Hello all, I have a 2011 Focus MK2.5 with a Keyless Entry system, which has recently been causing me many problems. The car doesn't start and respond to remote locking/unlocking. It picks up the key and starts very randomly, but the issues have gotten progressively worse to the point where it rarely ever starts now. Also, when I use the physical key and slot it into the ignition hole, this doesn't do anything either. On the rare occasion it does start, I have noticed other things happen a couple of times, like the doors randomly locking themselves. Also, the immobiliser light will flash continuously, and it will read "Key Not Detected" on the LCD screen. This problem arose since I bought the car about 7 months ago, but I initially thought it was a key issue, so had a new key made from Timpsons, and the problems went away for a while until now, and it is significantly worse. 

At first, I thought it was an instrument cluster issue, but I spoke to a few instrument cluster services and they said that the remote locking/unlocking fault suggests that it is a BCM issue and to check my BCM. I have been trying to get it diagnosed fully but since the car is in a no-start condition, this has been difficult. I have seen online some services can transfer data from the old BCM to a new one, programming them, and I am thinking of trying this out, as I also see some BCM's for sale that match the part code of mine.

If I were to take this approach, would this be fine and fix my problem, and would the new BCM function with the car fully the way it should? 

Any advice/insights would be highly appreciated as this is causing me a lot of hassle, thank you! 

Based on my reading of multiple threads, if you bang the instrument cluster on the top and the fault changes/improves it may be a common issue...

Less than £85 to repair usually and @rd457 turns them round in a couple of days normally.

He is on e-Bay but I can't find the thread that gives more details and would be able to check if it is the problem?
Edit: I think this is he:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314393033915

Or here on:
https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/159443-advice-needed/#comment-1097592

A BCM change may otherwise be the route and I have seen companies that do that, either repair yours (?) or exchange the data to a donor one that must be an identical part number as you say...

 

If you are a full keyless model (keyless start and passive entry with buttons on the door handles)

There is a piggy back module in the rear quarter that controls all of this functionality (I can't remember which side)

It gets destroyed by condensation

Find and change the module and run with A/C on more often to prevent condensation

Exactly the same happened to my father in law's 2011 MK2.5

Be careful as he had the steering lock come on on him, luckily at very low speed

I had the instrument cluster repaired yesterday, but it didn't seem to resolve my issue. Thanks for your help anyways!

Just now, Taiyeb said:

I had the instrument cluster repaired yesterday, but it didn't seem to resolve my issue. Thanks for your help anyways!

 

On 3/10/2025 at 9:09 PM, Shearers said:

Based on my reading of multiple threads, if you bang the instrument cluster on the top and the fault changes/improves it may be a common issue...

Less than £85 to repair usually and @rd457 turns them round in a couple of days normally.

He is on e-Bay but I can't find the thread that gives more details and would be able to check if it is the problem?
Edit: I think this is he:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314393033915

Or here on:
https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/159443-advice-needed/#comment-1097592

A BCM change may otherwise be the route and I have seen companies that do that, either repair yours (?) or exchange the data to a donor one that must be an identical part number as you say...

 

 

On 3/11/2025 at 8:02 AM, DaveT70 said:

If you are a full keyless model (keyless start and passive entry with buttons on the door handles)

There is a piggy back module in the rear quarter that controls all of this functionality (I can't remember which side)

It gets destroyed by condensation

Find and change the module and run with A/C on more often to prevent condensation

Exactly the same happened to my father in law's 2011 MK2.5

Be careful as he had the steering lock come on on him, luckily at very low speed

Yes! I have the same car (keyless/passive entry and keyless start).

I see, do you happen to know what it is called and where this module is located in more detail?

I've done some digging and I'm assuming you are referring to the Remote Function Actuator (RFA) / Passive Keyless Entry (PKE) module, which seems to be located on the left side rear quarter panel, behind the trim panel in the boot area near the C-Pillar, however, once again I'm not entirely sure. Am I correct in assuming you are referring to this?

Some sources online indicate that the receiver is on the headliner on top of the rear interior light, hence my confusion towards the location of the module. 

It's a whirlwind trying to figure out what is specifically going wrong because of the multiple possible suspects (BCM/Receiver/Immobiliser). 

Thanks for your help, further insight would be highly appreciated!

 

On 3/10/2025 at 8:09 PM, Taiyeb said:

Hello all, I have a 2011 Focus MK2.5 with a Keyless Entry system, which has recently been causing me many problems. The car doesn't start and respond to remote locking/unlocking. It picks up the key and starts very randomly, but the issues have gotten progressively worse to the point where it rarely ever starts now. Also, when I use the physical key and slot it into the ignition hole, this doesn't do anything either. On the rare occasion it does start, I have noticed other things happen a couple of times, like the doors randomly locking themselves. Also, the immobiliser light will flash continuously, and it will read "Key Not Detected" on the LCD screen. This problem arose since I bought the car about 7 months ago, but I initially thought it was a key issue, so had a new key made from Timpsons, and the problems went away for a while until now, and it is significantly worse. 

At first, I thought it was an instrument cluster issue, but I spoke to a few instrument cluster services and they said that the remote locking/unlocking fault suggests that it is a BCM issue and to check my BCM. I have been trying to get it diagnosed fully but since the car is in a no-start condition, this has been difficult. I have seen online some services can transfer data from the old BCM to a new one, programming them, and I am thinking of trying this out, as I also see some BCM's for sale that match the part code of mine.

If I were to take this approach, would this be fine and fix my problem, and would the new BCM function with the car fully the way it should? 

Any advice/insights would be highly appreciated as this is causing me a lot of hassle, thank you! 

I was lucky to get the car battery to turn on and I scanned for any faults.

I came back with some error codes, mainly the U1900-20 code which popped up on a few of the parts.
The error codes were:
P1260-61, Theft Detected, Vehicle Immobilised.
U2030-0F, Rain Sensor Communication Fault in GEM.
U1900-20, CANBUS Fault, Receive Error.
C198F-20, Lost Comms with Switch Pack.
B2035-20, Side Turn Repeater indicator short to ground. 

After this, I thought it might be the instrument cluster, so had that repaired, but to no avail. 😕 

6 hours ago, Taiyeb said:

I've done some digging and I'm assuming you are referring to the Remote Function Actuator (RFA) / Passive Keyless Entry (PKE) module, which seems to be located on the left side rear quarter panel, behind the trim panel in the boot area near the C-Pillar, however, once again I'm not entirely sure. Am I correct in assuming you are referring to this?

Yes, this. Absolutely this, condensation/water kills them

This piggy backs onto the BCM on this spec of car, it will be this module at fault NOT the BCM/GEM or cluster

6 hours ago, Taiyeb said:

I came back with some error codes, mainly the U1900-20 code which popped up on a few of the parts.
The error codes were:
P1260-61, Theft Detected, Vehicle Immobilised.
U2030-0F, Rain Sensor Communication Fault in GEM.
U1900-20, CANBUS Fault, Receive Error.
C198F-20, Lost Comms with Switch Pack.
B2035-20, Side Turn Repeater indicator short to ground. 

These point to the normal instrument cluster solder faults, but the Keyless module will throw these issues too, so change the keyless module BEFORE anything else

 

6 hours ago, Taiyeb said:

Some sources online indicate that the receiver is on the headliner on top of the rear interior light, hence my confusion towards the location of the module. 

That's just for remote entry and key start models, not yours

7 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

Yes, this. Absolutely this, condensation/water kills them

This piggy backs onto the BCM on this spec of car, it will be this module at fault NOT the BCM/GEM or cluster

These point to the normal instrument cluster solder faults, but the Keyless module will throw these issues too, so change the keyless module BEFORE anything else

 

That's just for remote entry and key start models, not yours

Great! Good to know I'm finally getting somewhere. 

Does the module look like the one in the picture I have attached?

Also, if it is this, once replaced with the new module, will it require any sort of reprogramming?


 

That module should be Plug 'n' Play

No programming of the module required, but perhaps @DaveT70 can confirm as he has done this job before.

On Keyless start vehicles the KVM (Keyless Vehicle Module) is part of the PATS immobilizer system.

When the KVM is replaced the vehicle will no longer start until the PATS system is reprogrammed and reinitialized.

42 minutes ago, JW1982 said:

On Keyless start vehicles the KVM (Keyless Vehicle Module) is part of the PATS immobilizer system.

When the KVM is replaced the vehicle will no longer start until the PATS system is reprogrammed and reinitialized.

I see, how do you go about reprogramming and reinitialising the PATS system?
 

Does this just consist of reprogramming the keys to the car? 
 

Thank you for your help. 

On 3/11/2025 at 8:02 AM, DaveT70 said:

If you are a full keyless model (keyless start and passive entry with buttons on the door handles)

There is a piggy back module in the rear quarter that controls all of this functionality (I can't remember which side)

It gets destroyed by condensation

Find and change the module and run with A/C on more often to prevent condensation

Exactly the same happened to my father in law's 2011 MK2.5

Be careful as he had the steering lock come on on him, luckily at very low speed

I have just located and removed the PKE module and identified some slight drops/marks of water across the face of the module, apart from that the module looked to be in good condition.
 

I then dried it off and inserted it back in, jump started the car as battery has been dead for a couple of days. As soon as the battery came to life I pressed the keys and heard a click. Car dash lights lit up and the car responded and tried to crank a couple of times but failed to do so, and the finally cranked and switched on. 
 

Having seen this I deduced that the PKE Module was the culprit in the end jusy as you said! I’ve now ordered the part and will install it and reprogram the keys if required. 
 

Thanks a lot again for the help! Saved me a lot of time and money haha.  

I've got ever such a feeling, but I could be wrong, PATS still runs through the cluster, so you won't need to program the keys.

You may need to reprogram the remote function of the keys though

You'll know when you fit it I suppose.

I didn't actually do the job, Ford had to do it in the end, I had spent weeks trying to fathom out what was going on using FORScan but it beat me.

When I went to Ford the technician was good enough to explain the piggy back module on this spec of car only, that's how I know

On the Focus keyless MK2/MK2.5 versions with a KVM the PATS immobilizer system works different from the versions with a standard ignition switch.


On the standard MK2/MK2.5 versions the PATS system is fully integrated into the PCM and instrument cluster. The transponder key codes are programmed into the instrument cluster. Both the PCM and instrument cluster contain a hexadecimal PATS file that needs to be synchronized between both modules (called PATS synchronization or PATS initialization).


On the keyless MK2/MK2.5 versions the PATS system is fully integrated into the PCM and KVM. On these vehicles the PATS functionality of the instrument cluster is disabled. Keyless vehicles can in fact be started and driven without the instrument cluster connected.

Keyless vehicles do basically have 2 different PATS systems. First there is the electronic PATS signal that is transmitted by the keyfob. Second there is the conventional transponder that can be used in emergency situations when the electronic PATS signal fails. Both PATS systems are controlled by the KVM. Both the PCM and KVM contain a hexadecimal PATS file that needs to be synchronized between both modules (called PATS synchronization or PATS initialization).

11 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

I've got ever such a feeling, but I could be wrong, PATS still runs through the cluster, so you won't need to program the keys.

You may need to reprogram the remote function of the keys though

You'll know when you fit it I suppose.

I didn't actually do the job, Ford had to do it in the end, I had spent weeks trying to fathom out what was going on using FORScan but it beat me.

When I went to Ford the technician was good enough to explain the piggy back module on this spec of car only, that's how I know

I'm hoping it works somehow.

Wow, I can imagine! It had me scratching my head for weeks too. 

Thanks again for saving me a trip to Ford, you're a legend!

2 hours ago, JW1982 said:

On the Focus keyless MK2/MK2.5 versions with a KVM the PATS immobilizer system works different from the versions with a standard ignition switch.


On the standard MK2/MK2.5 versions the PATS system is fully integrated into the PCM and instrument cluster. The transponder key codes are programmed into the instrument cluster. Both the PCM and instrument cluster contain a hexadecimal PATS file that needs to be synchronized between both modules (called PATS synchronization or PATS initialization).


On the keyless MK2/MK2.5 versions the PATS system is fully integrated into the PCM and KVM. On these vehicles the PATS functionality of the instrument cluster is disabled. Keyless vehicles can in fact be started and driven without the instrument cluster connected.

Keyless vehicles do basically have 2 different PATS systems. First there is the electronic PATS signal that is transmitted by the keyfob. Second there is the conventional transponder that can be used in emergency situations when the electronic PATS signal fails. Both PATS systems are controlled by the KVM. Both the PCM and KVM contain a hexadecimal PATS file that needs to be synchronized between both modules (called PATS synchronization or PATS initialization).

I see, very informative.

How would I go about doing this? Google tells me I can use FORScan to do this, is that correct? 

Thanks for helping and sharing your knowledge!

Hi all, just wanted to update on my situation and a new problem I’m facing. 
 

I’ve received the new keyless entry module, but as JW1982 highlighted I need to conduct the PATS synchronisation/initialisation process. 
 

This seems to be a hassle because when I plug the new module in the car it does not detect the keys for it and instantly states “Key Not Detected” on dash, I’m assuming because they are synced to the old module. This means I cannot get the ignition to turn on to do the PATS Synchronisation process. 
 

How would I go about this obstacle? Any help is highly appreciated! 

Well, you could book it into Ford to need PATS and RKE reprogramming, but they won't fit a second hand module, so:

You'd have to book it in as a non starter

Drive the car to the dealer's car park on the original module

Change the module yourself in the car park

Hand them the keys