EVO-ALL solid blue and red lights - will not program 2011 F-150 OEM keys

Question

UPDATE: Added step-by-step procedures.

Issue: The blue and red lights on EVO-ALL remain solid during and after attempting programming with 2 keys.

System: EVO-FORT4; Firmware: 71.52; EVO-ALL S/N: 001A07355490; Vehicle: 2011 F-150 3.5L; Remote: Two standard OEM keys; Guide #: 94891.

Troubleshooting: Double-checked all connections. Double-checked settings. Re-flashed EVO-ALL.

Followed procedure:

1. Program EVO-ALL and flash settings (firmware 71.52)
2. Plug in all connections (ignition, immobilized, OBD)
3. Manually connect "Key Sense" wire (A1, yellow, 20-pin connector) to the "Key Sense" wire (purple/yellow, either the 5-pin or 6-pin connector)
4. Page 7; Step 1: Hold button down on EVO-ALL; connect black 4-pin data-link harness
5. Page 7; Step 2: Release button when blue & red lights illuminate solid
6. Page 7; Step 3: Connect other harnesses (white 20-pin, red 6-pin, white 5-pin)
7. Page 7; Step 4: Insert key #1 to ON/RUN position
8. Page 7; Step 5: Wait 3 seconds: remove key #1
9. Page 7; Step 6: Quickly insert key #2 to ON/RUN position
10. Page 7; Step 7: Wait 3 seconds: remove key #2
11. Page 8; Step 8: Quickly insert key #1 to ON/RUN position; wait (blue light does not rapidly flash)
12. Page 8; Step 9: Remove key #1
    Result: Vehicle locks cycle on and off (indicating key programming); however, EVO-ALL blue & red lights remain illuminated solid (no blinking). The truck responds correctly, but the EVO-ALL does not.

Note: There's a YouTube video showing that an initial data transfer programming step is needed prior to the step 1 in the guide (shown above): hold down the button on the EVO-ALL; release on blue; insert key #1; wait until EVO-ALL blue light rapidly flashes; remove key #1 to complete. This step is not in the provided guide. I attempted including this step after the 1st failed attempt, but the blue light never flashed rapidly. I received the same result below with and without this step.

 

The only manual connection I made is wiring the "Key Sense" wire (A1, yellow) on the 20-pin connector to the "Key Sense" wire (purple/yellow) on the other side of the EVO-ALL (either the 5-pin or 6-pin connector; can't tell with the harness).

 

Questions:

• Is there another connection I missed?
• Should the A1 yellow wire be connected to the other yellow wire (instead of the purple/yellow Key Sense wire)?
• Other than connecting the 4-pin harness first, do I need to connect the other harnesses in a different sequence?

Any help would be appreciated!

Answer 1

The answer to your problems is due to faulty key sense switch in the igntiion barrel. Common in that generation Ford. You can test this by putting a test light on the key sense wire while the key is in the barrel and you cycle it on-off or simply do not have enough inward pressure on it. The light will be be turning off-on. 

 

To program the module

1. don't bother connecting the red conenctor on the EVO until unit is actually programmed
2. keep inward pressure on the key so that key sense never drops while the key is in the barrel.

 

Note: There's a YouTube video showing that an initial data transfer programming step is needed prior to the step 1 in the guide (shown above): hold down the button on the EVO-ALL; release on blue; insert key #1; wait until EVO-ALL blue light rapidly flashes; remove key #1 to complete. This step is not in the provided guide. I attempted including this step after the 1st failed attempt, but the blue light never flashed rapidly. I received the same result below with and without this step.

Those are old instructions. It is not required to program CAN-BUS first although there is no harm in doing it. The fact it does not program in your case is most likely related to a key sense issue. If the the blue led stays ON solid with the key on, that means the module is not reading 12V on the yellow wire (the one that's connected to key sense). 

Comments

Thank you. I'll test the following connections by cycling the key:

1. Loose purple/yellow wire on t-harness
2. If no signal, test blue/white wire on OEM ignition connector
3. If no signal, test blue/white wire on t-harness ignition connector
4. If no signal, remove t-harness, reconnect OEM connector, re-test blue/white wire

 

• Should the Key Sense wire receive a signal when the key is fully inserted into the barrel, or only when the key is in ON/RUN position?
• Are there any OEM symptoms that would indicate a faulty or intermittent Key Sense switch? For example, the truck properly warns the driver that the key is in the ignition by "dinging" when the door open. Would that indicate the truck is properly sensing the key, or is there a different function?
• Just to understand basic operation (and potential impact of operating with a faulty/intermittent Key Sense switch), do you know how the EVO-ALL uses the Key Sense wire during normal operation? Since the signal is an inlet to the device, what is it supposed to do once a key is inserted and it receives a signal after remote starting? I'm trying to understand if there may be future issues even if I can get through programming.

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Key sense will be live once the key is inserted into the barrel.

Key sense is used for key programming. The yellow wire it is connected to is an input to the module. It's also connected to the purple/yellow which is an output to pulse key sense on unlock from an aftermarket remote kit.

The only issue you would ever notice is that the door chimes dont actually ding properly all the time.

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Thank you!! You're totally right - it has a loose switch and I just needed to push the key in more while I turned it to ON/RUN. Everything works - thank you for your help!

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Glad to hear it is up and running!