Keypad lock- again

[10Expedition]

Hi all. As a "new" owner of a 2010 Expedition, I'd like to make my debut with an old question; where to find the keypad code. I've done my homework but none of the ways I have read appeal to me.

1. Ask the dealer
2. Check the inside of the owner's manual
3. Look for the factory card somewhere
4. Use two key fobs to reveal the code
5. Look behind the fuse box
6. Check the VIN

I have looked into all of them

1. Who knows, mCosts $50 up
2. Nothing
3. Can't find it. Probably gone
4. Might work for later models years
5. I have bad memories of taking apart plastic covers. They never go back in the way they were. May be if I could squeeze in a mirror somehow. I had a 98 Explorer and the code was behind a hatch in the cargo compartment. It was a struggle but I got it.
6. Read somewhere that the code is embedded somewhere in the VIN. VIN decoding did not reveal anything.

Why does Ford make it so difficult? Seems like intentional. Is there another way I have not tried?

 

[Yupster Dog]

where to find the keypad code.

Here you go.

 

[Dennis_H]

That video is how I had to find mine in a 2010. Wrote it in the manual when I got it.

 

[IIGood]

Why does Ford make it so difficult? Seems like intentional. Is there another way I have not tried?

Well, yes, it is intentional given what it is. It's a code to *unlock the vehicle.* Would you really want that in plain sight for anybody to see?

I unfortunately paid to have mine pulled by Ford. I didn't feel comfortable messing with how that box is mounted so while I had it in for some other service, I had them pull the door code for me. The cost was as much as their diagnostic fee (which, compared to what I had done, was a drop in the bucket).

 

[10Expedition]

Well, yes, it is intentional given what it is. It's a code to *unlock the vehicle.* Would you really want that in plain sight for anybody to see?

I unfortunately paid to have mine pulled by Ford. I didn't feel comfortable messing with how that box is mounted so while I had it in for some other service, I had them pull the door code for me. The cost was as much as their diagnostic fee (which, compared to what I had done, was a drop in the bucket).

Once you get to the box problem is solved. I just hate to pull trim pieces. They never go back in tight. May be I could get over it once the novelty of the "new" car wears off. I don't see taking it to the dealer. What is the scheduled service @100,000 miles?

 

[IIGood]

I just hate to pull trim pieces. They never go back in tight.

When I attempted to look for the code for mine, I only had to pull the kick panel trim off. I didn't pull the door sill plate off as that video above mentions.

Now, I gave up when I saw what was involved beyond that...maybe I would've had to pull the door sill trim? I dunno. But once I put the kick panel back on, it was fine. To me it seemed like it had a different way of clipping in than a regular piece of trim. No prying or pushing back in place...more like undoing it and opening a door.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

If you purchased the truck from a dealer, they should provide the code for free. If not, your local dealer may still be willing to print off the report w/ the code for you. As for those plastic panels, just grab a $5 trim removal kit from Harbor Freight and have at it. They will go back on fine. And of course they will rattle just like they do now. It's a Ford. The rattling panels are as common as the failed driver windows, clicking blend door actuators and peeling paint.

 

[Plati]

For any Techno Geeks out there ... there is at least one other way to get the code. Hack into the computer system by manually pressing buttons. I know, there are 100,000 possible solutions so furget that. But wait ... this is 2020 -> program a robotic system to do that! This article even implies that using some mathematics, you could do it manually in a reasonable amount of time but I'm not so sure about that. Just food for thought.
https://hackaday.com/2018/06/18/opening-a-ford-with-a-robot-and-the-de-bruijn-sequence/

geez ... i remember the good old days with the 8080A BUGBOOK

 

[10Expedition]

Just called the dealer. $49 and almost half a day wasted time to bring it in for service. Not sure if they too have to take apart the trim or they just plug in their computer.

 

[Dennis_H]

It only takes a few minutes to pull the trim, loosen the box, and get the code. I pulled the box out just enough to get my phone in a place to take a pic. It isn't a bad job at all to do yourself.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Just called the dealer. $49 and almost half a day wasted time to bring it in for service. Not sure if they too have to take apart the trim or they just plug in their computer.

They don't need the vehicle at all to pull the code. They just need the VIN.

 

[10Expedition]

OK codebreakers. I inspected the keypad with a magnifying glass. keys 0-1 and 9-0 show signs of wear. 9-0 has more wear. The rest are pretty new. How big is the search space? It's gotta be much smaller if you take three keys out. Does this mean the code starts by pressing 0-1 or 9-0?

EDIT:

How do I even know the keypad works? They show no sign of life when pressed. I expected them to be backlighted.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

I expected them to be backlighted.

They are. However, in most cases the lights burn out long before the keypad stops functioning as a keypad.

 

[Plati]

...
How do I even know the keypad works? They show no sign of life when pressed. I expected them to be backlighted.

what differences does it make? ... you don't know the code
ONION SKIN
btw my 2014 pad is backlit after first touch

and I sure hope you have to go to a Dealer in person with the appropriate paperwork to prove you own the vehicle, not just call up with a VIN and get the code! I helped my elderly neighbor get new keys cut at the dealer after he misplaced his keys and he had to show up with the right documents

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

and I sure hope you have to go to a Dealer in person with the appropriate paperwork to prove you own the vehicle, not just call up with a VIN and get the code! I helped my elderly neighbor get new keys cut at the dealer after he misplaced his keys and he had to show up with the right documents

If you purchased the vehicle from any Ford dealer, your info is already in their system as the owner. Likewise, if you have registered as the owner with Ford Mo Co. If neither apply, then I have no experience, but I imagine they would ask for a reg card or something.

 

[10Expedition]

I BROKE THE CODE!

But it wasn't all math. I haven't seen it done this way anywhere so here goes.

First I noticed [1-2] and [9-0] buttons are the most used. The rest were pretty new so I had to deal with just three symbols, A, B and A&B. You need 5 of them to make a valid code. Since repetition is allowed, there are 3^5 possibilities. That's only 243. However, by luck I cut this down quite a bit. Once I stumbled upon the correct code and the lock opened but I could not repeat it. What I did remember was that the first press was A and no other key(s) were pressed twice. If you do the numbers, you are down to just 6 combinations. It didn't take long to find it. SUCCESS!

The code is actually pretty slow to enter. I don't see myself using it much unless I have to. Can't change it because I don't have the factory code but it's good enough. Case closed.