Ford/Lincoln/Mercury RHK And Remote Programming Procedures / Notes

Do you have an Aftermarket Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Remote Head Key that the Remote Portion did not program with the Transponder Portion, then read on.

In this article we will discuss a common point of confusion that our customers run into frequently. When programming an OEM new or refurbished RHK to a Ford Vehicle the Remote Portion of the key programs at the same time the Transponder Portion of the key programs. When using any Aftermarket RHK, whether it is our K2G Brand or another vendor's key, the Remote Portion of the key programs separately from the Transponder Portion of the key. This applies to all RHK no matter whether they are a standard security (Edge Cut) key blade or a high security (laser cut) key blank. This does not apply to any of the high security flip keys. Ford high security flip blade keys program the Remote Portion and Transponder Portion of the key together whether you are using OEM new or refurbished or Aftermarket. There is a warning on the Key Tag and our website about this but it is often overlooked. There are two basic procedures to accomplish remote programming on these vehicles. They are as follows:

Standard Security (edge cut) Remote OBP (On Board Programming) Instructions:

Enter the vehicle and close the door. Insert any properly cut key into the ignition cylinder, this key does not need to be programmed to the vehicle or even have a transponder present in the key. Cycle the ignition from off to on eight times stopping in the on position. If the vehicle accepts the command to enter programming mode the vehicle will respond by cycling the power door locks. If the vehicle does not accept the command to enter programming mode, you will have to attempt the procedure again. Also if the vehicle fails to enter programming mode this is not a sign that the key or remote you are using is bad, it is a sign of a failed process. If you have to attempt the procedure again, I recommend that that you remove the key from the ignition cylinder and open and then close the door before proceeding. Removing the key and opening and closing the door is not required but in my experience doing this helps the vehicle to understand that you are attempting the procedure again. Insert the key again into the ignition cylinder and attempt the procedure again. If the vehicle does not respond and enter programming mode you will have to continue to attempt the procedure. I recommend that, if the vehicle is not easily going into programming mode you need to slightly vary your approach. By this I mean that each time you attempt the procedure you vary the speed that you are cycling the key, maybe slower or faster. On really stubborn vehicles I will add this step into the procedure; after removing the key and opening and closing the driver's door between attempts, I will hold the vehicle's power unlock switch down before I reinsert the key into the ignition cylinder. I will continue to hold the power unlock switch down during the process until the vehicle goes into programming mode. You will find the correct combination for the vehicle and the vehicle will enter programming mode, the power door locks will cycle and you can continue on. Once the vehicle enters programming mode press one button on each remote that you that you want to program including the original remote, if you have one. Each time a button is pressed and the vehicle recognizes and accepts the signal, the vehicle will respond by cycling the power door locks. On certain models of vehicles, when you try to reprogram an already programmed remote the vehicle will honk the horn. If this happens just accept it as the vehicle notifying you that the remote is already programmed and move on to the next remote if you have one. Once you have programmed all of the remotes turn the key to the off position, remove the key and open the driver's door. Test the operation of your remote or remotes to verify the programming.

High Security (laser cut) Remote OBP (On Board Programming) Instructions:

Enter the vehicle and close the door. Insert any properly cut key into the ignition cylinder, this key does not need to be programmed to the vehicle or even have a transponder present in the key. Cycle the ignition from off to on and back to off again four times stopping in the off position. If the vehicle accepts the command to enter programming mode the vehicle will respond by emitting a "chime". Use caution here because this chime can be mistaken easily. If you keep the vehicle's door closed you will be less likely to mistake the chime, also depending on how slow you cycle the key you might confuse the chime you are looking for with the chime that the vehicle makes when the ignition is turned on. The chime you are looking for is distinct and once you hear it you will be able to distinguish it from the ignition on chime. If the vehicle does not accept the command to enter programming mode, you will have to attempt the procedure again. Also if the vehicle fails to enter programming mode this is not a sign that the key or remote you are using is bad, it is a sign of a failed process. If you have to attempt the procedure again, I recommend that that you remove the key from the ignition cylinder and open and then close the door before proceeding. Removing the key and opening and closing the door is not required but in my experience doing this helps the vehicle to understand that you are attempting the procedure again. Insert the key again into the ignition cylinder and attempt the procedure again. If the vehicle does not respond and enter programming mode you will have to continue to attempt the procedure. I recommend that if the vehicle is not easily going into programming mode that you need to slightly vary your approach. By this I mean that each time you attempt the procedure you vary the speed that you are cycling the key, maybe slower or faster. On really stubborn vehicles I will add this step into the procedure, after removing the key and opening and closing the driver's door between attempts I will hold the vehicle's power unlock switch down before I reinsert the key into the ignition cylinder. I will continue to hold the power unlock switch down during the process until the vehicle goes into programming mode. You will find the correct combination for the vehicle and the vehicle will enter programming mode, the vehicle will chime and you can continue on. Another word of caution, here is when you are listening for this chime, if you hear the chime and the key is in the on position, you have passed the programming mode by. When cycling the key off to on and back to off again you have to pause just long enough for the vehicle to enter programming mode and chime before the key is cycled again. It is easy to move too quickly and get ahead of the programming mode. If this happens just treat it like a failed attempt and use the procedure described above. Once the vehicle enters programming mode press one button on each remote that you that you want to program including the original remote, if you have one. Each time a button is pressed, and the vehicle recognizes and accepts the signal the vehicle will respond by emitting this same chime. On certain models of vehicles, when you try to reprogram an already programmed remote the vehicle will honk the horn. If this happens just accept it as the vehicle notifying you that the remote is already programmed and move on to the next remote if you have one. Once you have programmed all of the remotes turn the key to the on position and then back off, remove the key and open the driver's door. Test the operation of your remote or remotes to verify the programming. Something to note here, On Ford Transit Connect Vehicles that use a Tibbe Key and early model high security Ford Fiestas the vehicles often to not chime when they have entered Remote Programming Mode. If you encounter one of these vehicles try the procedure above several times looking for the vehicle to emit the proper chime. If the chime is not heard from the vehicle repeat the steps above and pretend that you heard the vehicle chime. If the vehicle is in Remote Programming Mode once you press a button on the Remote being programmed the vehicle will chime.