Phone As Key - Does anyone's work consistently?

[bfleischer]

Hello fellow Mach-E owners. I'm wondering if anyone is finding that their Phone As a Key is working consistently. I've experienced it fail, like, often... maybe it works 1 out of 10 times. Most of the time, I'm entering my door key code, and back-up start passcode. I've learned not to depend on it and rarely go without the key fob these days. I'm using an iPhone Xs, latest IOS (16.1 -although it didn't work with any previous iOS version). I have the latest Mach E software updates, and latest FordPass app. Curious if anyone got it working to a point that they use it often. Or, if anyone has had similar problems and was able to fix them? Thanks in advance!

Sponsored

 

[generaltso]

Hello fellow Mach-E owners. I'm wondering if anyone is finding that their Phone As a Key is working consistently. I've experienced it fail, like, often... maybe it works 1 out of 10 times. Most of the time, I'm entering my door key code, and back-up start passcode. I've learned not to depend on it and rarely go without the key fob these days. I'm using an iPhone Xs, latest IOS (16.1 -although it didn't work with any previous iOS version). I have the latest Mach E software updates, and latest FordPass app. Curious if anyone got it working to a point that they use it often. Or, if anyone has had similar problems and was able to fix them? Thanks in advance!

Yes, a lot of people use it exclusively. If it only works 10% of the time for you, something is definitely not right. When you say your car has all the updates, do you just mean that the car says there aren't any update available or did you have somebody check in FDRS? If you haven't gotten the latest RFA update yet, that would be a good place to start.

 

[bfleischer]

Yes, a lot of people use it exclusively. If it only works 10% of the time for you, something is definitely not right. When you say your car has all the updates, do you just mean that the car says there aren't any update available or did you have somebody check in FDRS? If you haven't gotten the latest RFA update yet, that would be a good place to start.

Hi, yes, the car says there's no more available updates. Can you elaborate ab it on FDRS and RFA? Maybe I need to take it into the dealer for a different kind of update?

 

[Travman1974]

Works great for me. I have had the car for just over a month now. I carried a key for about the 1st week, but since then it's worked great. Every so often I do have to open the app for the car to recognize it, maybe once a week. Other than that no issues.

 

[generaltso]

Hi, yes, the car says there's no more available updates. Can you elaborate ab it on FDRS and RFA? Maybe I need to take it into the dealer for a different kind of update?

Post your VIN in this thread, and somebody can look in FDRS (Ford Diagnostic & Repair System) to see what updates are really available for your car.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...are-willing-to-look-up-info-for-others.10230/

If you have an RFA (Remote Function Actuator) update available, you should go to your dealer and tell them that Phone as a Key isn't working well for you and you'd like SSM 50845 applied.

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...oncerns-various-dtcs-in-the-rfa-module.18979/

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Hello fellow Mach-E owners. I'm wondering if anyone is finding that their Phone As a Key is working consistently. I've experienced it fail, like, often... maybe it works 1 out of 10 times. Most of the time, I'm entering my door key code, and back-up start passcode. I've learned not to depend on it and rarely go without the key fob these days. I'm using an iPhone Xs, latest IOS (16.1 -although it didn't work with any previous iOS version). I have the latest Mach E software updates, and latest FordPass app. Curious if anyone got it working to a point that they use it often. Or, if anyone has had similar problems and was able to fix them? Thanks in advance!

it worked great for 16+ months. Nary a problem. Since the latest round of updates to my car though, it's a POS. I use the fob now.

 

[JohnnyForensic]

I’ve had no issues with PAAK since I took delivery in September of 2021. I use it exclusively. In that time, I’ve had exactly one instance where it barfed to the point I had to use the door code and backup start, and once I rebooted my iPhone, it worked fine again.

If you have no RFA update waiting in FDRS, then I’d suggest there’s something wrong with an antenna or something for you.

 

[Mirak]

When you say PAAK doesn’t work for you, can you be more specific?

To me, there are two primary points of failure, and they are not always related. The first is the car waking up and auto-unlocking when you press the button on the door. The second is the car starting once you are in.

The latter issue is working reliably for me now. I rarely get “No Key Detected” messages or have to use my backup start code. It’s down to less than 1 in 20 startups.

As for the car waking up and unlocking, that’s still a pretty significant problem for me. I’d say around 1 in 5 approaches the car makes me wait several seconds / button pushes to unlock, and sometimes just doesn’t unlock period and I’ve got to use the door sill passcode.

I keep FordPass running in background on my iPhone 11 Pro. I think pulling the phone out of my pocket to wake it up may help a bit, but that should not be necessary.

It’s very difficult to diagnose the problem. Best I can tell, the car seems to know when I’ve got my arms full or I’ve got a companion with me, and that’s generally when it chooses to ignore my PAAK for maximum pain in the ass.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Hello fellow Mach-E owners. I'm wondering if anyone is finding that their Phone As a Key is working consistently. I've experienced it fail, like, often... maybe it works 1 out of 10 times. Most of the time, I'm entering my door key code, and back-up start passcode. I've learned not to depend on it and rarely go without the key fob these days. I'm using an iPhone Xs, latest IOS (16.1 -although it didn't work with any previous iOS version). I have the latest Mach E software updates, and latest FordPass app. Curious if anyone got it working to a point that they use it often. Or, if anyone has had similar problems and was able to fix them? Thanks in advance!

I've used nothing but PaaK since I bought my First Edition -- iPhone 12Pro.
My wife can't get it to work at all -- iPhone 7.

I encourage you to use the search feature. There are multiple threads on this topic already.

 

[phil]

it worked great for 16+ months. Nary a problem. Since the latest round of updates to my car though, it's a POS. I use the fob now.

My experience is the opposite. Very spotty, unreliable for 12 months. Since my latest set of updates, it has been perfect.

Go figure.

 

[dtbaker61]

it worked great for 16+ months. Nary a problem. Since the latest round of updates to my car though, it's a POS. I use the fob now.

I use PAAK 99%.... on Android

what updates to car messed you up?

My phone upgrade to Android v12 completely killed PAAK. I had completely un-install and re-install FordPass, delete phones from MME, re-pair, configure PAAK, set backup code. All good since then

 

[Blue highway]

Wife and I both use PAAK exclusively. 16 months - 16K miles. iPhone X and iPhone 12

 

[TD1273]

Hello fellow Mach-E owners. I'm wondering if anyone is finding that their Phone As a Key is working consistently. I've experienced it fail, like, often... maybe it works 1 out of 10 times. Most of the time, I'm entering my door key code, and back-up start passcode. I've learned not to depend on it and rarely go without the key fob these days. I'm using an iPhone Xs, latest IOS (16.1 -although it didn't work with any previous iOS version). I have the latest Mach E software updates, and latest FordPass app. Curious if anyone got it working to a point that they use it often. Or, if anyone has had similar problems and was able to fix them? Thanks in advance!

We have 2022 Mach e we took deliverly in May 07 22 and ours works 95% of the time. It works well enough I haven't carried a key fob since the end of May.

 

[Moeyjar]

I had abut a week where it was flakey, but I narrowed that down to me changing the email address associated to my Fordpass account. Should have left it alone. Was the only time I needed my backup code. But after a full reset and time, it's back to working pretty flawlessly on my iphone 13 pro max. I do sometimes get a delay in the doors, and sometimes it will pop up saying no key, but that's never a problem. I trust it pretty much all the time.

 

[tannerk89]

Great picture of your Mach-E.

My PAAK has gone through several phases of working great, and working poorly. With the last round of updates it was pretty useless until 3.5.4.2 which seems to have gotten everything back to working really well. I get pony puddle lights frequently and my car recognizes me from much further out using PAAK only.

I have an iPhone 13 Pro Max with iOS 16.0.2, I see I have 16.1 available now but not sure if I will do that yet as everything is in pretty good shape right now and I hear a lot of CarPlay/PAAK issues so it could be the iOS 16.1 and Ford PowerUp 3.5.4.X compatability…

Sponsored