No prompt to enter backup start passcode - Update: FIXED

[phil]

I tend to think that somehow the car gets locked into thinking that a key is present, which wouldn't trigger the passcode screen.

That could be, but I still get the "No key detected" message on the small screen every time I re-try.

Is an electric Mustang capable of cognitive dissonance?

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[generaltso]

Ok so I normally don't like to post assumptions or theories because somehow they become gospel to the next person, but here goes.

I tend to think that somehow the car gets locked into thinking that a key is present, which wouldn't trigger the passcode screen. Because however a key isn't present the car won't start. I'm not entirely sure that this wouldn't happen with a physical key either. I say this because I've seen where the car will report that it's connected to BT when it's not and I'm far, far away from it. It's something I'm working on diagnosing, but replicating it is not easy.

It would probably be smart for Ford to add a button to the center screen to forcibly bring up the backup start code screen for when it isn’t being triggered in the normal way for some reason.

 

[phil]

I normally wouldn’t recommend such a radical solution since PAAK and the backup code have always worked for me (early February 2021 build) but … I’d suggest carrying a fob or put one in a faraday bag and hide it somewhere stunningly out of the way in the car. PAAK should work but it’s not worth getting stranded over.

Yes, I'm considering the hide-a-key approach. I was considering bypassing PAAK entirely, and just using the door and start codes only, but if the start code fails frequently, that would be impractical.

 

[DevSecOps]

PAAK should work but it’s not worth getting stranded over.

Do you feel the same about not having a spare tire? Both failing will = the same result.

I honestly wish I could record my every day interactions with the car because PaaK is absolutely flawless for me. I've had my ups and downs, but being that I'm "slightly" tech minded I can usually find the reason for failures. Recently, I have discovered that disabling adaptive battery has massively impacted my PaaK experience for the better. I'm going on 3 weeks of not a single issue and opening/starting first button push.

It would probably be smart for Ford to add a button to the center screen to forcibly bring up the backup start code screen for when it isn’t being triggered in the normal way for some reason.

Love this idea!

 

[phil]

It would probably be smart for Ford to add a button to the center screen to forcibly bring up the backup start code screen for when it isn’t being triggered in the normal way for some reason.

Perhaps. But bear in mind, with the Mustang, even dedicated hardware buttons can be unreliable. I have tried the "lock" button on the driver's door keypad many times, with about 15% success.

 

[DevSecOps]

That could be, but I still get the "No key detected" message on the small screen every time I re-try.

Is an electric Mustang capable of cognitive dissonance?

They are different systems from what I gather. The passcode is handled by the Sync system first, while the key detection is handled by RFA/GWM/BCM/RKE. This is why I think the Sync system thinks a key is present but the car knows it's not.

I have tried the "lock" button on the driver's door keypad many times, with about 15% success.

I've never got that thing to work once ... I just gave up

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Do you feel the same about not having a spare tire? Both failing will = the same result.

I honestly wish I could record my every day interactions with the car because PaaK is absolutely flawless for me. I've had my ups and downs, but being that I'm "slightly" tech minded I can usually find the reason for failures. Recently, I have discovered that disabling adaptive battery has massively impacted my PaaK experience for the better. I'm going on 3 weeks of not a single issue and opening/starting first button push.

It works for me too. But I’m quite aware that for some it’s a steaming pile of horse flop.

As for spare tires. I’ve had PAAK fail on me 3 times in 7 months to the point I had to use the backup start code. Without that I’d have been stranded with no way home. Spare tire wise, I’ve had exactly one flat in the 19 years we’ve lived on island driving Hawaii County’s crummy roads. A spare tire takes a load of room, the fob, not so much.

 

[DevSecOps]

It works for me too. But I’m quite aware that for some it’s a steaming pile of horse flop.

As for spare tires. I’ve had PAAK fail on me 3 times in 7 months to the point I had to use the backup start code. Without that I’d have been stranded with no way home. Spare tire wise, I’ve had exactly one flat in the 19 years we’ve lived on island driving Hawaii counties crummy roads. A spare tire takes a load of room, the fob, not so much.

In my life I've had about 10 flats and only been locked out by a PaaK failure once. I'm not trying to let PaaK catch my flat count.

 

[generaltso]

Perhaps. But bear in mind, with the Mustang, even dedicated hardware buttons can be unreliable. I have tried the "lock" button on the driver's door keypad many times, with about 15% success.

Sure, there’s no guarantee a button to forcibly bring up the backup start code will work either, but at least it would add one more point of failure before getting stranded.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

In my life I've had about 10 flats and only been locked out by a PaaK failure once ... so here's to keeping that ratio! I'm not trying to let PaaK catch my flat count.

Here’s to that!

I have less than zero clue about why PAAK is finicky. 50% of the time my Mach-e greets me with the lights and everything even when FordPass is neither open, the iPhone is not unlocked or anything. It rarely requires me to even bring FordPass to the front or “manually unlock” (maybe 1 time in 30). For others, it’s an inattentive, memory hogging paperweight.

All I can say about the backup start code is that the car seems to take its sweet time in presenting that screen.

 

[SnBGC]

I used the 'backup start passcode' to start my Mustang this morning. It worked exactly as described in the Owner's Manual.

I've tried it a few dozen times this afternoon, and now it does not work. I push the brake and ignition button as directed, and get a message saying "No key detected" - no prompt to enter a passcode. Continuing to follow directions, I press the ignition button a second time - still no prompt, just the "No key detected" message.

PAAK is set up, and works about as well as it does for most of us, which is to say intermittently/grudgingly/partially. The passcode entry worked properly exactly one time, and then never again.

Does the start passcode work reliably for you? Could I be doing something bcwrong?

Out of curiosity, have you tried locking the car with the door pillar keypad or lock button? Maybe that might help your car reset? Just throwing out ideas...

 

[CHeil402]

Perhaps. But bear in mind, with the Mustang, even dedicated hardware buttons can be unreliable. I have tried the "lock" button on the driver's door keypad many times, with about 15% success.

FWIW, that lock button on the pillar will only work if it detects your key (for whatever reason they thought that was good logic). So if you're already having PAAK issues that's probably why that button is so unreliable. When that happens, the best option is to hold the 7-8 and 9-0 buttons together which doesn't require the key.

 

[fallguy]

It literally takes several minutes for it to work for me. My PaaK works great sometimes, not so other times.

When it doesn't work, my backup takes forever to come up. I'm sitting there pushing the start button for several minutes before it comes up.

There is no rhyme or season to it. My Ford pass app says connected, but car won't turn on. Often times open the door and shutting again works. But most of the time it doesn't. It won't start and won't give me the back up password option. Push the brake, not pushing the brake, doesn't matter. Just says no key found. Infuriating.

 

[Motomax]

I’ve never had it show up long enough to type in my password, it always disappears lol. Paak usually works after hitting the button a couple times but today it didn’t. I figured I’d put in my code but as soon as I tapped it, it disappeared.
Took me a couple minutes to get paak to work, the first time I’ve had a real issue with it.

 

[ChuckA]

Thanks. This means that the passcode is completely unreliable as a backup start method, right? My understanding is that if you don't have your key with you, it is impossible to re-set PAAK.

Correct. You must have the key with you to set up a PaaK. I’ve never had a backup code failure, but I do know if you delete your PaaK key, then reinstall it, you’ll get the prompt to set up a backup code. Don’t know why you car isn’t promoting for your backup code. This is a software issue, not a PaaK problem.

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