, after almost 2 years of occasional backup passcode usage, I finally experienced the problem that people have been complaining about. My phone died while I was at a restaurant. I was able to get into the car with the door code, and then I was able to get the prompt for the passcode to start the car, but it just wouldn't present the keyboard for me to type anything in. I tried it repeatedly (using brake pedal, start button, obviously tapping inside the text entry box, etc) and nothing would make it work. Thankfully the USB ports were working, so I was able to charge up my phone enough to power it on and then use PAAK. Anyway, yeah, maybe a little scary. I'm a believer now.

Many have had that issue, for me, it was fimmdifferent. The displaying the prompt but no keyboard never happened in my case, since the backup passcode had been wiped, I was never even prompted for a backup passcode.

 

[awp0]

Many have had that issue, for me, it was fimmdifferent. The displaying the prompt but no keyboard never happened in my case, since the backup passcode had been wiped, I was never even prompted for a backup passcode.

Yeah, I guess it was a little different from this thread. Sorry for the confusion!

 

[Todd44]

Yeah, I guess it was a little different from this thread. Sorry for the confusion!

No worries, this thread has both types, and a few others! So it’s all good.
on a side note, I have gone back to ditching the fob, I know it’s crazy, but here we are!
I check periodically for software updates, and if I get notified, I verify I still have a backup passcode. I feel like if I have the backup passcode, I’ll be fine.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Well, after almost 2 years of occasional backup passcode usage, I finally experienced the problem that people have been complaining about. My phone died while I was at a restaurant. I was able to get into the car with the door code, and then I was able to get the prompt for the passcode to start the car, but it just wouldn't present the keyboard for me to type anything in. I tried it repeatedly (using brake pedal, start button, obviously tapping inside the text entry box, etc) and nothing would make it work. Thankfully the USB ports were working, so I was able to charge up my phone enough to power it on and then use PAAK. Anyway, yeah, maybe a little scary. I'm a believer now.

Did you try pressing and holding the brake pedal?

 

[zvez]

One option to store this: Take picture and put it on your phone. You can then Search your photos for “KeyPad” or “code”, and it will find it. Be sure you take the picture of the correct side, I did the one above, then realized it was for the wrong country…

On my first mach e with only one key fob I set up PAAK just to have the backup start code. I wrote it on the card ford gives with the factory door code and kept it in the wallet , a pic on the phone is a good idea too

 

[awp0]

Did you try pressing and holding the brake pedal?

I definitely tried pressing the brake pedal during the process. But by "holding it", can you elaborate? Is there a certain amount of time required, or is it like "press the brake pedal and hold it well after you press the start key"? Like maybe the computer is slow to do he brake pedal check after you press start?

I've accessed and started the car several times this way, general under similar circumstances where either my phone died or I don't have it with me. Something was different this time, and it did feel pretty laggy through this process.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I definitely tried pressing the brake pedal during the process. But by "holding it", can you elaborate? Is there a certain amount of time required, or is it like "press the brake pedal and hold it well after you press the start key"? Like maybe the computer is slow to do he brake pedal check after you press start?

I've accessed and started the car several times this way, general under similar circumstances where either my phone died or I don't have it with me. Something was different this time, and it did feel pretty laggy through this process.

Press and hold the brake pedal until the keyboard shows up. Like maybe 10 seconds (it loads slow). Enter code, then press start.

 

[awp0]

Press and hold the brake pedal until the keyboard shows up. Like maybe 10 seconds (it loads slow). Enter code, then press start.

Good to know. Thank you! I'll definitely remember this for next time I need it.

 

[JeffGo]

This just happened to me. 4th stop of the day, would not let me start with PAAK. My wife also has FP installed and PAAK enabled, that didn't work either.

Sometimes in my many attempts, I did get a prompt for the passcode. But it would not accept the code and a few longshot other ones. I was able to use FP to open the doors and turn on the A/C.

We were only a few miles from home, so I called a neighbor and she gave us a ride. I picked up my fobs and we drove back to get the car. But first, my wife stood far away with the unwrapped fob (I had one in my pocket in foil). No problem starting the car. Maybe foil is not adequate as a faraday cage?

Is there a way to just reset the backup passcode, or do I need to set up PAAK again?

 

[Mach-Lee]

This just happened to me. 4th stop of the day, would not let me start with PAAK. My wife also has FP installed and PAAK enabled, that didn't work either.

Sometimes in my many attempts, I did get a prompt for the passcode. But it would not accept the code and a few longshot other ones. I was able to use FP to open the doors and turn on the A/C.

We were only a few miles from home, so I called a neighbor and she gave us a ride. I picked up my fobs and we drove back to get the car. But first, my wife stood far away with the unwrapped fob (I had one in my pocket in foil). No problem starting the car. Maybe foil is not adequate as a faraday cage?

Is there a way to just reset the backup passcode, or do I need to set up PAAK again?

Not sure what your expectation is of the foil exactly, but consumer faraday cases only reduce signals but do not block them completely. You can still start a car with a fob in a faraday cage in a lot of cases. Same thing just wrapping a fob in foil. So if you've never actually tested if the faraday shield works, you might be in for a surprise.

A fob or PAAK does need to be inside the vehicle in order for it to start (unless passcode is used).

 

[JeffGo]

An hour after I got the car home, I went out with just my phone. Everything worked as it should, doors opened, car started right up. I reset the passcode just to be sure.

I ordered some Faraday bags on Amzn, will test them out. In the meantime, I put a fob in the car with the battery removed.

Blucifer just hit its 3yr anniversary, and I never had this problem before. I rarely have a fob with me.

 

[CTZ]

I've had this happen a few times in the last couple of weeks. I found that turning airplane mode on and off wakes it up and then PAAK works. Cycling bluetooth might also do the trick. Very annoying.

 

[Nitepony986]

Had my MME a month and PAAK has worked fine until last week. No updates, no nothing, just stopped working. Can’t control Bluetooth options through the FP app anymore. I removed it from sync, and the FP app wants to pair a new PAAK but it keeps saying error.
Weird part is when I leave bluetooth open on my phone I see the Mach E BT with vin keep popping up then disappearing.

 

[tomthetenacious]

Had my MME a month and PAAK has worked fine until last week. No updates, no nothing, just stopped working. Can’t control Bluetooth options through the FP app anymore. I removed it from sync, and the FP app wants to pair a new PAAK but it keeps saying error.
Weird part is when I leave bluetooth open on my phone I see the Mach E BT with vin keep popping up then disappearing.

@Nitepony986 did you recently delete your PaaK bluetooth pairing? when the Mach E BT with vin keeps appearing and disappearing this is an indication that the BT pairing was removed from your phone.

what errors are you seeing during setup? my guess is error 97 because the vehicle still has a key. you will need to delete your old key from FordPass and reset up.

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