Does reprogramming the BCM really require two fobs?

[Bonehead]

My '21 MME has been in service for a week and a half for a variety of mostly PAAK related issues. All have been repaired but the last two, Walk Away Lock & Puddle Lamps.

The service rep just told me it's 12V battery and BCM related. He said that in order to reprogram the BCM, they require both key fobs. This would be an enormous hassle to get him the second fob, but I'm questioning whether that in fact is necessary, given that so many MME's were delivered with only one fob.

Anyone aware of this, or a workaround?

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[BMT1071]

My '21 MME has been in service for a week and a half for a variety of mostly PAAK related issues. All have been repaired but the last two, Walk Away Lock & Puddle Lamps.

The service rep just told me it's 12V battery and BCM related. He said that in order to reprogram the BCM, they require both key fobs. This would be an enormous hassle to get him the second fob, but I'm questioning whether that in fact is necessary, given that so many MME's were delivered with only one fob.

Anyone aware of this, or a workaround?

The programming process likely erases all fobs. Then they will pair the fobs to the car. Technically two fobs are not required for the procedure, but if you want your second fob to work you will need to get it to them.

 

[Bonehead]

The programming process likely erases all fobs. Then they will pair the fobs to the car. Technically two fobs are not required for the procedure, but if you want your second fob to work you will need to get it to them.

Thank you for that. So, in fact, it could wait until I come back to pick up the car and have them do it while I wait.

 

[cryptk]

Thank you for that. So, in fact, it could wait until I come back to pick up the car and have them do it while I wait.

If they have someone available to do the programming when you come to pick it up, which isn't guaranteed.

 

[BMT1071]

If they have someone available to do the programming when you come to pick it up, which isn't guaranteed.

And they would probably want to charge you for the programming...

 

[Mach-Lee]

My '21 MME has been in service for a week and a half for a variety of mostly PAAK related issues. All have been repaired but the last two, Walk Away Lock & Puddle Lamps.

The service rep just told me it's 12V battery and BCM related. He said that in order to reprogram the BCM, they require both key fobs. This would be an enormous hassle to get him the second fob, but I'm questioning whether that in fact is necessary, given that so many MME's were delivered with only one fob.

Yes, you do need two key fobs when starting from scratch, that's a requirement. Even on Mach-E's that only came with one from the factory. If you can't get the second key fob, then someone will need to buy a second fob to go through the programming process. Or the dealer could just use any other key fob they have on hand as the second one to get through the programming (assuming you're okay with that).

When the '21 Mach-E's were programmed at the factory they used a dummy key, because if you read the parameters they will all say two fobs are programmed even though they only came with one. The BCM always requires two minimum, that's just how Ford has always does things.

 

[Bonehead]

Yes, you do need two key fobs when starting from scratch, that's a requirement. Even on Mach-E's that only came with one from the factory. If you can't get the second key fob, then someone will need to buy a second fob to go through the programming process. Or the dealer could just use any other key fob they have on hand as the second one to get through the programming (assuming you're okay with that).

When the '21 Mach-E's were programmed at the factory they used a dummy key, because if you read the parameters they will all say two fobs are programmed even though they only came with one. The BCM always requires two minimum, that's just how Ford has always does things.

Thank you for that reply.

Do you have any idea about how long the process should take? I would prefer to bring the second fob and wait for them to complete the process, instead of dropping it off and having to come back to pick the car up.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Do you have any idea about how long the process should take? I would prefer to bring the second fob and wait for them to complete the process, instead of dropping it off and having to come back to pick the car up.

The time to replace the BCM and reprogram the keys would be about 45 minutes. The key part only takes about 10 minutes.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Yes, you do need two key fobs when starting from scratch, that's a requirement. Even on Mach-E's that only came with one from the factory. If you can't get the second key fob, then someone will need to buy a second fob to go through the programming process. Or the dealer could just use any other key fob they have on hand as the second one to get through the programming (assuming you're okay with that).

When the '21 Mach-E's were programmed at the factory they used a dummy key, because if you read the parameters they will all say two fobs are programmed even though they only came with one. The BCM always requires two minimum, that's just how Ford has always does things.

I was wondering about those 2021 Job1 cars. Good info to know. ??

 

[HuntingPudel]

Thank you for that reply.

Do you have any idea about how long the process should take? I would prefer to bring the second fob and wait for them to complete the process, instead of dropping it off and having to come back to pick the car up.

I’m guessing that you would need to arrive with the second key at the time they are working on the car since the entire job is a process. Pretty sure they aren’t going to want to tie up a service bay so that you can bring the second key in whenever you want to. You might need to coordinate with the service tech so that the second key is there in time for them to perform the service. ?‍?

 

[Bonehead]

I’m guessing that you would need to arrive with the second key at the time they are working on the car since the entire job is a process. Pretty sure they aren’t going to want to tie up a service bay so that you can bring the second key in whenever you want to. You might need to coordinate with the service tech so that the second key is there in time for them to perform the service. ?‍?

They owe me. I took the car to Galpin Ford, the #1 Ford dealer in the world, even though there's a closer dealer, thinking they have their shit together and wouldn't make the kinds of service errors I've dealt with in the past. I was wrong. The car has been there 12 days. They kept reporting to me that they'd opened a hotline contact with Ford engineering to fix the issues and got no guidance from them.

Turns out they did get the necessary guidance a week ago Friday. For whatever reason, the service tech just didn't see it until Wednesday. Grrrrr....

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