WARNING about backup start passcode

[ScubaSteve_TheReal]

When you setup PaaK it offered to let you setup a passcode. There is no other way to setup a passcode without setting up PaaK. That connection is pretty clear.

Of course had you setup your wife's phone with PaaK and a passcode, you wouldn't have had any issue.

Super great idea, I’m making a note now to setup my wife’s phone as a second PAAK.
A backup of a backup as I see it.

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[silverlightning]

Well, I’m stranded with my truck two hours from home because of phone as a key being a piece of junk.

even though my phone was connected to my truck enough that CARPLAY worked and I could open the door locks with the FordPass app, the vehicle told me No Key Detected and I had to enter the backup start code to drive. When I stopped for dinner, I thought I’d try removing and re-adding my phone as a key while I had it turned on. It wouldn’t complete the pairing process. When I got back in the car after stopping for dinner, still no PAAK. Then I tried to just use the backup code again but no backup code screen showed up, no matter what I did.

Apparently, with NO WARNING, if you remove a phone, the truck also REMOVES THE BACKUP START CODE, meaning you have no PAAK and no other way to start the truck without the physical key.

ANOTHER GENIUS Engineering moment in the books for Ford!

I just removed the ford pass app and reinstalled and then it worked, but I won’t go without my key fob now, kinda makes phone key useless though. Our Tesla works perfect and never a problem and I like the compact credit card back up key

 

[Dan's Lightning]

Well, I’m stranded with my truck two hours from home because of phone as a key being a piece of junk.

even though my phone was connected to my truck enough that CARPLAY worked and I could open the door locks with the FordPass app, the vehicle told me No Key Detected and I had to enter the backup start code to drive. When I stopped for dinner, I thought I’d try removing and re-adding my phone as a key while I had it turned on. It wouldn’t complete the pairing process. When I got back in the car after stopping for dinner, still no PAAK. Then I tried to just use the backup code again but no backup code screen showed up, no matter what I did.

Apparently, with NO WARNING, if you remove a phone, the truck also REMOVES THE BACKUP START CODE, meaning you have no PAAK and no other way to start the truck without the physical key.

ANOTHER GENIUS Engineering moment in the books for Ford!

I had a similar experience last week, forgot my key fob at home but had my phone, left home fine got to my appointment, walked back to my truck, door handle touch wouldn't work with phone in hand and Ford Pass open, unlock botton on the app worked to get in but then no key detected, tried several things with the phone but no go, had to use screen passcode.
This was not the first time either. Now I make sure I always always carry the key fob even on short commutes.
As we all know by now the Ford's software is not very reliable. I love the truck but not the software.

 

[iam-s-Hon]

When you setup PaaK it offered to let you setup a passcode. There is no other way to setup a passcode without setting up PaaK. That connection is pretty clear.

I can see how in the heat of the moment you didn't realize that, but I can't see why you thought it important to try and fix PaaK while on a trip, given that the passcode worked.

Of course had you setup your wife's phone with PaaK and a passcode, you wouldn't have had any issue.

Using the passcode is tedious but it’s never failed for me. It happens far less than it had in past, so I rarely take my fob with me.

 

[bmwhitetx]

PAAK is wonderful in that you don’t have to carry a fob. But there are many situations where a fob is useful (valet, dealer drop off, tow truck, forgot passcode) over the passcode backup.

To me, hiding one of the two fobs in the truck for those situations makes sense. Put it a Faraday bag or remove the battery (use removed physical key to pry fob apart, put both in a baggie).

 

[TaxmanHog]

ANOTHER GENIUS Engineering moment in the books for Ford!

NEVER make changes to your PAAK install without having the FOB in hand ...... NEVER!

 

[flyct]

Carry a fob in a faraday case/bag. I have mine locked in my console vault. I don’t trust the paak enough not to keep the fob nearby.

That’s the same process I use. I have a console vault in my F-450 and my Lightning. I have programmed fobs in faraday bags locked in each truck. Plus having keypad on doorpost allows entry when all else fails.

 

[Skinsgreg]

I once got stranded an hour from home when the door entry code failed to work. (Phone and fob locked in car because I was on the river and didn’t want to take them in the water). No explanation why it stopped working. I reprogrammed the entry code and it has worked fine since- but unfortunately I can never trust it to work again. Now I always take the real key with me (the one that inserts in the fob). You should always have that key in the truck anyway because you need it to access the spare tire.

 

[digitaldad]

NEVER make changes to your PAAK install without having the FOB in hand ...... NEVER!

Agreed...I think Ford could easily implement/follow the Tesla pattern of requring the fob (in case of most Tesla owners, the key card) be within proximity during the removal of paak/phone to avoid this specific scenario.

 

[Ted23Lightning]

If your PAAK doesn't connect, go into Bluetooth settings and enjoy watching the connection keep trying to engage, disengage, engage, disengage... sometimes watching it for a bit seems to make it work! No idea why it does this, is it an Apple issue, a Bluetooth issue, a Ford issue?

And for sure, have your key fob in a Faraday case somewhere in the truck for this exact reason. I learned that lesson the hard way too.

And as others have said, you can't add a new PAAK without your keyfob anyway. Sorry that happened to you.

I agree, the only times I’ve had an issue with PAAK is in regards to a Bluetooth issue.

 

[SMMD]

Thanks for the warning OP. And thanks for the clarification from the others. It makes sense after reading this, but like OP, I don’t think I would have understood the complete nexus between PAAK and the backup code in the normal course of things. Having a more failsafe warning does make sense.

 

[ChrisCon]

So .. guy doesn't read warnings and then complains on forums for his own failings .
.. Tale as old as time .

 

[jetfixr1]

Maybe I rely too heavily on PAAK. Unless it's a roadtrip, I never have my keys with me. Never had an issue with it either except that I have to stand uber close for it to work.

 

[Prospectiveowner]

Well, I’m stranded with my truck two hours from home because of phone as a key being a piece of junk.

even though my phone was connected to my truck enough that CARPLAY worked and I could open the door locks with the FordPass app, the vehicle told me No Key Detected and I had to enter the backup start code to drive. When I stopped for dinner, I thought I’d try removing and re-adding my phone as a key while I had it turned on. It wouldn’t complete the pairing process. When I got back in the car after stopping for dinner, still no PAAK. Then I tried to just use the backup code again but no backup code screen showed up, no matter what I did.

Apparently, with NO WARNING, if you remove a phone, the truck also REMOVES THE BACKUP START CODE, meaning you have no PAAK and no other way to start the truck without the physical key.

ANOTHER GENIUS Engineering moment in the books for Ford!

Is it unreasonable to ASSUME that if you delete your phone from the vehicle that it would include PaaK? I don't know. . I am a Boomer (Gen Jones). . . we don't know squat about all this new-fangled technology.

Dude you went from 0 to nuclear in seconds. Maybe reboot your phone? Maybe delete the Bluetooth connection and re-add it? This isn't a Ford Engineering issue.

 

[Tony Burgh]

Aluminum foil, Saran Wrap, small metal box from mints or candy.
Great space behind back seat that takes a 12mm box wrench to access.
Insurance against Paak failure. Like my life insurance, I’ve never needed it.

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