idiots at FORD
 

i just bought my daughter a 99 F250 with a 7.3. the 2 times i have messed with it i have locked the keys inside.
the first time i drove it to work and left the windows down. i thought it was going to rain so i go out and turn the key on and roll the windows up. little do i know the IDIOTS at FORD designed it to lock the doors as soon as the key is turned to "ON".
the second time was today. while out of town her friend came over and must have looked inside the truck and turn on the radio. once again, the doors lock, she shut the door and locked the keys in it. she also left the ignition on and drained the batteries. here is where i come in.
i charge the batteries, start it up, then turn it off and shut the door, locking the keys in it. at least it was not running.
morons!

now i need to find a drawing so i can disable this "feature"
morons!

It's a smog control feature they put in to appease the Sierra Club. It locks her out of the truck to prevent that 7.3 from destroying the planet with all those greenhouse gases it emits when she's driving it. SmileWavy

I believe it is programmable through the key fob.
Does it have the keypad on the door?

I thought that is why Ford put keypads on the door. :p

You don't need drawings. On most Fords of that era you can disable the Autolock function with a series of steps. Usually ignition certain position, press unlock so many times, back to the key, back to the lock button, etc. Some vehicles it's in the owner's manual others not. I'm sure an internet search would pull up the steps needed. I've turned off the feature on a bunch of Ford vehicles company and personal. It's been four or five years since I had a new Ford though. -J

Deactivating/activating the autolock feature
Before following the procedure, make sure that the ignition is OFF and
all vehicle doors are closed.
You must complete steps 1-7 within 30 seconds or the procedure will
have to be repeated. If the procedure needs to be repeated, you must
wait 30 seconds.
1. Turn the ignition key to ON.
2. Press the power door unlock control three times.
3. Turn the ignition key from ON to OFF.
4. Press the power door unlock control three times.
5. Turn the ignition back to ON. The horn will chirp.
6. Press the unlock control, then press the lock control. The horn will
chirp once if autolock was deactivated or twice (one short and one long
chirp) if autolock was activated.
7. Turn the ignition to OFF. The horn will chirp once to confirm the
procedure is complete.

Red88Carrera...

Is that procedure/sequence for the vehicle in question or universal?

Dude... slap my 'fro if I'm wrong, but in both of these instances, it sounds like y'all are in the habit of leaving keys in vehicles when you get out... like for a faster getaway or something.

If that is the case, at least Ford has made it harder for someone to steal the truck. I wouldn't call them idiots, but... you know... well, I wouldn't call y'all idiots either, but you get my drift.

If these were simply brain misfires, just get another set of keys if you haven't already.

My Corolla locks all the doors when I start the engine. As if someone is going to carjack a Corolla, that's a Corolla with a big ugly guy driving it.

I always keep a spare key in a magnetic box under the truck just in case. But don't have the auto-lock feature on either. That would be annoying to me.

Uh....why not just take the keys with you when you get out of the truck? Or, as indicated above, simply disable the auto-lock function? Or, keep locking the keys inside repeatedly and post about the morons at Ford...


Couldn't resisit.

This is the procedure outlined in my owners manual (2006 F150). I have tried the procedure several times to prevent the vehicle from locking the doors automatically when the vehicle starts moving. It always gives me a signal which says, "Auto Lock function Enabled" Grrr.
We've gotten used to pressing the unlock button when we hear the doors lock so if we want to open the passenger door from the outside when the truck is in the yard we don't have to go around and unlock it from the driver's side.

In truth, I don't dare leave the keys in the ignition of the truck for the very reason in the OP. I don't trust the vehicle's programming.

It would be nice to have a better interface with the computer.

Best
Les

Too much unnecessary electronic silliness in cars today. But don't give up the iPad interface or the Krups coffee dispenser, you need those.

I don't like the auto lock function in newer vehicles but I also never, ever leave the keys in said vehicles because I'm afraid of getting locked out. How on earth can you continue to make the same stupid mistake? Are you high? :)

Not calling you stupid, but the action is stupid.

i'm a functioning OCD person. i cannot close a car door unless i feel my keys. i grasp them in my hand just hard enough to get them to poke into my palm..no pain, just a poking sensation. once confirmed..SLAM!

if i did it till it hurt..that would be weird. :)

if i have to leave keys in the car, i am uncomfortable unless i leave a window down. (like at a gas station)..and none of my cars have auto lock.

i never lock my keys in the car..ever. been like this for years.

The solution is simple.... Make sure the keys are in your hands before leaving the vehicle.
Its not just Ford thats at fault here. You can lock your keys in any car if you're not careful.

There are a lot of things like this that make go "WTF?" For instance, on the BMWs with SMG, there's not one but two hood switches that won't allow the car to start if the hood is open - or if they get misaligned or fail. Why? Who among you doesn't start the car with the hood still open after an oil change?

In Heaven Henry Ford said to God "I can build something on earth via my engineers that's Idiot proof!"

God Said "Challenge accepted"

My VWs would make it difficult. If you push the door lock button on the driver's door and close the door, it unlocks. You must use the key or fob to lock the driver's door from outside.

I don't mind auto safety systems, as long as they are easily modified to do what the operator of the vehicle wishes.
Best
Les

My Fiat was like that.

Not possible to lock your keys in it.