Key not detected error Stranded!

[markboris]

Yes. Many have had issues like this at one time or another. If we choose to rely on an electronic key then we are also choosing to accept the possibility that software might not work as expected every single time. Its not really that different with the key fob because the battery can die and then the fob won't allow access either. In that case then the door pillar code or FordPass is your path to entry and then the dead fob can start the car with the console holster.

A real hard key is almost 100% foolproof (provided you don't lose it).
A key fob (without a hard key) is very reliable but even that can fail if the battery dies.

The battery in the keyfob can be dead or not even in the fob and the car will still recognize the fob and start. It has been this way in every Ford I have owned. There is usually a spot in the console storage bin to put the fob and it will start the car. You can try this if you want with the Mach-E. Remove the battery from your fob and put it in the area in the console storage bin that looks like it would hold the fob and the car will start up.

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[SnBGC]

The battery in the keyfob can be dead or not even in the fob and the car will still recognize the fob and start the car. It has been this way in every Ford I have owned. There is usually a spot in the console storage bin to put the fob and it will start the car. You can try this if you want with the Mach-E. Remove the battery from your fob. Put it in the area in the console storage bin that looks like it would hold the fob and the car will start up.

Yes. I pointed that out in my reply.

 

[mkhuffman]

I use PaaK 100%, but before I got all the software module updates, I gave up on it because it was so unreliable. Now I don't even carry a backup Fob. Well, actually I do when I go out of town just in case I have a problem that requires me to leave a key with a service person. Or valet. I am not leaving my phone with the tire store as they repair my flat tire.

Report this problem to @Ford Motor Company, get a case number assigned, have Ford schedule a service date with your dealer, and get your software modules updated free of charge. I am sure this will solve your problems just like it did mine and many others who are up to date with their software.

One thing to try in the meantime is to walk away from the car, go back inside the store, wait a few minutes, and then come back to the car. Sometimes that helps the car recognize the phone. Also you can place the phone on the charging pad - it seems to read the Bluetooth more reliably there. I was doing that before I got my car updated and it worked better like that.

 

[Polar]

Within the FordPass app did it say Bluetooth was connected or disconnected?

I use phone as a key every day (one year and 12k miles) and I can watch Bluetooth handshakes start stop and fail-until the FordPass app reports Bluetooth connected the car will not start for me.
I regularly have 5 to 7 Bluetooth devices connected - so I can also watch when FordPass connects to Bluetooth then gets kicked off for a negotiation/handshake.

 

[Bblattz]

Mine does this too and it’s a brand new 22 with every update. I found restarting my phone will allow it to connect and recognize it as a key (despite phone being set to always use location etc). Very annoying but thank goodness for the door code and backup start code. I guess they knew it wasn’t reliable and needed a secondary method. Hope they sort it out bc I have latest software so those thinking an update as of software to date, it’s not helping.

 

[Motomax]

Things to try.
-place phone under center screen
-force close and restart ford pass on phone
-turn off and turn back on Bluetooth(force the Bluetooth connection if needed)
-restart phone
-restart sync.
To get passcode to show up:
-turn CarPlay/android auto off
-turn off accessory mode, open door, wait a min, try to start vehicle again

If these basic troubleshooting steps are foreign to you, don’t rely on paak.

 

[phil]

Most of these issue are phone related, every issue I’ve done I’ve been able to resolve by doing something on the phone side.

Most, perhaps, but not all.

The car's failure to prompt for the backup start passcode can not possibly be a phone problem. The car is supposed to prompt for the code when no key or phone is present, but sometimes it doesn't and then you're stranded. This is the big problem, and it is never phone-related.

 

[bruceski88]

- find your (one) Fob
- wrap in several layers of tin foil
- hide it somewhere INSIDE the car.
- make sure you know your door pillar unlock code so you can get in without your phone


and I have found PAAK to be almost 100% if:
- 'force stop' FordPass after parking, or turn off Bluetooth if you are parking for a while
- re-start FordPass, or BT upon approach, allow 10-20 seconds for re-connect as you approach
- set your phone on the center tray, take your time buckling up, and THEN start the car.

PAAK is too flaky even after the update. l never go far without a fob. I now have 3 fobs as the 3rd one can be programmed by the owner of the car, cheap insurance.

 

[Logal727]

Most, perhaps, but not all.

The car's failure to prompt for the backup start passcode can not possibly be a phone problem. The car is supposed to prompt for the code when no key or phone is present, but sometimes it doesn't and then you're stranded. This is the big problem, and it is never phone-related.

Yes, which is why I said Most. I though the passcode had a number of times you could start the car that way. Which is why it might be unavailable sometimes? But yes, annoying.

 

[Logal727]

Within the FordPass app did it say Bluetooth was connected or disconnected?

I use phone as a key every day (one year and 12k miles) and I can watch Bluetooth handshakes start stop and fail-until the FordPass app reports Bluetooth connected the car will not start for me.
I regularly have 5 to 7 Bluetooth devices connected - so I can also watch when FordPass connects to Bluetooth then gets kicked off for a negotiation/handshake.

Yeah the reconnecting after another device connects is a huge reason you get No Key Detected after starting. Mine is mostly when my wife is also in the car and we’ve both got lots of devices connecting, it really is a BT phone issue and pretty sure a limitation to the tech being used. Wish we could have got UWB keys, maybe in a couple years they’ll move to that.

 

[RWG]

I have heard a lot of negative things about the FordPass app since we got our MMe in January. My FordPass app stopped working, remote starting, about 3 weeks ago. Yesterday I called FordPass support for help.

What we determined during that 1 hour and 20 minute session.

For some reason, the Sync 4 turned off Remote Starting. The setting was not changed by me so I am going to assume it happened during a software upgrade.

During this call I decided to set up Iphone as a key. The tech support rep and I tried this over and over and it would not work, eventually it did, but this is what we had to do:

• I had to delete the FordPass app from my phone, and download it again. ( Apparently there is a new version, but I would think it would upgrade automatically, but it doesn't., and the old app sucks.)
• Had to delete all Bluetooth devices from my phone. The system would just not "let go" of those connections until they were all deleted.
• Had to do a Master Reset, on the Sync 4, this essentially changes all settings to factory defaults. This meant I had to reset all profile, entry passwords, etc.
• The tech support rep I had was patient, resilient and dedicated. However, this person did not know "how it works", she just knew what to try if things didn't work. This lack of fundamental IT technical understanding is becoming more and more common. It is a sign of the times.

After doing all of this, it now works, and actually, the remote start feature it is much faster than it was originally. It would appear Ford IT has made some progress cleaning up the "buggy" software of FordPass. In the past, when it worked, it would take at least 30 to 60 seconds for the phone app to confirm communication with the vehicle. Now it is within about 10 seconds or less. ( I find it ironic, you can lock or unlock doors in a few seconds, but a remote start takes much, much longer. Why?)

Bottom line:

There are a lot of "moving" parts to the wireless connectivity of this system; vehicle to cell phone carrier, to Ford servers back to the cell phone carrier, to FordPass and a smartphone. I find the IT management of this thing just about as annoying as an HP printer hooked up to my Apple desktop. i.e. everyday is a new challenge of something negative happening. HP and Apple systems do not seem to "play well together".

Ford is making progress, but they have a long IT road ahead.

At least my phone key Paak working., for now . . . .

 

[DevSecOps]

Without knowing the following it's quite pointless for anyone to assume the problem as most of these issues have been resolved in updates:

• Phone model and OS version
• Vehicle update status for PaaK related modules
• FordPass version

As for the backup passcode I don't think we've figured out exactly what causes that.

 

[AkMach]

Lots of useful notes from all of you all. I know that my car is fully updated because I took it into the dealership and they updated it while they did the windshield and the roof reinstalled.
I will ask the dealer to see if I can get a second key fob.
I think the danger is when the passcode doesn't even come up as an option.
I'm also waiting for their engineering team to get back to me so we can do whatever updates and resets required.
I'm going to risk it again and drive my car out in the next 5 minutes.

 

[phil]

As for the backup passcode I don't think we've figured out exactly what causes that.

I am not able to imagine any "cause" other than bad programming.

The car clearly knows that:
1. Key is not detected (it says so, right on the IPC)
2. Brake is depressed
3. Start button is depressed

It should be dead-simple to program - when those three things happen, display prompt for backup passcode. But apparently, Ford has added a random number generator to intermittently prevent the prompt from appearing.

 

[AkMach]

Phone is pixel XL, latest Android version.
Ford app is 4.12.1

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