Keyless Entry Keypad
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,778
Likes: 153
So, our new XLT came with the driver-door "Keyless Entry Keypad" and a pair of "Integrated Keyhead Transmitter" remote-control keys. The keys include a flip-out "blade" which is required to start the ignition, just like old fashioned ignition keys.
I can unlock- and lock the doors with the keypad or the r/c keys. However, I must use an r/c key blade to start the engine.
Is there any real point to the keypad? Perhaps I'm missing something, but I can't think of one.
Thanks!
Jim / crewzer
I can unlock- and lock the doors with the keypad or the r/c keys. However, I must use an r/c key blade to start the engine.
Is there any real point to the keypad? Perhaps I'm missing something, but I can't think of one.
Thanks!
Jim / crewzer
1) Heart of downtown Dallas, 5 pm. Car ahead of me takes off to make left turn on signal, car gets in middle and turning left of intersection and it dies. I am second in line and got a line behind me queing up to get to the freeway.
Girl in car is trying to start it, I jump out to find out or help with what is wrong. She thinks she is out of gas...she is! I tell her to get in, will push her to a curb. I begin to push and a few others show up to help, traffic is a mess and my car is now out in the intersection with one behind me. I get to my car and the door is closed, I had left it open and someone closed it, they also must have hit the lock button. My car in intersection, engine idling. The key pad would have been a savior.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 326
Likes: 1
Nope. At least, that's now how it works in our Flex or my previous trucks. Battery has been replaced 3 or 4 times in our Flex, and the code we set has been kept through all of that. It's committed to hard memory, so losing the battery doesn't affect it.
Now, that may not be the case on the older style 'stick-on' keypads that Ford used to (or maybe still does) offer. They had a separate battery since they weren't wired into the car battery.
Now, that may not be the case on the older style 'stick-on' keypads that Ford used to (or maybe still does) offer. They had a separate battery since they weren't wired into the car battery.
Guess my knowledge on the topic is seriously dated.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 698
Likes: 4
From: Rural Northern California
I have another to add to the list.
Driving up a remote road with dirt bikes in the bed for a ride we passed a buddy of one of my passengers on the side of the road in an F350 6.0 with a travel trailer hooked up. He had a huge puddle of coolant under his truck (another story). Down and out he was.
He was heading up to capture a campsite for a family vacation, his wife and kids to join the next day in another truck.
He called the tow company with his cell phone, custom programed a code into the truck entry pad (and gave tow the code), and locked the keys in the truck. Tow company came later that day and took his truck back to his house for him to deal with after his vacation.
We pulled his trailer and hooked it up to my truck, left his truck to wait for tow, and pulled the trailer up to the campground for him. His family joined the next day and used second truck to tow the trailer home.
In part his key pad entry saved a family vacation for him.
Driving up a remote road with dirt bikes in the bed for a ride we passed a buddy of one of my passengers on the side of the road in an F350 6.0 with a travel trailer hooked up. He had a huge puddle of coolant under his truck (another story). Down and out he was.
He was heading up to capture a campsite for a family vacation, his wife and kids to join the next day in another truck.
He called the tow company with his cell phone, custom programed a code into the truck entry pad (and gave tow the code), and locked the keys in the truck. Tow company came later that day and took his truck back to his house for him to deal with after his vacation.
We pulled his trailer and hooked it up to my truck, left his truck to wait for tow, and pulled the trailer up to the campground for him. His family joined the next day and used second truck to tow the trailer home.
In part his key pad entry saved a family vacation for him.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 245
Likes: 2
From: South Mississippi
Just make sure you have access to your code. I never carried my code with me, as I have a memory like an elephant. Well, turns out that after having locked all my gear and keys in my truck during a shooting competition (intentional), I had a brain fart at the end of the day. Took quite a bit of pacing back and forth, and several tries with muscle memory before I got the right combo. This was after owning the truck for about three years.
Long story short, keep your code with you, or program it into your phone or something. Don't rely on your memory..
Long story short, keep your code with you, or program it into your phone or something. Don't rely on your memory..
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 551
Likes: 39
I leave my spare fob hidden in the truck all the time, just in case I lose my main set of keys or something. I have push start, so I wrap the spare fob in heavy duty aluminum foil and hide it in the back. The aluminum foil blocks all signals from the fob, so the truck has no idea it's there until you unwrap it.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 374
Likes: 33
We have had the door keypad 3 trucks in a row.. we like it and use it so much, we added it to our last two campers, and our current one came with it. Fandamtastic invention.
Oh, and on forgetting the code... we have set the code the same on all of them.. easy to remember after a dozen years.. lol
Oh, and on forgetting the code... we have set the code the same on all of them.. easy to remember after a dozen years.. lol
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 477
Likes: 3
I leave my spare fob hidden in the truck all the time, just in case I lose my main set of keys or something. I have push start, so I wrap the spare fob in heavy duty aluminum foil and hide it in the back. The aluminum foil blocks all signals from the fob, so the truck has no idea it's there until you unwrap it.
I thought I read somewhere that a case is available that keeps the fob from being picked up by the truck.
Sam
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 252
Likes: 2
From: AL
There are cases out there that act as a faraday cage, but reviews are mixed on them and they can cost $20 or more. The aluminum foil works great and doesn't cost anything (assuming you already have a roll of aluminum foil at home).
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
On remembering door codes, I could never do it. Neither can I remember where I put the card with the code because the risk someone gets into the truck and rifles through the glove box.
MY SOLUTION is to send the code to myself in an email entitled DOOR CODE 2017 SD and I can always retrieve it when I need it. I've done this for all my Fords since 1999 and I can do a quick search of my email for "DOOR CODE" and up comes 5 options. So when my wife or daughter calls up and says they locked the keys in the car I can get the factory code for them in a jiffy.
MY SOLUTION is to send the code to myself in an email entitled DOOR CODE 2017 SD and I can always retrieve it when I need it. I've done this for all my Fords since 1999 and I can do a quick search of my email for "DOOR CODE" and up comes 5 options. So when my wife or daughter calls up and says they locked the keys in the car I can get the factory code for them in a jiffy.
Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 306
From: Mills River
You can teach an old dog new tricks!
I must admit that I seriously questioned the keypad's utility and value when I started this thread. 
Thank you for so many practical suggestions! I've already programmed in my own code -- one that'll I'll remember -- and my wife is going to add hers. I copied the back side of the code card (just the use instructions) and slipped it into my wallet.
Regards,
Jim / crewzer
Thank you for so many practical suggestions! I've already programmed in my own code -- one that'll I'll remember -- and my wife is going to add hers. I copied the back side of the code card (just the use instructions) and slipped it into my wallet.
Regards,
Jim / crewzer
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 2,017
From: Central MO
On remembering door codes, I could never do it. Neither can I remember where I put the card with the code because the risk someone gets into the truck and rifles through the glove box.
MY SOLUTION is to send the code to myself in an email entitled DOOR CODE 2017 SD and I can always retrieve it when I need it. I've done this for all my Fords since 1999 and I can do a quick search of my email for "DOOR CODE" and up comes 5 options. So when my wife or daughter calls up and says they locked the keys in the car I can get the factory code for them in a jiffy.
MY SOLUTION is to send the code to myself in an email entitled DOOR CODE 2017 SD and I can always retrieve it when I need it. I've done this for all my Fords since 1999 and I can do a quick search of my email for "DOOR CODE" and up comes 5 options. So when my wife or daughter calls up and says they locked the keys in the car I can get the factory code for them in a jiffy.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 453
Likes: 46
Ford designed the smart key system to where the vehicle would never lock with the key inside it...except when locked with the keypad on the door. That is the *only* way, and they did this because they know folks use the system the way we have mentioned...locking your keys inside while off mountain biking, for instance.
So, if you press lock on the remote and then toss your fob in the truck...as soon as you shut the door, the horn honks twice and the doors unlock. Likewise, if you place the fob inside your truck and then press the lock button on the door panel, as soon as you shut the door...the horn hons and the doors unlock. But pressing 7/8 + 9/0 on the keypad allows you to lock the truck with the fob inside. The alarm still arms, and touching the door handles or pressing the tailgate button will not open or unlock the truck. At this point, the only way to unlock the truck would be by entering the correct door code or using the other key fob.
So pretty cool, really. These fobs have near exacting position sensing as to whether they are inside or outside the vehicle, too.
So, if you press lock on the remote and then toss your fob in the truck...as soon as you shut the door, the horn honks twice and the doors unlock. Likewise, if you place the fob inside your truck and then press the lock button on the door panel, as soon as you shut the door...the horn hons and the doors unlock. But pressing 7/8 + 9/0 on the keypad allows you to lock the truck with the fob inside. The alarm still arms, and touching the door handles or pressing the tailgate button will not open or unlock the truck. At this point, the only way to unlock the truck would be by entering the correct door code or using the other key fob.
So pretty cool, really. These fobs have near exacting position sensing as to whether they are inside or outside the vehicle, too.
These are on the ford accessories website as an option for our trucks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
I should add to my comment. I leave my fob and phone in the car and lock it with the keypad occasionally. But I've programmed my own personal code and it's the same code on all the cars I have at the same time so that one I have no issues remembering that one. I was speaking to having to remember the factory code. No way Jose for my brain.