‘19 Expedition Not recognizing key fobs?!

[whiteknight8]

Hey everyone I am having issues with my ‘19 Ford Expedition limited not recognizing my key fobs. The vehicle utilizes keyless entry and push button start. The vehicle, at random times, will not recognize the key fobs being in my hand or in my pocket and will not unlock the vehicle. This requires me to utilize the back up hidden key feature within the fob. After using the hidden key feature I will then have to quickly get in the vehicle and put the key fob in the emergency key fob slot (under the cup holder in center console) and then push the push button start button. I don’t understand why the vehicle will not recognize the key fob at random times. I have put new batteries in both key fobs and that did not fix the problem. I also brought the vehicle to the dealership who also could not figure out the issue. The dealership replaced the vehicle battery thinking that would be the solution and it was not. I’m hoping there is someone out there that has had the same issue and knows a fix. Please help and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks

 

[duneslider]

do the buttons on the fob still work to lock and unlock the door?

 

[Going_Going_Gone]

Not that this will be the solution to your problem, but we had a similar problem with a 2011 Lincoln when it was a couple years old but still under warranty. Wife would drive somewhere (always on the other side of town) and park. The first time was at Costco getting gas, the second was going to a meeting. Both times the car failed to recognize the fob she was carrying necessitating me driving across town with the spare...fortunately I retired before her. The second incident, the "spare" fob was the one that didn't work the first time. Finally the nearby Ford dealer where we took it for service contacted Lincoln engineering and after brainstorming several possibilities, their solution was to "re-pair" both fobs to the car. I threw out the paperwork when we replaced that vehicle, so I can't document a specific repair code. Never happened again

 

[whiteknight8]

Thanks for the idea. I could try re programming the remotes to the vehicle.

 

[whiteknight8]

do the buttons on the fob still work to lock and unlock the door?

Yes they do intermittently. The work the same time as when the vehicle recognizes the key fob. If the vehicle isn’t recognizing the key fob, then the buttons on the fob do not unlock the vehicle either.

 

[Kudie]

Is it at the same location? My wife worked at a dairy Queen and ther was a ba nk nextdoor and arealty across the street. Was a 2017 fusion with push button start and it would randomly do that at work. Worked fine everywhere else. Figured it was security systems.

 

[whiteknight8]

Is it at the same location? My wife worked at a dairy Queen and ther was a ba nk nextdoor and arealty across the street. Was a 2017 fusion with push button start and it would randomly do that at work. Worked fine everywhere else. Figured it was security systems.

No it’s at all different locations. I did read in the manual that sometimes metals (like keys or cell phone) can interfere with the key fob signal. But we have tried literally holding the key fobs right next to vehicle and next to ignition and still doesn’t fix the problem. Thanks though!

 

[duneslider]

On my jeep wrangler there were issues with the WCM (wireless control module) and it would do stuff like this. I don't know how ford does it though.

 

[Deep8174]

If the dealer was willing to give you new batteries perhaps they would be willing to give you new key fobs to see if that works

 

[whiteknight8]

On my jeep wrangler there were issues with the WCM (wireless control module) and it would do stuff like this. I don't know how ford does it though.

Did you end up having to replace the WCM? Or what was your fix? Thanks

 

[whiteknight8]

If the dealer was willing to give you new batteries perhaps they would be willing to give you new key fobs to see if that works

Yea I think that may be the next step, buying new key fobs.

 

[chuck s]

Key fobs? Just curious, my '17 has no fobs and all the functions are in the key itself.

-- Chuck

 

[Anthony DeVor]

On my jeep wrangler there were issues with the WCM (wireless control module) and it would do stuff like this. I don't know how ford does it though.

There is a module called the radio control Module (I believe) it is located on the right pillar beside the second row headrest. Or at least that's where they used to place it. That module controls the key fobs, ford pass connect and the am/fm I believe. But I don't know much else about it.

 

[duneslider]

Did you end up having to replace the WCM? Or what was your fix? Thanks

I am not 100% certain what the fix was. In my case the jeeps have a key ignition and supposedly there was static electricity from the key that did something to disrupt the system. I don't know for sure if the wcm was toast and had to be replaced or if there was some other fix for it. My problem came and went but after taking it in whatever they did resolved it. In the jeep's case it ended up being a warranty item and when I took it in I was getting some other safety recalls done and didn't pay much attention to what the paper work said when I was done.

 

[ROBERT BONNER]

Does the vehicle start when you place the key/fob in the recess under the cup holder when the vehicle isn't otherwise responding to the fob? If it does, that eliminates the fobs themselves as the problem. The random aspect sounds like an interference/hacking issue. This was mentioned in one of the posts above. The system is designed to shut off access to the fobs when the receiver in the vehicle is being bombarded by "false" signals of the same frequency. In their infinite wisdom, our FCC assigned the fob frequency to wireless security systems used in homes and businesses as well key fobs. If your vehicle is parked in the vicinity of one of these security systems, it can lead to a shutdown. Hackers trying to get into random or specific vehicles in parking lots can accomplish the same thing by constantly running random codes at higher than allowed power output, trying to pop locks and start cars.

I experienced this along with 3 other vehicles parked at a South Dakota grocery store a few years ago. All 3 vehicles shut down the RF controls. They were parked between a remote parking lot camera and the base transceiver for a half hour. We experimented parking a vehicle in the same area at another time and repeated the issue.

Let us know what you find!

 

[whiteknight8]

Does the vehicle start when you place the key/fob in the recess under the cup holder when the vehicle isn't otherwise responding to the fob? If it does, that eliminates the fobs themselves as the problem. The random aspect sounds like an interference/hacking issue. This was mentioned in one of the posts above. The system is designed to shut off access to the fobs when the receiver in the vehicle is being bombarded by "false" signals of the same frequency. In their infinite wisdom, our FCC assigned the fob frequency to wireless security systems used in homes and businesses as well key fobs. If your vehicle is parked in the vicinity of one of these security systems, it can lead to a shutdown. Hackers trying to get into random or specific vehicles in parking lots can accomplish the same thing by constantly running random codes at higher than allowed power output, trying to pop locks and start cars.

I experienced this along with 3 other vehicles parked at a South Dakota grocery store a few years ago. All 3 vehicles shut down the RF controls. They were parked between a remote parking lot camera and the base transceiver for a half hour. We experimented parking a vehicle in the same area at another time and repeated the issue.

Let us know what you find!

Robert thank you for the response! If this is problem, then what would the solution be? I’m not sure if this is the issue because we have a security system at out residence. Sometimes the vehicle recognizes the fob at home, sometimes it doesn’t.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. This all helps tremendously!

 

[ROBERT BONNER]

Robert thank you for the response! If this is problem, then what would the solution be? I’m not sure if this is the issue because we have a security system at out residence. Sometimes the vehicle recognizes the fob at home, sometimes it doesn’t.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. This all helps tremendously!

Whitenight:

First, I would try to determine if this is the issue by temporarily disabling the security system completely (depowering it) while continuing to park the vehicle in the same place where it disabled the fobs previously and see if it fixes the issue. If it does, then you have some choices: first, I would contact the manufacturer/installer of the security system and see if they have any suggestions. I suspect you aren't the first person to experience/complain about the issue. Second, if that doesn't yield a solution, you have to move the vehicle, or move the security system. I would look at relocating cameras/rf sensors and the base unit as far as possible from where the vehicle is parked.

In my particular situation mentioned above, we highly suspected that it was the broadcasting from the remote camera near our vehicles that was causing the problem, we were able to park in many other places in the lot over the years without incident (we're bird hunters that return to the same town 1 week/year to hunt and utilize this particular lot frequently during that week).

I hope this helps.