Ford S-Max Keyless: Problems & Solutions

I have a Ford S-Max, manufactured in 2011, where the keyless system only works on the driver's side if you are very close to the door handle. On the passenger side, it works even when you are about a meter away.
No error codes (at least with my multi-brand system).

Hi,

I have no personal experience with this, so I can only offer theoretical conclusions based on my studies in communication engineering.

A reduced range indicates potential issues with the radio transmission. Unless there's a source of interference on the driver's side, I would start by checking the antenna and its wiring on the driver's side.

Regards,
Sure, here's the translation:

"Guste" is a German word that means "gust" or "gust of wind." It can also be used to describe a sudden burst of something, such as laughter or anger.

I've come to the same conclusion.
I moved the key away from the passenger side of the vehicle and tried the passenger side, and it still worked there. However, just a few centimeters further, it stopped working.
My conclusion is that either the antenna or the wiring on the driver's side is faulty. When I get very close to the door handle, the antenna on the passenger side is likely picking up the signal, which is then causing the locking/unlocking.

Just for the sake of completeness, I'm asking.
Are the batteries in the keys okay?
It's not that their lack of juice is the problem.
hg
Herbert.

chli1976 wrote:

No fault codes (at least with my multi-brand system)

.

Just to be on the safe side, I would recommend having Ford read the car's memory. It's possible that your scanner only checks for OBD-specific codes and not the codes that are specific to certain brands.

Herbert wrote:

Just for the sake of completeness, I'm asking. Are the batteries in the keys okay? It's not that their lack of juice is the problem. hg Herbert

Yes, they are okay, we have replaced them.
We also tried using the spare key.

Was Keyless systems concerned, was it ever "better" before? Some manufacturers have significantly reduced the range of keyless systems in newer vehicles compared to older models. This was primarily to make it more difficult to use "range extenders," which could potentially be used to unlock the car and even drive it away without the actual key being physically present.

My scooter also has keyless entry, but it also has a very short range. You absolutely have to have the key in your pocket. In addition, the batteries only last for about a year - and as they reach the end of their lifespan, the range decreases even further.

"Addition: The antenna(s) for the keyless entry system are usually located near the door handle, but rarely directly behind the door panel. I have seen them in the housings of the exterior mirrors or behind plastic rocker panel trim. At the rear, they are typically located in the area of the bumper."

Hutfahrer wrote:

Additional information: The antenna(s) for the keyless entry system are usually located near the door handle, but rarely directly behind the door panel. I have seen them in the housings of the exterior mirrors or behind plastic rocker panel trim. At the rear, they are typically located in the area of the bumper.

At VAG, it is often the door handle itself that contains the antenna.

Guste, so it's in the handle itself?

Hutfahrer wrote:

Guste, so that it's actually in the handle itself?

Okay, I understand. Please provide the text you would like me to translate from German to English.
Take a look on eBay for "door handle Kessy". You'll see many pictures of door handles/handle bars with two cables attached. They are usually mounted on the front right and left doors, and the wiring also extends to the rear doors.