Keyfob not detected...

So this morning was dropping the kids off to daycare and stopped to close up the tonneau cover as had a tarp back in the bed starting to fly up and out of the bed. Anyway when I jumped back in to drive off again I got an error message up saying the key fob wasn’t detected and it wouldn’t shift out of park. Figured it was the battery even though I picked up the truck brand new in November last year with 7 miles on the clock so threw it in the key fob holder under the drink holder until I got home and then pulled the battery out but didn’t have a fresh one so figured I’ll get a new one tomorrow and just put it back together about an hour or so after opening the fob up.

Thought what the hell and just tried the remote start and it fired right up... So not a bad battery, but I’ll change it anyway... I’m wondering if all the cell phones in and around the cup holder area blocked the signal for the key to be detected or something weird like that? I had my phone in the cubby up front for Apple CarPlay and the wife and I both had our work phones down in the drink holder section in addition to my personal phone.

Anyone had any similar experience?

Mine will do that every now and then. Haven’t found any common denominator to what causes it.

I can shift out of park though if the engine is running.


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MnFlyer said:

Mine will do that every now and then. Haven’t found any common denominator to what causes it.

I can shift out of park though if the engine is running.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Random!

It wouldn’t shift out of park for me until I had the key in the spot for it under the forward drinks holder.

@FordTechOne Any experience with this issue that you could shed any light on?

There are certain places that have what I am guessing network interference with the key signal to the truck. I have a specific gas station that it happens at all the time depending on where I am parked. As stated, put the key in the cup holder and all is one again

Here is a discussion on another Ford site....

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/...ed-at-a-gas-station-do-this-simple-thing.html

Had the same thing happen to me a couple of times. One quick fix I found was hit the emergency/alarm button. After that it started right up and was fine. No idea what was interfering but that cured it.

Had issue in '15 Navigator....finally changed battery on FOB and problem went away.

Martin Brand said:

Random!

It wouldn’t shift out of park for me until I had the key in the spot for it under the forward drinks holder.

@FordTechOne Any experience with this issue that you could shed any light on?

Click to expand...

The system is designed so that you cannot shift out of park unless a valid programmed key is detected inside the vehicle by one of the antennas. This is to prevent you from driving off without your key as well as to prevent someone from jumping into the truck and taking off with it running.

Placing the key in the backup location allows the center PATS antenna to read the key directly, just as the transceiver on a traditional ignition would do with a physical key.

An intermittent no key detected message is typically caused by electrical interference in the area that blocks or corrupts the low frequency signal from the BCM or the high frequency signal from the key to the RTM.

From the Workshop Manual:

NOTE: Some brands/types of mobile phone or laptop computer chargers may cause interference that could lead to a PATS concern if the passive key is within a few inches of the charger and the No Key Detected message displays in the message center. If a concern is observed, move the passive key away from the charger and attempt to transition the ignition on.

FordTechOne said:

The system is design so that you cannot shift out of park unless a valid programmed key is detected inside the vehicle by one of the antennas. This is to prevent you from driving off without your key as well as to prevent someone from jumping into the truck and taking off with it running.

Placing the key in the backup location allows the center PATS antenna to read the key directly, just as the transceiver on a traditional ignition would do with a physical key.

An intermittent no key detected message is typically caused by electrical interference in the area that blocks or corrupts the low frequency signal from the BCM or the high frequency signal from the key to the RTM.

From the Workshop Manual:

NOTE: Some brands/types of mobile phone or laptop computer chargers may cause interference that could lead to a PATS concern if the passive key is within a few inches of the charger and the No Key Detected message displays in the message center. If a concern is observed, move the passive key away from the charger and attempt to transition the ignition on.

Click to expand...

Thanks!!

I had a similar occurrence today. I was at Discount Tire, having all five tires removed from the standard 2019 wheels, and having them re-mounted on Ford beadlock capable wheels. They used four floor jack's to lift the truck at each corner, and used the key from the fob to unlock the spare tire.

When they were finished and I tried to start the truck (they had me drive it in and out as part of their Covid protocols), I got the message saying key not detected. The fob wouldn't lock or unlock the doors, or remote start. I put the fob in the cavity under the front cup holder and it started.

After that it would lock and unlock doors, and remote start or stop, but wouldn't let me lock or unlock the doors by touching the door handle with the fob in my pocket. It still required me to put the fob in the cupholder (sitting in the cupholder, not in the cavity under the cupholder) in order to detect the fob and start the engine.

Does anyone think that jacking it up at all four corners would've caused this issue, or know what will get the fob fully functional again?