Thank goodness Ford did something right with keys. We’ve written at length about floppy key blades, dodgy transponder chips and keyless keys not detected. The great news is that by using the Ford keyless emergency start method, you can still get home!
With tiny electronics crammed into your Ford keyless key, once it’s been dropped a few times, the clock is ticking. The car won’t detect the key close by, and it won’t do anything when you press the start button. You’ll also get a warning message.
The reason you have a back up system is that once the smart key stops being so clever, you need a way to use the car. The Ford keyless emergency start method will get the car running. Place the keys in the correct place, and the car picks up the key signal. Then you put the key back in your pocket as usual and book yourself in an appointment with the garage your local Auto Locksmith, to get it looked at.
Where is the Ford Keyless Emergency Start position?
Different Ford models have different methods of starting the car. The spot is normally marked with a key symbol that will help you find it.
Ford Focus 2015 Ford Keyless Emergency Start Position
In between the front seats is a compartment for CD’s etc. It also has an audio jack. You must place the key on top of the symbol at the bottom of the compartment.
Ford Fiesta 2015 Ford Keyless Emergency Start Position
Imagine you were putting a normal car key into the ignition, this is where you need to place your keyless key.
Ford C-Max 2014 Ford Keyless Emergency Start Position
The Ford C-Max has a key slot that is hidden behind a round cover. Again, it’s the same place as the ignition lock would normally be.
You must slide the key into the slot before you can start the car.
If in doubt, look at the manual. Better still, find out where the Ford keyless emergency start position is BEFORE you have a problem.
I found it! What next?
The key must be held close to the sensor on the car so it will read the transponder chip.
Next, keeping the key still, press the button on the dashboard as you normally do and press the clutch in on newer models. When the key is in the correct place, the car will start.
Do I need a new key battery inside the key?
No. The whole point of the Ford keyless emergency start system is that it doesn’t matter if the key battery is flat or even missing!
That’s it! You car should be running even though you’d normally have the message ‘Key not detected’. We recommend finding someone to change the key battery for you, or take a look at our video if you want too do it yourself.
Really useful, thanks for sharing the information
Thanks Stuart. We see lots of people stranded, just because they haven’t been shown this.
My 65 plate Grand Cmax alarm keeps going off, once it is silenced the car is immobile. The emergency key slot is not on the ignition barrel, nor where the Fordpass guide for my car says. It is driving (or not driving, lol) me round the bend. Where else might it be?
Hi Stephen, there will be a place in the car where you can place the key. Have you looked in the cup holder area between the seats, or in the centre compartment where the CD’s go, or on the tray in front of the gear stick
Yep done all that. There is no obvious slot. My wife went out this afternoon in it with my mother in law. I got a call because she was locked out. It took about 20 ish minutes for the immobiliser to reset. Not a happy wife. The Fordpass manual says the position is in the tray between the front seats. There is no obvious slot, and I’ve tried almost every combination I can think of.
Struggling to find mine on 2012 titainuim 1.6
Is it in between the seats? or underneath the radio?
My 2014 Ford Focus UK has a circle on the steering column that comes off and there is a place to put the key fob in.
Hi Scott
Thanks for this, have you tried it?
To prove it works simply take the key battery out of the key and scheck that the car starts with the fob in the slot
This is useful information but my problem is slightly different.
For the last couple of months I occasionally got key not detected message on my 2014 S Max with keyless entry, The fob batteries are fairly new and both fobs have the same issue. As you mention, holding it right by the sensor it starts. However today I got home no problem but the boot and rear doors wouldn’t open and car wouldn’t lock. Car would restart fine with keyless and no error message on the display, but still not lock. Left it 30 mins and pressed the button from 15 metres away & locked fine. I’m not clear on how the technology works but it seems like it must be the car rather that the fobs as both affected. Any idea how to fix the issue as it is very annoying.
Hi Andrew, yes this sounds frustrating. It sounds like a car issue, but I wouldn’t know what I’m afraid
Having same issue. Did you get it sorted?
Do you know where the emergency start position for a B Max is? If it even has one??
Hi James, it does have one. Have you checked out the Youtube channel?
I have a 2011 Ford focus and am wondering how many times can you start the car using the emergency start?
Thanks Lorna
Can y please tell me where key fob has to be put in a 68plate ford fiesta st line please
Hi Lynne
I expect it is just forward of the gearstick
It’s not working for ford mondeo 2008 can some body help me
Hi, you need a local Ford specialist, sorry
I have a 2014 focus can anyone tell me where the sensors are that detect the key for the keyless start.
The key remote works opening and closing the doors but will only start the car with either key in the emergency start position (steering column where ignition would be)
Hi Stuart
Sorry just seen this. We do see this occasionally and although we don’t fix the problem, it’s quite common that the key receiver is faulty on that year of Focus.