This evening I found that the locking knob in the door handle won't lock the doors.  It will unlock the doors.

I tried using a different key fob but it was just the same and on both doors.

I can lock the doors by using the buttons on the key fob.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Edit - Misread.

Changed the batteries in both key fobs and now it's working. Difficult to understand though, why it would open the doors but not lock them and lock the doors from the buttons in the key fobs.

Checked the voltage in the old batteries and they were both in the green. 

Good news that it's working again Bob, but a puzzler as you say.

I think your car being a Titanium X will be keyless entry? In my experience it either works or it doesn't work at all, not partially as you describe. Usual reason being low key fob battery as you obviously suspected. Did you get the actual voltage of the old batteries?

Had the car been stood a few days without being used? I think if it goes into energy saving mode the locking system could be affected, but I believe that is longer reaction time, not working partially as you experienced.

Perhaps one of our electrical geniuses can shed some light for us.

11 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Perhaps one of our electrical geniuses can shed some light for us.

We have electrical geniuses? 🤣

2 hours ago, StephenFord said:

We have electrical geniuses? 🤣

I'm sure there's a chap on here who knows lots about volts and amps and stuff. Unicorn, or some such name.......ah, @unofix, that's it!😀

Must admit I thought Roger was an electrical genius!  Though perhaps 400kV is a bit much for a keyless entry system.

Then there's members like Lyndon, Mike & Peter who all have an electrical background... 

Can barely move for electrical genius on here!

(Plus I have a C&G in electrics.  )

4 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

I think your car being a Titanium X will be keyless entry? In my experience it either works or it doesn't work at all, not partially as you describe. Usual reason being low key fob battery as you obviously suspected. Did you get the actual voltage of the old batteries?

Had the car been stood a few days without being used? I think if it goes into energy saving mode the locking system could be affected, but I believe that is longer reaction time, not working partially as you experienced.

Perhaps one of our electrical geniuses can shed some light for us.

It is keyless entry Roger. My battery checker doesn't tell you the actual voltage but shows a needle on a scale with green, yellow and red and the needle on both batteries was in the green,

The car is used daily. Mondays Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays I drive 12 miles into Derbyshire to get a dinner for a disabled ex PW who was under my command in the 70s. Tuesdays and Thursdays about 4 miles to take the dog for a walk. Although, thinking about it, it wasn't used last Tuesday as it was chucking it down all day.

I find it impossible to explain this problem.

2 minutes ago, Bobr said:

My battery checker doesn't tell you the actual voltage ..

You need to treat yourself buddy and get a proper man tool...😂

43 minutes ago, Bobr said:

My battery checker doesn't tell you the actual voltage

Joking apart, it would have been interesting to know. I've found it takes very little drop from the voltage when new (usually 3.3v) for problems to arise. 

My thoughts would be that the vehicles battery has a low State Of Charge (SOC). The keyless locking gets disabled below 55%

The unlock but not able to lock could be either just the SOC was borderline or perhaps Ford give you one last roll of the dice, and let you unlock before it disables it ?

Multimeter would definitely be useful here.😀

 

I know where I can borrow a multimeter so I'll check the battery voltage tomorrow. I've still got the batteries out of the key fobs too so I'll check those as well. 

1 minute ago, Bobr said:

I know where I can borrow a multimeter...

You can buy your own for the cost of a gallon of petrol. Honestly, it's well worth the financial investment... 😀

Battery voltage engine not running = 12 volts

Battery voltage engine running = 14.6 volts

Both key fob batteries 3 volts.

Due a service end of the month so I think I'll get a new battery as this one is over five years old.

6 minutes ago, Bobr said:

Battery voltage engine not running = 12 volts

Battery voltage engine running = 14.6 volts

Both key fob batteries 3 volts.

If those are the actual exact voltages (not just the value rounded off) then you do have two problems.

The vehicles battery should be at least 12.42V with the engine not running (about 1 hour after parking).

Brand new good quality CR2032 keyfob batteries should be 3.30V when new. They will start causing problems when they discharge below 2.99V

When did you last give the car battery a full 12 hour charge with a smart battery charger ?

7 minutes ago, Bobr said:

Battery voltage engine not running = 12 volts

Battery voltage engine running = 14.6 volts

Both key fob batteries 3 volts.

Due a service end of the month so I think I'll get a new battery as this one is over five years old.

The Key Fob Batteries should be 3.3 Volts when new, once they get down to 3 Volts then they are well past their best and don't work properly.

12 Volts for the main Battery is far too low as well, a healthy Battery will be upwards of 12.5 Volts.

Edit @unofix beat me to it.

Edited October 7, 20241 yr by Tizer
Additional info

Thanks gents. Definitely getting a new battery 24th of this month..

1 hour ago, Bobr said:

Thanks gents. Definitely getting a new battery 24th of this month..

and of course, a multimeter to keep an eye on it's performance 😁

2 hours ago, StephenFord said:

and of course, a multimeter to keep an eye on it's performance 😁

If  you haven't got anything to say why say it?

Just now, Bobr said:

If  you haven't got anything to say why say it?

Right back at you 🤣

Child

1 minute ago, Bobr said:

Child

Congratulations Bob, what are you hoping for, boy or girl? 😁

There are a lot of unpleasant people on this site and you are all of them. You now have the honour of being the only person on my 'ignore' list

4 minutes ago, Bobr said:

There are a lot of unpleasant people on this site and you are all of them. You now have the honour of being the only person on my 'ignore' list

I'm honoured buddy, what an accolade. Of course, you won't see this, but thanks anyway. I never even knew there was an 'ignore' list, you're obviously a very clever man to have discovered it. Just think, little ole me, 'all' the unpleasant people on this forum, it's a dream come true 🤣🤣🤣