Adventures With Key Fobs

[Suzukiridr14]

Here's a short story for those who may experience a similar situation.

Firstly, in an effort to thwart relay theft, I disabled all vehicle connectivity just after I bought the Maverick. Touching the door handle to unlock the doors is disabled. Vehicle calling Ford to tell them what I've been up to and where, etc., is disabled. Remote start works without the Ford app. Two years and counting and the Maverick has never failed me.

-Until today-

I parked the Maverick at a store, turned it off and, as usual, locked the doors with the inside door button as I climbed out, then went off to buy stuff.
When I came back to the Maverick and pressed the unlock button on the fob - nothing.
Tried a several times. Nothing every time. Went back into the store and bought a new fob battery and replaced it. Still nothing. Vehicle battery? Last resort; there's other things to try first.
While I waited for my wife to deliver the spare fob from home, I tried the fob key; not to gain entry, for fear that it might set off an alarm that I had no way to turn off, but to see if by chance the mechanical door lock was between extremes and was acting as an interlock. After working the key in both directions a few times, I tried the fob again. No joy.
My wife arrived with the spare fob. Worked! All functions normal. I owe her dinner.
Now, just for grins, I tried the "dead" fob and it was now working as well, also now functioning as normal. WTFO?

My guess is that somehow the Maverick "forgot" the fob I use every day and when the spare fob was used, it caused whatever module is listening for fob signals to wake up and remember.
Perhaps I need to start using the fob to lock the doors instead of the inside door switch?

There's no LED on this fob, so couldn't tell if the fob was actually transmitting. There does seem to be provision for one just by the unlock button, but checked both fobs - light not working on either.

When I got home I measured the output of the fob batteries:
Old battery - 3.02V
New battery - 3.19V
I don't think 0.2V is significant enough to make the Maverick stop talking.
It's a 3V battery, so technically....

Anyway, situation resolved for now.
Thanks for listening, and if any of you have some insight into possibilities, please share.

Steve

Didn't your truck have a keypad?

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[HeyBales]

The codes reset on a reprogram since the vehicle and key need to start a new sequence of codes. I haven't done it myself but you should be able to reprogram them yourself using the ignition method.
Far as I know it is not an actual reprogram but resetting of the immobilizer system that this does.

Plenty of videos on youtube or websites explaining it.
https://www.safetywish.com/how-to-reprogram-a-ford-keyless-fob/

Ya - while there is a general misconception and many instructions and videos carry it on - the transponder in the fob is not changed.
There is no programming of the fob - at least for most vehicles, perhaps some.

The reprogramming changes the vehicle side - to recognize that fob as allowed to open/start the vehicle.

It trusts a new fob, by you having 2 existing fobs/keys already in the system. And it has max 4 slots available.
I say keys for those with non-pushbutton start, that could get a key with a transponder in the head, no fob.

And that link has no instructions valid for the Maverick.

 

[stevj]

Didn't your truck have a keypad?

That would have been a great feature if Ford hadn't removed it for the 2024 model year.
A dealer-installed replacement wasn't all that appealing, so I turned that down.

Steve

 

[stevj]

Ya - while there is a general misconception and many instructions and videos carry it on - the transponder in the fob is not changed.
There is no programming of the fob - at least for most vehicles, perhaps some.

The reprogramming changes the vehicle side - to recognize that fob as allowed to open/start the vehicle.

It trusts a new fob, by you having 2 existing fobs/keys already in the system. And it has max 4 slots available.
I say keys for those with non-pushbutton start, that could get a key with a transponder in the head, no fob.

And that link has no instructions valid for the Maverick.

My Owners Manual isn't all that helpful. I quote the generic statement:
"Contact an authorized dealer to program remote controls for your vehicle."

Steve

 

[Cancunbadlands]

My Owners Manual isn't all that helpful. I quote the generic statement:
"Contact an authorized dealer to program remote controls for your vehicle."

Steve

If you have two existing, programmed keys for your Ford, you can usually add a third "spare" key yourself without a trip to the dealer or a locksmith.

Place the first programmed fob into the backup slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once (do not press the brake). Wait 5 seconds.
Press the Start/Stop button again to turn the ignition off. Remove the fob.
Within 10 seconds, place the second programmed fob into the slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once. Wait 5 seconds.
Press the Start/Stop button again and remove the second fob.
Within 10 seconds, place the new unprogrammed fob into the slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once. The instrument cluster should display "Key Programmed" or something similar.
Press the Start/Stop button one last time to exit programming mode.

 

[Pointyears]

If you have two existing, programmed keys for your Ford, you can usually add a third "spare" key yourself without a trip to the dealer or a locksmith.

Place the first programmed fob into the backup slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once (do not press the brake). Wait 5 seconds.
Press the Start/Stop button again to turn the ignition off. Remove the fob.
Within 10 seconds, place the second programmed fob into the slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once. Wait 5 seconds.
Press the Start/Stop button again and remove the second fob.
Within 10 seconds, place the new unprogrammed fob into the slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once. The instrument cluster should display "Key Programmed" or something similar.
Press the Start/Stop button one last time to exit programming mode.

Is it a true statement that a new Ford keypad SK4Z-14A626-A can't be programmed this way and that it HAS to be done by a dealer? Yes, I realize that the keypad can't do the slot, but I have a vague memory of programming one back in 2005 on a Ranger.

 

[stevj]

If you have two existing, programmed keys for your Ford, you can usually add a third "spare" key yourself without a trip to the dealer or a locksmith.

Place the first programmed fob into the backup slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once (do not press the brake). Wait 5 seconds.
Press the Start/Stop button again to turn the ignition off. Remove the fob.
Within 10 seconds, place the second programmed fob into the slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once. Wait 5 seconds.
Press the Start/Stop button again and remove the second fob.
Within 10 seconds, place the new unprogrammed fob into the slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once. The instrument cluster should display "Key Programmed" or something similar.
Press the Start/Stop button one last time to exit programming mode.

The hybrid does not have a Start/Stop button.
Are you referring to the ignition switch?

Steve

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Is it a true statement that a new Ford keypad SK4Z-14A626-A can't be programmed this way and that it HAS to be done by a dealer? Yes, I realize that the keypad can't do the slot, but I have a vague memory of programming one back in 2005 on a Ranger.

I would say true.
These videos may be pertinent.


Return of the wired keypad and dealership programming of the wireless keypad.

 

[Gullzway]

I'm gonna go with a very hesitant "duh..." here, only because I suspect a rolling code timed out or something along those lines.

If you're gonna stay devoted to your attempts at being "off-grid," maybe use your fob in a safe, remote place every so often. Clearly two years is too long of a gap, but since I am only guessing - maybe quarterly?

I've rarely used my fob to lock or unlock the doors on my 2022 hybrid Lariat. Never had an issue with one working.

 

[Carlitos_92]

I've rarely used my fob to lock or unlock the doors on my 2022 hybrid Lariat. Never had an issue with one working.

Does "rarely" equate to you using it less often than every two years?

 

[Pointyears]

I would say true.
This video may be pertinent.



21 years ago was a long time ago.

Thanks, it not only looks like it has to be done buy the stealer, but that the relatively cheap one I'm eyeing on ebay won't work on a '25.

 

[Gullzway]

If you have two existing, programmed keys for your Ford, you can usually add a third "spare" key yourself without a trip to the dealer or a locksmith.

Place the first programmed fob into the backup slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once (do not press the brake). Wait 5 seconds.
Press the Start/Stop button again to turn the ignition off. Remove the fob.
Within 10 seconds, place the second programmed fob into the slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once. Wait 5 seconds.
Press the Start/Stop button again and remove the second fob.
Within 10 seconds, place the new unprogrammed fob into the slot.
Press the Start/Stop button once. The instrument cluster should display "Key Programmed" or something similar.
Press the Start/Stop button one last time to exit programming mode.

I bought the recommended key for my 2022 Lariat Lux off of Amazon, and have tried more times than I care to count. Always getting a key program failure error.

 

[Gullzway]

Does "rarely" equate to you using it less often than every two years?

Not sure, but it's possible.

Though the key communicates with the truck every time I get in it and start it. So maybe that's why.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Thanks, it not only looks like it has to be done buy the stealer, but that the relatively cheap one I'm eyeing on ebay won't work on a '25.

I just added another video to post my #23 kind of explains it a little bit more and the fact that Ford is bringing back the wired keypads.

 

[Cancunbadlands]

I bought the recommended key for my 2022 Lariat Lux off of Amazon, and have tried more times than I care to count. Always getting a key program failure error.

Did you get the correct MHZ radio transporter?
My Lariat came with a 315MHZ key fob, I first ordered a 900ish MHZ that didn't work, then I ordered the 315MHZ and it worked like a champ

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