How to Program A New Keyless Entry Remote Ford BA Falcon

November 14th, 2007

I like to write the occasional ‘how-to’ on this site to answer questions I’ve found really difficult or impossible to find an answer for online.

Ok - so… recently the keyless entry remote for my 2003 BA XLS Ute went on the fritz, which caused the ‘panic’ alarm to go off at all hours of the night without warning.

I did actually find that replacing the battery of the remote seemed to cure the problem - but I went to the wreckers and bought a second hand remote as a spare.. so.. here I’m going to tell you two things:-

How to replace the battery in a Ford remote control (specifically these instructions are for the BA model Ford Falcon, but they should be applicable across the range), and;
How to program a new remote control (keyless entry fob) for a Ford Falcon.

How to replace the battery in a 2003 model BA Ford Falcon Keyless Entry Remote

This one is really easy - just pop open the remote using a 5c piece and replace the battery with a CR2032 battery available at your local supermarket for around $5.

The batteries need to be replaced every couple of years.

How to Program a New Remote Control for a Ford BA Falcon

This one is a closely guarded little secret - Ford won’t tell you - but I happened to get my hands on a full workshop manual for the BA series.

After skulking around the ill-gotten workshop manual I managed to find the ’secret’ technique hidden right at the back (along with a few other ‘gems’). Ok - here’s the procedure to program the new remote -

Obtain a remote (can be a second hand one - they can all be reprogrammed, or you can buy a new one for about $90 from Ford).
Close the doors.
Turn the ignition key to the accesories position.
Within 5 seconds of turning the key, hit the rear demister button (center console) three times in succession.
The door locks will cycle once to indicate the special mode has been entered.
Press any button on the remote you wish to program.
The doors will cycle to indicate a new remote has been programmed.
Continue steps 6 and 7 for all remotes (including existing ones) you intend to use on the vehicle.
When you’ve programmed all the remotes, turn the ignition key off. The doors should cycle again to indicate the programming session has been completed.

For the techies amongst you - It’s interesting to note that you are not actually programming the remote per se, but rather you are programming the car. The late model Ford’s all have a BEM (Body Electronics Module) which is basically a fully fledged computer. When you press the remote, it ’squawks’ a unique code to the car BEM. If the BEM is in the special programming mode, it then enters this code into memory as an authorised fob.

Something else I found a bit interesting - there is apparently an RFID (radio frequency ID) chip in the key of these new cars. Even if a key happens to fit your car, unless it’s been programmed as an ‘authorised key’ using a similar technique you won’t be able to start the vehicle.

How to get a Workshop Manual for the Ford BA Falcon

The workshop manual is about 2100 pages long - if you’d like a copy click ‘buy me a beer’ to the right of this post, donate $10 to cover the bandwidth and I’ll send you a link - it’s about 120MB.

If this advice didn’t help you - please drop by when you find the solution for your particular vehicle and help others by letting us know (using the comments below) what it was

Cheers and all the best,

doc

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27 Comments Add your own

1. Matt | November 25th, 2007 at 12:04 pm

I was struggling with this procedure as the instructions I had for this failed to mention you have to press the demister button within 5 seconds of switching the ignition to ACC.
Thanks heaps mate, now I have two working keyless entries!
Hurray!
2. mark | December 1st, 2007 at 2:22 pm

could you send me the wirring diagrams for the xr8 and xr6 turbo and non turbo
3. toodle pip | December 12th, 2007 at 2:21 am

Hello there!

Just wondering if you can tell me (or tell me where to find) the programming procedure for a ‘93 Fairmont Ghia? I tried the procedure you describe above, but got no joy…

Thanks!!!
4. theDuck | December 12th, 2007 at 8:24 am

Hi Toodle Pip,

If I were you, my first port of call would be to search for a workshop manual for that series.

Alternatively speak nicely with your local ford guy

Cheers,

M
5. simon | December 13th, 2007 at 5:09 am

Hey thanks…do you know how to turn off the service alarm.I have a “s” in a circle flashing in the odometer window,also an alarm bell sounds everytime it goes over 100kmh,quite annoying really.Itwas serviced by previous owner in a different city,and they obviously didnt reset it,I know there will be some sneaky little trick to resetting it just not sure how..do you know?…Cheers.
6. theDuck | December 13th, 2007 at 7:21 am

Simon,

The service Alarm - other than getting it serviced, I don’t know (it may be in the service manual somewhere), but the speed alarm is an easy one - you pull in and hold the lever on the steering wheel (LHS) behind the volume - the one you usually use to change the mode of the radio. I think from memory you’ll then hear a beep and see the setting in the odo window.

After that I think you use the volume controls or press to change the speed setting (or turn it off entirely).

I know having the speed alarm going off at 100 would irritate me too
7. Serge821 | December 30th, 2007 at 11:51 am

Hey Matt,
I have just purchased a 2003 Ghia, so all this info will help. Cheers mate.
A question I have tho’ is: the back seats on the Falcon EF (96 model), can the base of the seat be taken out?
8. Steve | January 10th, 2008 at 5:31 am

Hi,

Is that manual still available.

Thanks
9. Steve | January 10th, 2008 at 5:37 am

Hi,

I would like to grab a copy of that manual please. I just purchased a BA Ute myself. Could you please contact me via the email address posted with this message.

Thanks
Steve
(Melbourne)
10. David McIntyre | February 5th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

Hi there,

I bought you a pay-pal beer in exchange for a BA manual link

Cheers!
11. Bradley Russ | February 9th, 2008 at 9:13 am

I have just donated US$10 via PayPal.

Please provide the link to the online Ford BA Falcon Workshop manual.

Thank you so much for this service - much more convenient, not to mention cheaper, than hunting down a paper manual.

Kind regards,

Bradley
12. theDuck | February 10th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

Hi Dave, Brad - I’ve sent you both links to the download. Enjoy!

Cheers,

M
13. Mike berresford | February 19th, 2008 at 11:49 pm

Can you help me program my keyless entry remote.I just changed batteries and it will not open the doors.. The info on the remote is.

ATV1 ELV443… Thank you for your help
14. ceejay | February 26th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

That information is not really all that secret, it is clearly detailed in the owner’s handbook.

What I want to know is how to program a new ignition key when there is only one key (spare lost). Is this information contained in the workshop manual?
15. Ned | February 27th, 2008 at 7:00 pm

All info worked on my EF sedan perfectly. Thanks heaps. To get ride of service spanner or alike, hold trip button in and turn on ignition, wait couple seconds then release. Should fix.
16. darron | February 29th, 2008 at 7:22 am

I bought a keyless remote how do I program it
17. ceejay | March 14th, 2008 at 7:30 am

Okay, finally got the spare key on BA Ford sorted. I only had one key for the car and the owner’s handbook says that you need 2 keys to program a new key.

These keys have a electronic (transponder) chip in them that the car recognises as well as requiring the normal correct shape to start the car. If the car doesnot recognise the key you can turn the key to the start position but the car will not start.

So if there is only one key left, you need a programming box to be connected to the car and a programming sequence entered to reprogram the keys tfor it to wirk,
18. roger | April 4th, 2008 at 6:49 am

HI mate,
I have lost one of my keys to my BA, i am able to get a tibbi key cut but i dont know how to program the transponder in the key. have you got any ideas?
Cheers

Roger
19. theDuck | April 4th, 2008 at 9:06 am

So Roger - as Ceejay alluded to above, unlike the remotes, it’s just not possible to program a new key to your car without visiting the ford dealer UNLESS you have at least two existing keys.

If you’ve got two existing keys that are already programmed to the car their is a process you can use (simillar to the keyfob programming sequence) but it eludes me right now - I’m pretty sure it’s in the manual.

Cheers,

M
20. ceejay | April 7th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

Roger, I was resigned to visit a Ford Dealer, but found out that an automotive locksmith may have the plug-in “black box” that can program the new key to your car. My new spare key was supplied, cut and programmed by the auto locksmiths in Altona (Melb) look them up in the Yellow Pages if the area suits.

Your car handbook has the step by step instructions to program additional keys (up to 8 iirc) if you have TWO original working keys.
21. Will C Mars | April 9th, 2008 at 11:57 pm

If you’re looking for a particular programming guide or trying to save some money buying a replacement keyless entry, check out iKeyless, they had my Honda Civic’s keyless remote for like 45 bucks, and the dealer was gonna charge me like over 100 dollars. It came with programming instructions and I havn’t any problems with it. (FROM THE EDITOR - PLEASE DON’T drop commercial links - links removed).
22. dave | April 27th, 2008 at 12:56 pm

I was wondering if you knew where to find a workshop manual for 1998 AU1 Ford Falcon XR8 (tickford model) as Ive searched and searched to no avail
cheers

Dave
23. Amak | April 30th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

Toodle pip Wrote:
Hello there!

Just wondering if you can tell me (or tell me where to find) the programming procedure for a ‘93 Fairmont Ghia? I tried the procedure you describe above, but got no joy…

Thanks!!!

Here is my answer:
Hi Toodle pip,

The correct way to put a 93 EB Fairmont Ghia into ‘Training’ Mode is:
1. Put the ford into accessory mode (I or 1)
2. Push the ‘boot/tailgate’ release button 3 times (next to fuel cover opener button)
The door locks should then cycle (locked/unlocked)
3. Push your NEW remote door button once the doors should cycle (not sure about the BOOT button tho) then do the same with your old remote (if possible).
4. Exit ‘training’ mode by turning the car fully off.

Please keep in mind you can have up to 4 different keyless entry remotes. These instructions were taken DIRECTLY from my Ford owners manual for my 93′ Ford EB Fairmont Ghia.
24. ron | May 6th, 2008 at 5:00 pm

i bought a new remote for my 1995 fairmont and have tried everything but it wont workcan u help pls
25. Jason | May 8th, 2008 at 10:31 pm

Hi. Bought you beer 5 days ago. Can you pls send me the link ? Cheers
26. jeff | May 8th, 2008 at 10:42 pm

got given 2 new remotes 2 years ago, no one would assist in their reprogramming unless I handed over $50 - tried your method and it worked first time. Great accurate advice - thanks
27. theDuck | May 9th, 2008 at 6:40 am

Jason - I sent you a link within minutes of your beer, mate, and, as I said in the email, the link expires after 24 hours.

I’ve reactivated the old one and forwarded it back through to your gmail.

Please check your junk filter in case it’s been caught there.

M

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