Shockwavesix Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 Ok, this happened to me last night.. I have the keys in my pocket, unlock the door using the handle sensor, get it, push down the brake, press the engine start button... and nothing happens. Then the left-side dash screen lights up and says "No Key Detected" The buttons on the remote work fine, to unlock the doors, lock the doors, etc. I tried using the remote-start key combination, and that did start the engine. But then as soon as I tried to shift out of park, it went off again. Also, every time my girlfriend opened the passenger side door, it would set the alarm off. My next idea (after calling Ford's assistance center and being told the only thing they would do is tow me to the nearest dealership) was to disconnect the battery and hope that would force a hard reset of the computer system. I popped the hood and got out, then got back into the car a minute later to dig under the seat for my toolkit to loosen the bolts on the battery connectors. Just as an act of defiance I tried to start it again, and this time it worked. From where I sit, this is a major headache of a problem. This is a 2012 Edge Limited, with less than 6000 miles on it. I shouldn't be needing to worry, every time I drive somewhere, if the damned thing is going to turn on so I can drive home again. Anyone have any ideas about WTF is going on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 Did you try putting it in the emergency slot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwavesix Posted August 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 I'm sure this'll make me sound like an idiot, but what emergency slot? And put what in it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 I'm sure this'll make me sound like an idiot, but what emergency slot? And put what in it? I'll try to be nice about this. Go get your owner's manual and read it. Now. There is a slot (I think it's in the console) where you put the IA fob that's right next to the receiver in case the signal from the fob is too weak to be read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwavesix Posted August 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 I already read the manual prior to posting here, and saw no mention of any such thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingo Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 It's there. I promise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwavesix Posted August 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Okay, so I found the slot that you're talking about. And no, I did not try that when I was having the problem. But that doesn't change the fact that this shouldn't be happening at all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Okay, so I found the slot that you're talking about. And no, I did not try that when I was having the problem. But that doesn't change the fact that this shouldn't be happening at all... No, but it does potentially change whether you get stranded or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwavesix Posted August 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 So then this is not something that is a known issue with a known cause? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 So then this is not something that is a known issue with a known cause? Not that I recall. That's why they have dealers with diagnostic equipment and TSBs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingo Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 Mine has done it several times. When it does, I just rearrange the keys in my pocket and it works fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scorpio Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 (edited) May be as simple as bum keyfob battery or loose connection in there somewhere, but yea the emergency slot should keep you from being stranded. Have the dealer check it out, that's what warranties are for, good luck. P.S. on a related note, this whole IA thing has ruined me - I don't think I'll ever be able to buy another car now without something similar....First world problems LOL Edited August 20, 2012 by Scorpio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOEHIO Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 Maybe on 2 or 3 occasions in the 9 months that I own my MKX, i have gotten the message about no FOB, and, on each occurance, it was because my cell phone was in front of the key fob in my pocket. Just rearranged it, and all was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shantz Posted August 21, 2012 Report Share Posted August 21, 2012 same issue. I've found it works %100 of the time if it's in the right pocket (cell stays in the left pocket). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOEHIO Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 Yup, that's me too, phone on left, fob on right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
normcloutier Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwolson Posted August 22, 2012 Report Share Posted August 22, 2012 I went through a similar issue this spring. Car refused to start even when I inserted the key into the "emergency slot". I opened the manual reading up the procedure to confirm I'm not suffering from another moment of stupidity. I called my dealership and the service manager picked up. We confirmed I used the correct procedure. Next, I called AAA and waited a few minutes. Just for grins I tried starting the car which worked. Called AAA to cancel my tow call and drove to the dealership. Diag code came up indicating a faulty key fob which the deakership ordered. Yes, only thing we could chase. I've never encountered the problem again. I tried different batteries for the key fob too, but no clue why except maybe a bad key fob like the diags stated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingo Posted August 23, 2012 Report Share Posted August 23, 2012 I bought a condom for mine. Thejacketstore.com 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NatG Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 I bought a condom for mine. Thejacketstore.com Dingo, great find. I've wanted to get something for my Key-Fob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joesworld Posted August 31, 2012 Report Share Posted August 31, 2012 I bought a condom for mine. Thejacketstore.com Sweet, never heard of this before. Ordered a couple! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge1217 Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 I've had my 2013 Edge Limited AWD for just 2 weeks and yesterday I had this same problem at just 517 miles. I have no clue what triggered it, but I'm thinking it might have been something to do with closing liftgate with the key fob? That was the only thing I did that was out of the ordinary. As soon as I got back in the car I pressed my foot on the brake and pushed the start button, but I got the "No Key Detected" error message, which at 517 miles really freaked me out. I tried to start it normally a few times, with no success. Took the fob out of my pocket and placed it on the console, no luck. Touched the key to the start button and also the headliner area (heard that there's an antenna there), but no luck. Tried the second fob, no luck. Waited an hour, no luck. Of course, not only wouldn't the car start, but the "touch" function on the door handles didn't work either. The numeric key pad worked ok, so at least I wouldn't get locked out of the car. I started the car with the fob in the emergency slot, thinking that would reset it, but when I shut the car off and tried to restart, the key still wasn't being detected. BTW, when I had these problems, the brake pedal seemed harder to depress than usual. Honest. I waited another hour and tried again, but still no luck unless I used the emergency slot. The whole accessory/run/on/off cycle seemed really messed up, I couldn't get the accessories to turn off the way they normally do, as if something was really out of cycle. When I opened the door I expected the radio to turn off and the seat to slide back, but instead the radio stayed on and the seat stayed forward, even though the engine was off. By this time I was getting really confused about what the right sequence really was, or where I was in the sequence because I had tried so many different things. I had the strange feeling that the problem originally occurred when I shut the rear liftgate using the liftgate button on the fob. So just for giggles, I figured I'd open the liftgate from the fob and close it with the button on the interior trim panel, the way I normally do. The car started right up after that and I haven't had the "No Key Detected" problem since then, and the accesory/on/off cycling seems normal again. I'm sure it was just a coincidence with the liftgate, but I figured I'd mention it for what it's worth. Glad it finally worked, because my next move was going to make a cone-shaped hat out of aluminum foil, wave the fob in 13 counter-clockwise circles with my left hand, and push the start button with my left big toe while grabbing the antenna with my right hand through the pano roof. I was running out of other ideas and this was the only other sensible thing I could think of..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cv27 Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 It's there. I promise. The manual says "Insert the IA key into the slot with buttons facing out and with key ring up."; this to me indicates a vertical slot. The only slot I could find (it was dark) was a horizontal one, under the 12v plug, on the front wall of the console. OK, so give me another hint. It would be nice if the manual had a picture as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge1217 Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) Ohhhh, you're so close cv27. You actually found it, and it is in fact horizontal. The slot is about 2" directly below the 12v plug, dead center in the front wall of the consule, just below the ridge where the removable console tray should sit. The slot is very unofficial looking -- it's more of a recess than anything else, maybe 1-1/2" wide with a simple plastic runner on each side. There are no electronic connections and the fob just loosely fits inside, not a "positive" or locking connection. The fob inserts pointy end first with the key ring sticking into the console box where you can see it. My manual doesn't specify whether the buttons face up or down, but in the programming section it states that the buttons face down for that function, and the picture for programming shows the same key orientation as the picture for emergency starting, so I assume for emergency starting the buttons also face down and the Ford logo faces up. This how it works on a 2013 Edge Limited, and from the way you describe the horizontal slot it sounds like this is how yours is configured too. To get a better sense of how the key is inserted, look at the picture on Page 175 of the PDF manual for a 2013 Edge, and also on Page 82 where it says the buttons face down for the programming function. It's the same orientation in the two images. You can download the manual on the Ford website. Edited October 20, 2012 by edge1217 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cv27 Posted October 20, 2012 Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 I guess Ford improved documentation since 2011. Here's what my manual says: Back-up method of starting: Your IA key uses a radio frequency signal to communicate with your vehicle and authorize your vehicle to start when you press the START/STOP button and apply the brake pedal. If excessive radio frequency interference is present in the area, or if the battery in your IA key is low, it may be necessary to start your car by inserting the IA key in the back-up slot, located in the center console. Insert the IA key into the slot with buttons facing out and with key ring up. So thanks for clarifying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge1217 Posted October 20, 2012 Report Share Posted October 20, 2012 cv27: That explanation in your manual is really strange. Even if the slot was vertical, I wouldn't know how the process what "facing out" means. Facing out to the left, out of the car to the right, or out through the top of the open console? I haven't had such vague instructions since my Honda days.... I can see how you were confused! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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