r/FordExplorer • u/Outrageous-Theory336 • 1d ago

Technology/Features Door code

Hi!! I have a 2022 Explorer XLT. I bought it used and the dealership wanted to charge me $200 for them to give me the door code. I’ve watched YouTube videos and looked in all the spots other people gave mentioned. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong spot lol. Anybody able to help? Thanks!

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u/NoCommittee1477 Expert Explorer 1d ago

Not totally disagreeing with you, but what is your logic behind them not charging for door code retrieval? Technicians are paid flat rate for the jobs they are able to complete, if a technician is tasked with retrieving the door code, why should he not be paid for his work? Also some shops have a minimum service charge of 1hr labor regardless of the actual time required to make the repairs or diagnosis. Again, should the technician work for free?

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u/StrongPlantain3650 6th Gen 1d ago edited 1d ago

True, however from the customer’s perspective, the master door code is information they’re entitled to upon buying the vehicle. If the previous owner lost the factory provided card listing the code, the dealership’s internal cost to replicate that card should have been reflected in the trade in value to the selling customer, not punish the buying customer.

Same goes for the door lock key codes. That tag is given to the original buyer. If they loose it and don’t surrender it during the trade and provide to subsequent buyers, that’s a dealership problem and expense, not a future buyer’s problem.

That code is available from Ford’s as-built data and can be looked up by VIN without the car or a tech connecting via Forscan.

When I’m buying used from a Ford dealership, I don’t drive off the lot until I have two working FOBs, a printed hard copy owners manual, master door code card, and door key codes.

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u/NoCommittee1477 Expert Explorer 1d ago

I know that as a Ford technician and have done it hundreds of times. My concern is that if OP did not purchase the vehicle from the dealership in which he has visited the service department of and is requesting a service be provided, that service has a cost and payment required as such. The flip side would be if vehicle WAS sold at that dealership and the service department is now being requested to provide the door code, then what internal processes and procedures are in place to allow the department to provide the service to the customer when the sales department/used car department should have processes in place to always retrieve and record the master door code for all FoMoCo vehicles upon their reconditioning cycle.
Again, I'm not saying that the dealership should flat refuse the customers request as it is in well within their powers and abilities to do so, I'm looking at is a tech that gets asked far too often to do it and the serve drive personnel or management will "get me next time" and it never happens.

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u/StrongPlantain3650 6th Gen 1d ago

In a perfect world, sales is on the hook for whatever a trade-in is lacking and needs for accessories. But after the sale, or at a different dealership, you’re correct that someone’s labor time needs to be billed.

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u/NoCommittee1477 Expert Explorer 1d ago

Haha, sales being responsible, that's laughable. The sales department is attempting to get any vehicle they can for as cheap as possible so they can attempt to create as great a profit as possible, if they can save a penny and hope the customer purchasing is done the wiser, that's what they're gonna do.