Welp, it was cold in western NC this morning. Therefore, I decided to let my truck warm up a few minutes before leaving this morning. I went outside, cranked the sucker, and came back inside. Before I came back inside, however, I locked the doors, thinking I could use my remote key fob to open the doors when I got ready to depart. WRONGGG!!!! I couldn't get the sucker open at all!! I am positive that I have done this same thing with my wife's '02 Explorer before. The only difference is that the Explorer has a keypad combo lock, and the truck does not. BTW, I initially had only one key for the truck, so I was SOL on getting it unlocked! Anyways, trying not to panic, I decided that getting my son to school was my first priority, so he and I got in my other truck and went to school. I dropped him off and returned home, about a 18 mile round trip. I called my wife at work, and I called my work to let them know I would be late. Then, I called my local Ford dealer and asked them if they could make me a key off the VIN. They were a little hesitant at first, as I expected, but once I told them who I was, and the guy in the parts department there saw me in person, they cut me a key. I came home, opened the truck (which was nice and toasty inside by this time), and proceeded on to work. Total idle time was about 1 hour and 15 or 20 minutes, and I was about 1 1/2 hours late to work. Not sure which Ford vehicles will do what I tried to do, but I now know my truck will definitely NOT. Hopefully one or some of you will not have depend on your own personal experience now that I have shared mine!

BTW....THANKS, Ernie in the parts department of Martin-Feagin Ford!!!!

 

Sounds like a remote starter is in order

 

Yeah, I found that one out 3 years ago. Luckily the truck was in the driveway and the other key was in the house. What a PITA

 

WOW !~!!!! That is strange !

I've never tried that and KNOW I won't now ! but I can't believe it won't unlock WITH the key fob ?!?!

I do have the remote start and it IS the best option I have on the X - paid for itself this summer in DFW !

 

Yep, found that out myself when my dog stepped on the Lock button. I had to play with him through the window till he stepped on it again.

Vinny

 

weird.... i have had the key in the ignition, truck running, and have locked the doors. was able to get back in via the keyless entry.

except for the one time i forgot to take the remote with me... that sucked! lol

 

abendx, do you have the numerical unlock pad? Could also be a difference between 2000 and 2002.........

 

I can have my truck running and lock it and unlock it with the (spare) remote.
Manny

 

no numerical pad here... only the fob.

maybe as you say a difference in the year models and as you've noticed, mine is a 2002 (as Autobahn F-250 Lariat's is also).

 

I also have an 02' and have done this many times.Like Abendx I have locked the fob in there, though. Thank heaven for spares.

 

My 02 works just fine. Lock/unlock with FOB at all times. You said you locked your doors with the key in the ignition? I can't do that unless the doors are shut. My drivers side will unlock itself if the key is in...... I also found out (thanks to a buddies cat ) that if you open and close the drivers side door, lock the doors with the FOB and wait a minute, you can't use the unlock button in the cab.

 

From what I've read in the manual, the inner unlock buttons become disabled for a short period of time when you lock with the fob.

Also, I'm not able to lock/unlock w/ the fob if key is in the ignition.

Must be a year model difference ...

 

It's a model-year thing.

Before 2002, the key fob would NOT unlock the door while the engine was running. In '02, Ford fixed this glaring mistake.

 

Allrighty, then....I suppose the next question would be:

"Is this something that we pre-'02 owners can fix/mod ourselves?"

 

Been there done that too...I now carry a spare key in the middle console so that I can lock the truck while running and get back in after words. Its only logical that you'd be able to get back in with the fob...but then again...who needs logic