Keyless Entry Problems?

[Barsoom]

Does anyone else have random problems with the keyless entry system?

 

On some days, when I try to use the code to lock the car from the panel, the red light on top stays lit and no code will be taken. I have to use the fob to lock the car.

 

I have seen that when this happens, if I just press buttons until the security limit is reached and then wait out the lockout time period, then it will start to work properly.

 

It seems really weird to me, because I'm inside the car driving it so I can't be messing with the keypad. When I park the car and turn it off and get out, sometimes I can't press any buttons because the panel becomes unresponsive.

 

Has anyone else had this problem? I've been having it since day 1 a year ago.

[hybridbear]

Sounds like you need to bring it to the dealer. We've had no issues with our keypad and we use it multiple times per week. It works when the panel is 120+ degrees from sitting in the sun (and almost burns your fingertips to touch it) and it works in the cold when the temp is -15. It works with tech-gloves on as well. We have never had any occurrences of it not accepting a code.

[corncobs]

Have you tried a different code?

Maybe the code you have / use has a tendency to be misread by the system?

 

Remember for the panel the code sequence 1357-9 is equal to 2468-9.

[Barsoom]

hybridbear:

 

Thanks for your response. I wondered about the heat, because my car sits in the parking lot during the day and I thought it might be that the panel is facing the sun.

 

I will be bringing the car into the dealership soon for the battery saver issue, so I will have them look at this, too.

 

corncobs:

 

It does happen sometimes when I want to unlock the car with my code, either the factory code or the personal code that I entered. But I'm talking about the code to lock the doors, which does not require a personal code. This code is simply to press the 7-8 and 9-0 buttons together. Sometimes it works, and sometimes the red light above the panel stays on and the keypad becomes unresponsive until it locks out and resets.

[corncobs]

Barsoom

OK understood I skipped over the "lock" part. Bringing this to your dealers attention is a idea. Actually IIRC there was an issue before with the keypad and replacing the unit fixed the problem.

[hybridbear]

We have issues with locking as well sometimes. It seems that the system is very sensitive and if you don't press both buttons at the exact same time it won't lock the car. I missed that part too...we mostly use the codes to unlock the car and then use the button inside a front door to lock if no key is present.

[FordService]

Does anyone else have random problems with the keyless entry system?

 

On some days, when I try to use the code to lock the car from the panel, the red light on top stays lit and no code will be taken. I have to use the fob to lock the car. ...

 

Barsoom,

 

This is definitely one for the dealer to take a look at. I would also let your CSM know about it. Let me know if you need anything from me.

 

Ashley

[Barsoom]

Thanks, Ashley, for the confirmation. Just today, it wasn't taking any keypresses all day. The red light would be on when I get out of the car and stay on through all keypresses.

 

I'll let Randi know. We've been talking. I owe her a callback tomorrow.

 

B

[Sleddog]

You have to hit the lock button on the keypad just right. I manage to get it right 8 out of ten times.

[Barsoom]

It's not just hitting the button just right. I have been doing it for a year now.

 

It's that keypad becomes unresponsive, often as soon as I exit the car. The clue is that the red light at the top of the panel lights and stays lit. Pressing any button flashes the light, but the light remains lit. I thought it might be related to the GPS (crazy thought, I know), because it always does it when I go to a certain place for lunch. It has never worked in the entire year when I park it in a particular parking lot.

 

Today was a good day for the car. It decided to cooperate. I think it knows that it's going back to the dealer on Friday. On the other hand, there is this Focus at the dealer that my Fusion was parked next to last time...

[acdii]

This happens on mine too. You know what I found? Wait for the light to go off, then press the two pads. Works every time. For some odd reason when you close the doors, the lock sequence doesn't work, but if you wait for the light to shut off, then it works just fine. Sometimes i go out to the car and dont have the fob with, so I use the pad to get in and lock it, otherwise I just have to touch the door handle to unlock or lock it.

[Barsoom]

Thanks. I guess I'm getting impatient with it. I have to stand there for a minute for the panel to recycle itself.

 

The thing is, sometimes it works right the first time, and sometimes it starts out in a locked out manner. That means that something is screwy, even it it resets itself.

 

It's at the dealer now to have the battery saver message looked at. I added this to the list when I made the appointment, but I told them that the battery was the main concern and they could set this aside if they needed to.

[hybridbear]

Sounds like something is wrong. If you can readily duplicate the issue then show the dealer. They should be able to replace whatever part is causing it to not work.

[Barsoom]

Mine is finally going back in on Wednesday for the battery saver follow-up tests by Ford.

 

I'm also having problems with the keyless entry number pad on the driver-side door. Last week, it was flashing wildly after I got out of the car and locked the door with the fob. First, all the numbers started flashing together. Then they stopped and the red light began flashing. Then the red light would stop and the numbers began flashing again. Then the numbers would stop flashing and the red light would start flashing again. It repeated this cycle until I got my keys, unlocked the car with the fob and started it up and turned it off.

 

Then, when I got out and closed the driver-side door, the trunk opened up! This is not the first time that I came back to my car and my trunk was open. The next day I went to visit a friend. I tried to use the keypad to lock the door, which was unresponsive, so I locked it with the fob. When I returned a few hours later, the trunk was open.

 

There is definitely something wrong (from Day 1, in my opinion), with the programming of the keyless entry. Given the past problems with the global one-touch, I wonder of all the related electronics on the driver side have problems. Also, could this be where the battery drain is coming from?

 

I noticed that when they reprogrammed the global one-touch, my driver mirror/seat settings were reset; my mirrors were all pointing to the ground and the Driver 1 button did not reset anything. I had to redo the seat position and mirror settings. Then, when I brought the car back to check the BS message, I got it back with the same settings undone.

 

Given that you can enter a driver-specific entry code that also sets the seat and mirrors to your settings, I can tell that the keyless entry system is linked to the driver seat and mirror settings, which might also be connected to the driver door buttons for the windows. Somewhere, there is a programming error that is corrupting the system. It shows up first on the keyless entry panel, either by locking out the 6-7/8-9 lock combination, or by accidently opening the trunk when some unrelated condition is triggered, such as locking the car.

 

I'm going to have the dealer check this out, too.

[hybridbear]

Mine is finally going back in on Wednesday for the battery saver follow-up tests by Ford.

 

I'm also having problems with the keyless entry number pad on the driver-side door. Last week, it was flashing wildly after I got out of the car and locked the door with the fob. First, all the numbers started flashing together. Then they stopped and the red light began flashing. Then the red light would stop and the numbers began flashing again. Then the numbers would stop flashing and the red light would start flashing again. It repeated this cycle until I got my keys, unlocked the car with the fob and started it up and turned it off.

 

Then, when I got out and closed the driver-side door, the trunk opened up! This is not the first time that I came back to my car and my trunk was open. The next day I went to visit a friend. I tried to use the keypad to lock the door, which was unresponsive, so I locked it with the fob. When I returned a few hours later, the trunk was open.

 

There is definitely something wrong (from Day 1, in my opinion), with the programming of the keyless entry. Given the past problems with the global one-touch, I wonder of all the related electronics on the driver side have problems. Also, could this be where the battery drain is coming from?

 

I noticed that when they reprogrammed the global one-touch, my driver mirror/seat settings were reset; my mirrors were all pointing to the ground and the Driver 1 button did not reset anything. I had to redo the seat position and mirror settings. Then, when I brought the car back to check the BS message, I got it back with the same settings undone.

 

Given that you can enter a driver-specific entry code that also sets the seat and mirrors to your settings, I can tell that the keyless entry system is linked to the driver seat and mirror settings, which might also be connected to the driver door buttons for the windows. Somewhere, there is a programming error that is corrupting the system. It shows up first on the keyless entry panel, either by locking out the 6-7/8-9 lock combination, or by accidently opening the trunk when some unrelated condition is triggered, such as locking the car.

 

I'm going to have the dealer check this out, too.

Sounds like you have a defective part somewhere in the system messing with everything.

[Barsoom]

While investigating my chronic battery saver message, I noticed that my keyless entry pad was recently blinking on its own one night last month when I went into the garage to take out some garbage. I had to open and close the car door to get it to stop. When I closed the door, the trunk opened up by itself again.

 

I brought my car back to the dealer last week to look into this some more. I wondered if the keyless entry pad was waking up overnight, looping somehow, and then draining my 12V battery.

 

The dealer confirmed a problem with my panel. Their comment on my invoice reads: Confirm keyless entry pad flashes. Checked for DTC-none, ran OASIS - no TSB or SSM. Monitored number pad PID. Buttons not corresponding with scan tool. Recommend replace keyless entry pad and recheck.

 

The dealer ordered the part and it came in, so I'm back to Ford Service on Friday to have the panel switchd out.

[acdii]

Does any one elses touch pad not work when trying to lock the car? There are times it works fine, other times not at all. The module was replaced once already but it still does it.

[SteveB_TX]

Works "as advertised" on both cars. Your "Girl" may be jealous of "her" MKT cousin! ;)

[Barsoom]

Does any one elses touch pad not work when trying to lock the car? There are times it works fine, other times not at all. The module was replaced once already but it still does it.

 

That was one of my root problems, the unresponsiveness of the panel when trying to lock the car. When it won't respond to the lock, it also won't respond to my access code.

[acdii]

Well I found out that the module did not get replaced, they ORDERED a new module. It came in Friday so I have to make an appointment to drop it off and have it installed. We shall see if this solves the locking problem.

[Barsoom]

I had the panel replaced a few weeks ago, and it has been working just fine since then.

 

My unlock code is taken each time, the car locks each time. No problems since replacing the keypad.

[acdii]

I havent tried it yet since it was replaced. I dont know what they replaced either, I dont think it was the panel, but a module in the door.

[Barsoom]

I posted above what the techs put on my service order when I had it checked out. I haven't received my paperwork yet with the panel replacement because my service adviser misunderstood the scope of work required on the HVAC replacement (moldy smell TSB). She released the car back to me until we could schedule the work on the HVAC, but didn't give me the final papwerwork yet on what specifically was done so far.