Any help appreciated.

Ford Focus 2011, Push Button Start

Dashboard is saying cant detection key

Fob is opening doors ok, but it won't dect key,

It will detect and start sometimes, and other times it wont, can't rely on going anywhere just incase it wont detect key.

I've changed the fob battery,

I've looked everywhere for a slot to place the fob to reset,

Any tips before I take to a garage.

Edited February 17Feb 17 by Dar - Tom
Left out push start model

Hi,

That type of fob should have an emergency blade inside it. Accessed from one corner. Use the blade to pop off the cover where the ignition barrel would usually be, then push the emergency blade fully into the slot behind that cover.

That will start the engine but won't fix your fault. As it would start intermittently before failing altogether something is broken. Possibly the key module in the roof lining.

Hi.

Thanks for the reply.

There is no key ignition on this model, there's a plastic cover plate where the the key ignition is usually, when you remove the plastic cover plate, there is a square hole there, but no key barrel to turn the ignition, I've tried that and looked for a little slot to place the fob, or a something with a key picture to hold the fob against to reset.

The key blade inside the fob is to open the doors if the car battery is dead.

I'll keep trying.

Thanks again for the reply. 👍

Are you passive entry too? (Buttons on door handles?)

I need to to press the fob manually to open the doors, and the boot.

The fob is opening the doors ok, every time.

As soon as I press the start button, cant detect key comes up on the dash.

Thanks for the reply

1 hour ago, Dar - Tom said:

Hi.

Thanks for the reply.

There is no key ignition on this model, there's a plastic cover plate where the the key ignition is usually, when you remove the plastic cover plate, there is a square hole there, but no key barrel to turn the ignition, I've tried that and looked for a little slot to place the fob, or a something with a key picture to hold the fob against to reset.

The key blade inside the fob is to open the doors if the car battery is dead.

I'll keep trying.

Thanks again for the reply. 👍

I had one of these cars myself. There should be a thin slot behind the cover on the steering column. The key blade is pushed in there. It does not turn. It only needs to be pushed in.

Is that to reset the fob?

If so, whats the procedure to reset the fob ?

Thanks for your reply 👍

1 minute ago, Dar - Tom said:

Is that to reset the fob?

If so, whats the procedure to reset the fob ?

Thanks for your reply 👍

No. That's to start the engine when the fob battery is dead. You just press the start button as normal with the key blade in the slot. (There's a small proximity chip at the top of the blade that bypasses the keyless system).

As you have an intermittent keyless start issue, that is a fault that won't be cured by resetting anything.

Thank you,

So I need to take it to a garage then. ☹️

Just now, Dar - Tom said:

Thank you,

So I need to take it to a garage then. ☹️

Yes, but you can still drive the car in the meantime by putting the blade in the slot. That will work reliably regardless of the keyless fault as it's a completely separate function.

An auto electrician is likely to be more efficient at fault finding the keyless fault than a general garage would be. Alternatively you could get Forscan for your phone or laptop for around £40 to see if that shows us where the fault lies.

Thanks for your help,

I've been looking at the FORScan, I'm not that clued up on mechanics especially on the electrics.

So a visit to an auto electrician is on the cards. ☹️

Thanks again, you've answered the question I've been looking for.

Couldn't find any information on the hole where the ignition key usually goes.

Thanks again you've all been a great help. 🚗

Ive had my car for 7 years and only just done 50,000 miles.

Only ever had to buy brakes for it.

Hope this is not the start of things going wrong. 🤞

1 hour ago, DaveT70 said:

Are you passive entry too? (Buttons on door handles?)

Answer thoroughly please

Can you only open the doors with the remote (keyless entry)

Or can you also lock and unlock with the handles (passive entry)

When the car works, obviously