PAAK Should I Even Bother?

[Garbone]

I enabled it to set the start code. Then tried using it for almost 2 weeks. It was so unreliable that I went back to using the fob. I think it is worth setting up and see how it works for you. I am not aware of any issues with CarPlay so someone else will have to comment on that issue.

PaaK might work fine for you, especially if you only enter and start your car a couple times per day. I enter and exit my car dozens of times per day so waiting for PaaK to connect was bothersome for me. Everyone seems to have a slightly different experience so I think it is worth trying out just to see what happens.

Start code is the main reason I set it up. I have 2 fobs.

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[Gullwingdmc]

I just keep my wallet in the glove box for that reason, and carry a couple cards in a Magsafe wallet stuck to the back of my phone. Also keep backup house keys in there in case the garage door opener and/or August lock fail for some reason. I like only having to remember to grab my phone when I leave.

Mine is a December 2020 build, no issues with PaaK, Carplay or wireless charging (though I do have to remove the Magsafe wallet for that).

Great to hear! Do you know, have you had the SSM update done for the PAAK or the Modem issues? I’m wondering if I should have those done first/check if they were already done.

 

[hitchhiker]

Great to hear! Do you know, have you had the SSM update done for the PAAK or the Modem issues? I’m wondering if I should have those done first/check if they were already done.

I'm not sure. Is there any way to check?

 

[MurphyDog]

If it doesn't work 100%, it's not a good alternative to the fob. I disabled that crap and never looked back. I personally like the ritual of grabbing my Mustang keys (fob) and going for a drive. With an AirTag, I don't lose them either. ?

 

[JCHLi]

Yeah it is worth it. I've only used the FOB when I took it in for detailing. I could have just used the valet code for that too in which case the FOB would have remained unused over 3 months.

Wouldn't say it is flawless, but I've never been stranded. Never even been annoyed enough yet to request the update for Paak from the dealer.

 

[Peugfan]

PAAK works great for me for 6 wks. (Jan 28 build date). Never have had to use the door or startup code. Worst case was about a 1 second delay on opening the door. Occurred twice.

 

[dml105]

I also only drive it once a day at most (it’s been sitting for 3 days now. ?)

There is a word for that. Neglect. Let your pony out the stable!!

 

[ARK]

My wallet and fob are always in one of two places, my pocket or my bureau in the top right drawer. So, when I grab the fob I can't leave the house without at least seeing my wallet. Paak will make it an absolute certainty that I'll go shopping without my wallet at least one time, and hopefully only one time.

Time to jump on Apple Pay - your iPhone can be both your key fob and your wallet. Now if states start coming up with digital IDs, the wallet may be a thing of the past.

 

[T_to the_A]

I just hit 1,000 miles on the odometer. I have never used the fob except for my drive home from the dealer and when I had it a the shop having PPF installed.
I am not going to say that PAAK is perfect all the time, it it works well enough that I do enjoy not having to grab a fob And have that (along with the phone I’d already be carrying) in my pocket.
For me I’ve found that it’s 100% effective to have my phone in hand, phone “on” & FordPass opened.
75% effective, phone in hand, screen “off”.
25 % effective phone in pocket.
I also always put the phone on the Qi pad in the car so that I don’t have issues starting...a few times phone left in pocket I’ve gotten the No Key Detected-which is annoying to me so phone on pad solves me from getting frustrated.
So there’s a few scenarios to think on. I am looking forward to some PAAK updating, but works good enough IMHO.

 

[generaltso]

For me I’ve found that it’s 100% effective to have my phone in hand, phone “on” & FordPass opened.
75% effective, phone in hand, screen “off”.
25 % effective phone in pocket.

That would not be nearly good enough for me. If I had to take my phone out of my pocket all the time, I’d just use a fob instead. Luckily, since having the SSM applied, my phone stays In my pocket.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Great to hear! Do you know, have you had the SSM update done for the PAAK or the Modem issues? I’m wondering if I should have those done first/check if they were already done.

Do you have your car yet? If so when did you get it?

 

[Deleted member 3569]

This is my story - At the dealership in Vineland NJ my iPhone12 could not be configured. No 5G network and weak Wi-Fi signal at the dealership lot, but once I got back to Northern NJ, with strong 5G and high speed broadband Wi-Fi signals.

I attempted the configuration process again: closed all the apps on the phone one by one; did a shut down and power up; charged up the phoned battery; reset the MyKey by erasing all previous keys ... and miraculously everything worked! I have not used the fob since. I am not IT expert but the lack of 5G network and poor Wi-Fi signals probably inhibited the configuration process. I have no issues with the Mach-e but Ford needs to promote a conducive environment at their dealership lot. They don't even have a dc-Fast charger but a meager L2 charger.

 

[ARK]

This is my story - At the dealership in Vineland NJ my iPhone12 could not be configured. No 5G network and weak Wi-Fi signal at the dealership lot, but once I got back to Northern NJ, with strong 5G and high speed broadband Wi-Fi signals.

I attempted the configuration process again: closed all the apps on the phone one by one; did a shut down and power up; charged up the phoned battery; reset the MyKey by erasing all previous keys ... and miraculously everything worked! I have not used the fob since. I am not IT expert but the lack of 5G network and poor Wi-Fi signals probably inhibited the configuration process. I have no issues with the Mach-e but Ford needs to promote a conducive environment at their dealership lot. They don't even have a dc-Fast charger but a meager L2 charger.

I think it would be great if Ford also outlined the circumstances of when PaaK would and would not work. I believe @ChasingCoral was adamant that on his recent trip to the Florida Everglades, where there was no cell service, neither PaaK nor the backup code would work.

It would be very useful to know whether the Mach-E temporarily stores credentials internally if there is no cell reception so that PaaK and/or the back-up start code would work even if there is absolutely no cell reception. And assuming it does store that data locally on the Mach-E, whether the local keys (wrong terminology?) expires after a set amount of time (e.g., if you have absolutely no cell reception for 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, will PaaK/back-up start code stop working, or you don't need a cell connection at all after initial set up), those sorts of parameters so people can know what they are getting into and plan accordingly.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I think it would be great if Ford also outlined the circumstances of when PaaK would and would not work. I believe @ChasingCoral was adamant that on his recent trip to the Florida Everglades, where there was no cell service, neither PaaK nor the backup code would work.

Correction -- PaaK didn't work. backup codes worked fine. We used those backup codes over and over that day.

 

[ARK]

Correction -- PaaK didn't work. backup codes worked fine. We used those backup codes over and over that day.

That’s actually great to hear, I feel much better about PaaK based on this in terms of driving far away from home without the key fob!

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