No Escape!!! Electonic Locks vs Thundderbird Key Lock

[HKS]

Well, I'm stumped Hermann. Just to make sure I understand you, are you saying that on the outside of the driver's door there is no key hole in the door handle?
Pictures I've pulled up of 2015 Escapes (even Titaniums) show the keyholes. I pulled up the owner's manual for the 2015 Escape and it shows on pages 48-60 on how to access the vehicle, even if battery is dead, using the key...on pages 48-49, it specifically states this:

If excessive radio frequency interference is present in the area or if the transmitter battery is low, you may need to mechanically unlock your door. You can use the mechanical key blade in your intelligent access key to open the driver door in this situation. See Remote Control (page 49).

On page 49 it continues with:

The intelligent access key also contains a removable mechanical key blade that you can use to unlock the driver door. Slide the release on the back of the transmitter to release the key blade, then pull the blade out.

And then manual continues on for over 10 more pages, including info on the "intelligent access" information. But no where do I find info on accessing a hidden key hole.

Is there any way you can take a picture of the driver's door handle for us? If you have one without access for a key, that might be another situation for Ford to address...but then, I'm not that familiar with Ford Escapes (although I can find NO info on the internet on the hidden key hole for Escapes of that year).

By keyhole not hidden, I mean in plain sight.
”even if the battery is dead” means FOB battery not car battery. Can you double check that?

I even got a warning when my FOB battery was weak.
Hermann

[RustyFrye]

No escape possible.

This was a major issue with at least one 1957 Plymouth as well......

Capture.JPG

[AZTB]

By keyhole not hidden, I mean in plain sight. ”even if the battery is dead” means FOB battery not car battery. Can you double check that?
I even got a warning when my FOB battery was weak. Hermann

Your Escape has a key hole on the outside of the driver's door...it's simply hidden (you'll find help for that in the 2 videos I posted). Of course, that doesn't answer the question of what to do if you're stuck INSIDE the car. I can't imagine Ford (or any manufacturer) would allow a passenger, under normal conditions (read: dead battery), to get stuck inside without some type of mechanical release of the door - but then other Escape owners would have to chime in with their insight (have you tried an Escape owners' website?).

[HKS]

Kay hole not hidden. 2015 Escape Titanium
EscapeKeyhole.JPG
The black spot to the left is some sensor unless one is supposed to pry it off with a knife or such. White spots are from garage lights.

[HKS]

Sherlock Holmes questions: My observations.
Headlights shining right into service advisors station for how long? Nothing done.

The tech got in car OK (lock and battery had to work) key in pocket???
The seat heater was activated as he sat down.
Second tech walked out to car with key fob??? Whose key fob?
Maybe drugs were a factor.

Different issue: They were surprised that Goodyear gave me a new tire. Hopefully they did not lie about putting the bad tire on the rear passenger side.
New tire is now on. Will need to drive 65mph to see if the rumble is still there.

[AZTB]

IMO, Hermann, you need Columbo on this case...too many unanswered questions here. As they say, "somethin's rotten in Denmark..." (no offense to our old friend, Fritz).

[HKS]

IMO, Hermann, you need Columbo on this case...too many unanswered questions here. As they say, "somethin's rotten in Denmark..." (no offense to our old friend, Fritz).

Got a call about replacing the broken part at the switch panel next Tuesday. I hope they don't screw up something else.
I would think the battery needs to be disconnected when disassembling electrical wiring in the driver's door.
I hope the door is not slammed shut with someone in it during the repair process.
I have lost faith in our failed education system for turning out people that can think.
This is not a body shop. It is a tire and oil and brake /muffler shop, etc.

[jaguar72]

Herman, just out of curiosity, what does your Escape Owner's Manual say about locking, unlocking, the valet key etc? Surely it must have some instructions or directives about all of this (ref AZBT's post #14).

We have a 2018 Escape and even though we did not opt for the Smart Key (or whatever it's called) system, the Owner's Manual still has pages and pages devoted to it.

Just saying...

V/R,

Gary/jaguar72

[AZTB]

This was a major issue with at least one 1957 Plymouth as well......

Capture.JPG

Actually, Rusty, that's a '58.

[RustyFrye]

...

[HKS]

Herman, just out of curiosity, what does your Escape Owner's Manual say about locking, unlocking, the valet key etc? Surely it must have some instructions or directives about all of this (ref AZBT's post #14).

We have a 2018 Escape and even though we did not opt for the Smart Key (or whatever it's called) system, the Owner's Manual still has pages and pages devoted to it.

Just saying...

V/R,

Gary/jaguar72

Gary,
I will now read the 2015 Escape owners manual and post if I find anything.
I know, it is hard to believe that there is no mechanical lock which would work with a dead battery.
Hermann

[HKS]

Gary,
I will now read the 2015 Escape owners manual and post if I find anything.
I know, it is hard to believe that there is no mechanical lock which would work with a dead battery.
Hermann

EscapeLock.JPG
Mechanical Key
If you turn it one way to lock all doors (to front) and the other way (to rear) to lock just the drivers door, it's another switch.
Locking Doors Individually
You can lock them with the key but there is nothing about unlocking them with the key.
There are many pages dealing with programming and the rear lift gate.

[BacktotheFuturePete]

I have heard of this happening to a Cadillac owner. I believe there was a mechanical release lever between the seat and door that they had no idea was there. Not sure if that is the case with the Ford.

[hippy_mailman]

EscapeLock.JPG
Mechanical Key
If you turn it one way to lock all doors (to front) and the other way (to rear) to lock just the drivers door, it's another switch.
Locking Doors Individually
You can lock them with the key but there is nothing about unlocking them with the key.
There are many pages dealing with programming and the rear lift gate.

check your post picture closer....... in the left column under" mechanical key" it says turning to rear of vehicle UNLOCKS just the drivers door only

[jaguar72]

Hermann et alia,

Okay, for what it's worth (probably not much) I just reread my Owner's Manual for our 2017 Escape. We just have the xmitter (buttons for lock, unlock and alarm only) combined with a key blade, The driver door handle on our car looks almost exactly like the one in your photograph, (i.e., it has a small visible, rectangular key hole). The manual sez: "Use the key blade to start your vehicle or to unlock or lock the driver door from outside your vehicle." So I went outside and tried the key blade and it, in fact, did both lock and unlock the driver side door. Did not seem to matter if the alarm was set or not, it locked and unlocked the driver door. However, whether it would do it with a dead or disconnected car battery is another matter. It seems to me it should work even though there are some electrical connections involved (the vertical key pad, the alarm, etc, etc, etc, etc).

Your key fob is called (in my 2017 Manual anyway) the "Intelligent Access Key". The Manual says about it: "The Intelligent Access Key also contains a removable key blade that you can use to unlock your vehicle." That is the one (I assume anyway) that is shown in your photograph in post #11. That's all it says about the removable key blade, alas. There is a drawing or photostat of the key fob and removable blade. Looks just like your photograph. You take very good pictures.

Again, nothing is said anywhere in my 2017 Manual about whether the manual, metal key blade, in either fob, will unlock the car with a dead car battery so I guess this post has proved absolutely nothing, although it might help some,,,maybe. Sigh.

That's all I've got.

V/R,

Gary/jaguar72