UPDATE: Fob issue auto electrician and key techs cant fix

[mikelavo]

2012 Transit LWB high top

Had 2 key guys and an auto electrician round to try get the remote central locking working.

Key is confirmed paired, starts the van.

BCM fuses all confirmed fine

No other electrical faults with the vehicle but I am getting an amber battery light on the dash. Known issue with dash, sometimes the airbag warning light shows but rare.

Doors all confirmed to register as open/closed via diagnostic.

Known issue with turbo.

ANY IDEAS WELCOME.

[dumper]

Not sure but I think there’s a post on the forum saying that there’s two fuses taped to the steering column for the central locking.

[knobby1]

Not sure but I think there’s a post on the forum saying that there’s two fuses taped to the steering column for the central locking.

That's a Mk6 thing. Mk7 has no such fuses.

Lord Knobrot

[dumper]

Not sure but I think there’s a post on the forum saying that there’s two fuses taped to the steering column for the central locking.

That's a Mk6 thing. Mk7 has no such fuses.

Lord Knobrot

Cheers Knobby

[blue estate]

Under headlining is the remote receiver and that has a led on it that lights up when receiving a signal
Also you have checked the charge state of both batteries under drivers seat haven’t you ?
If some one has removed the front one with out changing other things the remote won’t work
Do you have any radio power issues as well ?

[mikelavo]

Hi,

Haven't checked the batteries myself but did have a ford mechanic checking them out and he fixed loose terminals.

YES TO RADIO ISSUES.
The radio required its code every time the ignition was turned off and on again. Auto electrician fixed this but fob still dodgy.

[mikelavo]

So step 1 is check batteries if all good get to remote receiver? Ive heard a few times that the receicer is in the BCM for this vehicle but no clue if they're right

[knobby1]

So step 1 is check batteries if all good get to remote receiver? Ive heard a few times that the receicer is in the BCM for this vehicle but no clue if they're right

RCL receiver is above the head lining near the front interior light. They have a small LED which should flash when a fob button is pushed.....check it's connections.

Lord Knobrot

[mikelavo]

Update.

After the van wasn't driven for over a week the fob randomly started working. I assumed something wet had dried out. But now, after using central locking successfully all day it has stopped working again.

Had 25mins of light rain between it working and not working. IDK if that's relevant as it was really F all rain.

If wetness was the case, can you think of anything that has the potential to get damaged so immediately from so little rain that could cause it?

Or do you think im barking up the wrong tree and its something to do with it being rested for a week that allowed it to work for a bit?

Still desperately want it fixed by any means.

[mikelavo]

Mate from Ford has said he think it could be the GEM as it is now an intermittent issue and not permanent.

[knobby1]

Mate from Ford has said he think it could be the GEM as it is now an intermittent issue and not permanent.

GEM..??

Lord Knobrot

[Altransit]

Mate from Ford has said he think it could be the GEM as it is now an intermittent issue and not permanent.

GEM..??

It's called a BCM in a Mk7, it's called a GEM in a Focus or Fiesta .......... no idea why

[ray1965]

did your key men supply new key/remotes

i have a collection of old keys lol, but ive got a few where the internal switches are fubar, and a few new pattern ones that locksmits supply that are totally junk, have some where the internal battery has been repalaced from a charging type to a non charging type, and the battery then shorting the board as no insulation was put back in, and generally most pattern cases the switch parts are too stiff to operate the internal switches properly

in general, ive swapped out the pattern ones for genuine ones, as the pattern ones only seemed to work when they wanted, and you would stand there frantically pressing the buttons till they eventually worked

just because its a ford case dosnt always mean it has ford guts inside either

making sure you have genuine keys would be my first step, or get yourself a cheap RF tester from the net, this will show how good the key is ir isnt working

[Stanley Vanley]

Hello.

I also have the exact same issue. Key fob not working and radio requiring passcode each time turning on the ignition. Lord Knobrot is bang on the money with the battery issue. Front one died so sacked it off and have been running the van on 1 battery. No issues other than the key. All connections in place as far as I can tell but don’t know what I don’t know.

OP did you get your issue sorted? If so what was the resolution please?

[Altransit]

Front one died so sacked it off and have been running the van on 1 battery. No issues other than the key.

Running a twin battery van without the front battery means that you'll have no electrics until the ignition is turned on, no C/Locking, no lights, no radio, and trip mileage will re-set every time you switch off.
If you're going to run it with one battery, you really need to remove the big relay in the battery fuse box, and fit the bus-bar that connects the two circuits together.