Frightening experience, trying to use phone as key today!

[mikeho]

I use PaaK almost exclusively. One thing that works for me is to touch the keypad if I don't see the door button light up. That usually wakes the car which then connects to my phone and then the door button lights up. My phone is an iPhone 15 Pro.

Sponsored

 

[ipca204]

you paak people will eventually learn the "convenience" of paak will be lost to you the first time you are locked out. I carry the fob and it has NEVER failed to work..paak sounds great in theory, in practice....not so much..
Anyone who says they have used paak exclusively for more than a year and has NOT had an issue...is lying....lol...

 

[the golden eel]

I have my spare key in a faraday pouch in a locked center console vault I installed.

Can you elaborate on this locked center console vault? Links? Pictures?
thanks.

 

[the golden eel]

you paak people will eventually learn the "convenience" of paak will be lost to you the first time you are locked out. I carry the fob and it has NEVER failed to work..paak sounds great in theory, in practice....not so much..
Anyone who says they have used paak exclusively for more than a year and has NOT had an issue...is lying....lol...

I use PAAK exclusively and it can definitely be frustrating at times, but the benefit of not carrying a fob still outweighs the frustrations.

I have never been locked out. I have a door code to unlock the car, and a backup passcode to start the car. With those codes, there is no more of a chance of being locked out than if you lose your fob.

 

[hypersnake]

Can you elaborate on this locked center console vault? Links? Pictures?
thanks.

Here's what I bought: https://www.amazon.com/AOSKonology-...ix=mach+e+center+console+vault,aps,111&sr=8-3

I'm not going to sit here and tell you that this thing is fort knox, and ford sells one that is probably slightly more robust (but also 3x the cost), but it's just one more level of deterrent for a thief. It was kind of a pain in the ass to install, but it makes me a little better knowing I have an extra layer of security.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

I didn’t realize that you could set up a passcode to start your car in this situation.

The prompt to set up a backup start code is part of the PAAK setup. It’s at the very end. Unfortunately, it appears you blipped over that when you did the PAAK setup the first time.

Faraday pouch that day. I got lucky I wasn't too far away from home, and had someone available to help me out.

As @ChasingCoral said, take the battery out of the fob and hide the fob. Leave the battery at home. Use the emergency/backup fob reader to start the car should you need to. Just be aware that thieves know every hiding spot for fobs. All of them.

 

[Bonehead]

I put my key in a faraday pouch and hid it in a hard to get to spot in case phone as a key fails.

But the last couple weeks I've also turned off my Bluetooth and Wi-Fi so I can test the door code to get in as well as entering the back up passcode on-screen to start it a bunch of times.

I'm convinced I won't need the key at this point.

FYI, you don't need to purchase a faraday pouch, aluminum foil works just as well.

 

[TheRock]

I use PaaK almost exclusively. One thing that works for me is to touch the keypad if I don't see the door button light up. That usually wakes the car which then connects to my phone and then the door button lights up. My phone is an iPhone 15 Pro.

Thanks for the tip. Sometimes I show up to the car and I press to open the door and nada. Altought the car lights are on.

 

[the golden eel]

Just be aware that thieves know every hiding spot for fobs. All of them.

I've got a good spot, they'll never think to look under my seat.

 

[steveg95]

Purchased my 2024 Mach e in January of this year, and I love it. Have been using my phone as key from the beginning with only the most minor of glitches. Today was the exception. My vehicle allowed me in the car but then would not recognize my phone as key to start the car. I was stranded for an hour and a half trying every single fix available to start the car. Finally after an hour and a half of trying everything it just magically decided to work. I will always use my key fob going forward!

I have a Console Vault in my center console. I keep my fob, in a faraday bag, locked in the center console. I also have a door code to access the vehicle and a backup driving code if all else fails. I love PAAK so much, I'll always use my phone as my key.

 

[Mark813]

FYI, you don't need to purchase a faraday pouch, aluminum foil works just as well.

Great news, my tin foil hat has another use!

 

[Brent@ANParts]

Fortunately this is a mistake owners (usually) make only once! I try and treat my phone as a "bonus key" that magically unlocks the car, but I'm always carrying a backup. Just remember the one day you leave the fob at home, your phone won't connect hah.

 

[vsguru]

you paak people will eventually learn the "convenience" of paak will be lost to you the first time you are locked out. I carry the fob and it has NEVER failed to work..paak sounds great in theory, in practice....not so much..
Anyone who says they have used paak exclusively for more than a year and has NOT had an issue...is lying....lol...
[/QUOTE

you paak people will eventually learn the "convenience" of paak will be lost to you the first time you are locked out. I carry the fob and it has NEVER failed to work..paak sounds great in theory, in practice....not so much..
Anyone who says they have used paak exclusively for more than a year and has NOT had an issue...is lying....lol...

# of months of PAAK use - 24
# of PAAK failures - 0
Not lying. Luck, maybe. But it has been fail-safe for me.

 

[Mark813]

you paak people will eventually learn the "convenience" of paak will be lost to you the first time you are locked out. I carry the fob and it has NEVER failed to work..paak sounds great in theory, in practice....not so much..
Anyone who says they have used paak exclusively for more than a year and has NOT had an issue...is lying....lol...

Future historians would mark this date as when the split in the Mach-e community happened.

The "PAAK people" believed they could open their door with their phones, or door codes followed by on screen passcodes while hiding a key fob in a faraday pouch "where no car thief would ever find".

The Orthodox Fob contingent did not trust magical bluetooth and half baked Ford software to save them the trouble of carrying a 6 ounce piece of plastic.

Both groups still prayed the almighty Ford would eventually get it right on the dozen other things that could make this car great.

Sponsored