There is no better way to prevent a thief from stealing your Ford F150 than with a dependable anti-theft system.
Your truck’s anti-theft feature is designed to make it harder for a thief to enter, start, or drive away with your Ford F150.
But there is this odd thing… sometimes the anti-theft system would activate without any actual threat, thus immobilizing your engine. This is a big inconvenience, especially when you’re late for work or an important meeting.
If you’ve experienced this, well you’re in luck because we are here to cover how to reset the anti theft system in Ford F150. We’ll share some amazing tricks that have worked for most F150 owners out there.
So, let’s get to it.
But first…
What Does the Anti-Theft System Do?
The system warns you of any unwanted access to your truck. You can even get alerts on your phone if you set up the FordPass app.
If the anti-theft system in your F150 is activated, the alarm is triggered for 30 seconds. The direction indicators, on the other hand, flash for five minutes.
The system is usually triggered by the following:
- Trying to turn the power on without the correct coded key
- Opening the hood, tailgate, or door without the correct remote control or coded key
- When an attempt to raise the truck is detected by the inclination sensors
- When movement is detected by the interior sensors inside the truck
- When the backup alarm battery is disconnected
How to Reset Anti Theft System Ford F150
What You Will need
- Programmed keys
- Timer or stopwatch
Step By Step Instructions
Here are the key steps you need to follow when learning how to reset anti theft system Ford F150:
Step 1: Gather Your Keys
You should know that resetting one key of your F150 will always need two keys that were originally programmed to successfully complete the reset process.
Step 2: Perform On and Off Cycle for the First and Second Programmed Keys
Get your F150’s first programmed key into the ignition and turn it to the “On” position. Wait for about five seconds to 10 seconds, then turn the key back to the “Off” position and get it out of the ignition lock.
Insert your second programmed key into the ignition of your F150 and turn it to the “On” position and wait for five to 10 seconds. Then turn it back to the “Off” position and pull it out.
Step 3: Insert the Key You Want to Reset
Insert the key that you want to reset within 10 seconds, turn it to the On position, and leave it that way for one second. After that, turn it back to the Off position without removing it from the ignition.
Give it a few moments for the security light to come on constantly. You can remove the key when the light is on. Then, the reset process is complete.
Alternative Methods for Resetting Anti-Theft System Ford 150
You could also do the following to reset the anti-theft system:
Check the Key Fob & Cylinder
Apart from re-programming your keys, you should also try checking your key fob and cylinder.
A dead key fob will not help you disable your F150’s anti-theft system. Any attempts to open the truck with a dead key fob will trigger a false alarm. You can avoid such problems with your key fob by replacing the battery in time.
You should also check your truck’s door lock cylinder for any signs of theft. If there was an attempt of illegal entry into your Ford, inserting the correct key will also activate the anti-theft system.
Use Key in the Door
Insert your key into the door of your F150 on the driver’s side. Then, while the key is in the door hole, try to turn it and leave it in the turned position for 30 seconds.
This will help alert the alarm system that the authorized user is the one trying to open the door of the truck. This could deactivate the anti-theft system.
Inserting your truck’s key on the driver’s side door and turning it back and forth may be all you need to do to disable the security system.
You should also try to start the engine once the door unlocks to confirm that the anti-theft system is completely disabled. If the truck’s engine doesn’t start, then the anti-theft system is still active.
Usually, the security light will blink continuously. At this point, you will have to reset your programmed keys by following the resetting process above.
Disconnect the Battery
If the methods above are quite challenging, you could consider disconnecting your F150’s battery. Just get under the hood of your truck and disconnect the battery. Leave the battery disconnected for a few minutes to reset the computer system of the truck. Then, reconnect the battery, and you could resolve the problem.
Remove the Alarm Fuse
You could also try removing the alarm fuse, which should completely shut down the anti-theft system. But here is the thing, you must know which fuse to remove by carefully checking the fuse box diagram.
If you cannot pinpoint the exact fuse to remove, we suggest that you remove and replace the individual fuses until you successfully remove and replace the alarm fuse.
Note: It is advisable not to carry a second programmed key, an electronic device, or a large metal object on the same keyring that you use to carry your main F150 key. They will not in any way damage the programmed transponder, but they could trigger some temporary issues when you are starting the engine. If such things are connected to your keyring, remove them and try to start your truck’s engine again.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, it is quite simple to reset your anti-theft system Ford F150. But if you don’t know it, then you may spend a lot of time trying to troubleshoot something that may not need troubleshooting.
You could even spend money on a key that you don’t need. The next time the anti-theft system of your Ford F150 gives you a headache, try our expert tips and tricks for a quick fix.
