PAAK users be forewarned

[fkyct]

FYI I believe the apple watch app is reliant on the iphone app to function. So the apple watch app cannot be a backup to the iphone app.

Just so you know...

I just checked and it looks like is NOT reliant on the iPhone app to function.

I just powered down my iPhone and using the Apple Watch I was able to Lock/Unlock, blow the horn flash the lights and turn on the AC. At least it works in Bluetooth range without the iPhone being turned on and near. I haven't tried to see if it works with cellular, when outside of BT range.

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[creedda]

I just checked and it looks like it
s not reliant on the iPhone app to be running.

I just powered down my iPhone and using the Apple Watch I was able to Lock/Unlock, blow the horn flash the lights and turn on the AC. At least it works in Bluetooth range. I haven't tried to see if it works with cellular, when outside of BT range.

Awesome. Great to know.

I got a message yesterday telling me to pull out my iPhone and open the app so I assumed. Glad to learn something.

Thanks.

 

[Firefly Ship Works]

I re-set up the password but no longer have faith that it will be there when I need it. I've since hidden a keyfob in a Faraday bag inside the car.

My apologies for what must be a dumb question, but I'm new to the Mach-E. If your PAAK isn't working, and the backup password isn't working, what good is your keyfob in a Faraday bag inside the car? Can we get inside our locked cars without PAAK, backup password or a keyfob?

 

[ChrisO]

My apologies for what must be a dumb question, but I'm new to the Mach-E. If your PAAK isn't working, and the backup password isn't working, what good is your keyfob in a Faraday bag inside the car? Can we get inside our locked cars without PAAK, backup password or a keyfob?

There is a key pad on the drivers side door. If all else fails there is a factory code to open the door. You should have gotten a card with that code on it.

 

[Firefly Ship Works]

There is a key pad on the drivers side door. If all else fails there is a factory code to open the door. You should have gotten a card with that code on it.

Cool. Yes I got the card but I mistakenly assumed the factory code was overwritten when I created my own code. Good to know.

 

[Mach e Mark]

Hey,

I've been a PAAK user for 4.5 years on my Mach E and love it. My keyfob sits in the drawer. I have also set up my personal door entry code and the password to start the car when PAAK doesn't work for some reason. I've only had to use the backup password a few times but only because I was in a hurry. I know that 99.99% of the time that rebooting my phone (a Galaxy S22 Ultra) will solve any PAAK issues, but entering the password is faster.

I'm probably in a minority here but I religiously test the backup password once a month. I spent decades in IT and I know that testing backup methods is critical to success. Well, I got a big shock last month when I tested the backup password. I couldn't even test it. I got the usual "no key found" message but it never prompted for the password. Nothing, nada, bupkis. It turns out that the password was just gone. Vanished. I don't know why but some kind of glitch in the software eliminated the password. I made no changes that I can recall. In fact, I've hardly gone into the setting screen in the last 4.5 years.

I re-set up the password but no longer have faith that it will be there when I need it. I've since hidden a key fob in a Faraday bag inside the car. I don't like this solution but I have no other ideas. So, be forewarned. Test frequently and see if this has happened to you.

I do the monthly reminder to test my Backup code. (Google calendar pop-up). Sometimes I have to wait what seems an eternity for the keypad to show up on screen. Sometimes I have to start anew. Most times it works lickety-split so I don't need to do any of those things. The best advice is to stay calm and think.... This same process works with in vehicle notification's like loss of forward camera, sensor, whatever... Stay calm, follow Occam's razor and let things come back into sync (pun intended).

 

[Blitzen]

Cars don’t just lose key fob programming, I’ve never heard of that happening. If your fob stops working, it’s most likely a battery related issue. Or there was a deliberate action that removed the programming of that key (such as by a dealer or locksmith). Last, it’s possible the key itself was damaged.



The factory key code will always work. It’s possible you deleted a custom door code by accident when clearing a saved phone key.

It wasn't a key fob battery issue - my only action was to leave the car in a parking lot for a few hours. It wouldn't recognize either key fob, dealer had to re link them to the car. I agree it should be extremely rare but almost nothing with electronics is never.

 

[Herbknowsit]

It's key fob for us. But as expressed before, we wish Ford had a less bulky, sleeker key fob. Like Apple TV remotes or Bluos. It is true however that for some, it would be easier to lose.

 

[Chuck]

I do the monthly reminder to test my Backup code. (Google calendar pop-up). Sometimes I have to wait what seems an eternity for the keypad to show up on screen. Sometimes I have to start anew. Most times it works lickety-split so I don't need to do any of those things. The best advice is to stay calm and think.... This same process works with in vehicle notification's like loss of forward camera, sensor, whatever... Stay calm, follow Occam's razor and let things come back into sync (pun intended).

Thanks

 

[Ford_orr]

Keyfob system is definitely not reliable. Like for example if you put it in your ski jacket pocket and forget to zip up the pocket and then you fall while skiing.

After too many close calls I decided not to rely on that system, and regularly test the other two systems. Belt and suspenders. And duct tape.

I haven't lost a set of keys since the 80s

 

[BobCz888]

Hey,

I've been a PAAK user for 4.5 years on my Mach E and love it. My keyfob sits in the drawer. I have also set up my personal door entry code and the password to start the car when PAAK doesn't work for some reason. I've only had to use the backup password a few times but only because I was in a hurry. I know that 99.99% of the time that rebooting my phone (a Galaxy S22 Ultra) will solve any PAAK issues, but entering the password is faster.

I'm probably in a minority here but I religiously test the backup password once a month. I spent decades in IT and I know that testing backup methods is critical to success. Well, I got a big shock last month when I tested the backup password. I couldn't even test it. I got the usual "no key found" message but it never prompted for the password. Nothing, nada, bupkis. It turns out that the password was just gone. Vanished. I don't know why but some kind of glitch in the software eliminated the password. I made no changes that I can recall. In fact, I've hardly gone into the setting screen in the last 4.5 years.

I re-set up the password but no longer have faith that it will be there when I need it. I've since hidden a keyfob in a Faraday bag inside the car. I don't like this solution but I have no other ideas. So, be forewarned. Test frequently and see if this has happened to you.

You don't have to reboot your phone. All you need to do is stop Bluetooth, then restart Bluetooth. Works every time. (Well it did when I had PAAK problems up until 2 years ago, but my PAAK has been solid since I bought my Pixel 8)

 

[Marcelus_Mach_E]

I find that a lot of settings disappear after updates. I never thought to check the start password but I'll start checking now. I actually got stranded once because back when Pixel phones had issues I would just reset my paak when the connection was totally lost. What I didn't know is that a new password has to be set every time that's done.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Hey,

I've been a PAAK user for 4.5 years on my Mach E and love it. My keyfob sits in the drawer. I have also set up my personal door entry code and the password to start the car when PAAK doesn't work for some reason. I've only had to use the backup password a few times but only because I was in a hurry. I know that 99.99% of the time that rebooting my phone (a Galaxy S22 Ultra) will solve any PAAK issues, but entering the password is faster.

I'm probably in a minority here but I religiously test the backup password once a month. I spent decades in IT and I know that testing backup methods is critical to success. Well, I got a big shock last month when I tested the backup password. I couldn't even test it. I got the usual "no key found" message but it never prompted for the password. Nothing, nada, bupkis. It turns out that the password was just gone. Vanished. I don't know why but some kind of glitch in the software eliminated the password. I made no changes that I can recall. In fact, I've hardly gone into the setting screen in the last 4.5 years.

I re-set up the password but no longer have faith that it will be there when I need it. I've since hidden a keyfob in a Faraday bag inside the car. I don't like this solution but I have no other ideas. So, be forewarned. Test frequently and see if this has happened to you.

Thanks for this reminder. After reading this I thought, why not go check?

I went out to my Lightning with neither fob nor phone.

Door code let me in just fine as it always does.

Pressed brake pedal and start ... the enter password option never came up on the Sync screen.

Tried again ... ditto.
Tried again ... Sync screen didn't even activate.
Tried again ... ditto.

So I went back in to get my phone to set up the start code again. Then I went back in when it reminded me I needed a fob too.

I re-saved one of our two backup start passwords using my phone.

I went out to my Lightning both my fob and phone in the house and the backup start came up like it should have and I started my truck.

When my wife gets home I'll do the same with her phone, then I'll test the Mach E as well.

I guess some OTA or something reset by the dealer killed those codes.

I also just set a quarterly reminder to test those codes. I'll also test them before any trips, just in case.

 

[Chapron]

My issue has been the keyboard doesn’t show up when prompt for the password. Luckily i was at home so wasnt an issue. It’s happened twice now. My PAAK works but I always bring my fob as nothing is 100%. The keyboard not showing up was resolved by resetting up PAAK again.

hey that happend to me as well. I was on the way home and decided to get some stuff from the supermarket. When I returned to the parked car it did not open with paak. So i had to enterbthe door pin. That worked. But then I vould not enter the password because the softkeyboard did not show up. Great. I was forced to walk home and get the Fob. Luckely it was only 20 minutes to walk and then I had to walk back. that was with my black 2022.25 rhat i had before me current mach e. Maby 2 years ago.

 

[MonkeyNutz]

I'm probably in a minority here but I religiously test the backup password once a month. I spent decades in IT and I know that testing backup methods is critical to success. Well, I got a big shock last month when I tested the backup password. I couldn't even test it. I got the usual "no key found" message but it never prompted for the password. Nothing, nada, bupkis. It turns out that the password was just gone. Vanished. I don't know why but some kind of glitch in the software eliminated the password. I made no changes that I can recall. In fact, I've hardly gone into the setting screen in the last 4.5 years.

I had my Lightning lose my password after a software update. Had to remove my phone from the PAAK system and set it up again To pick a new password and door code. I only found this because I also test it here and there. Now just test after updates. Only actually used it once out of convenience. That same update also wiped my mirror positions and a couple other things. Ford‘s BEV team was notified of the issues, no response, only crickets.

No issues since then and that was over a year ago. No issues yet <knock wood> with our ‘25 Mach-E that we’ve only had since June.

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