Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand

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Fri 28 Jul 2023 21:40
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Simonh82

I've just purchased a 2020 Ford Grand Torneo Connect (passenger version of the Transit Connect). It's got one of these ridiculous keyless ignotions because car companies appear to think turning a key is so 20th century. There have been a lot of car thefts in our neighbourhood although I think they have been premium cars rather than anything as utilitarian as a Ford mini van. My wife is paranoid that it's going to be nicked from our driveway. I suspect thieves are only going to be targeting expensive cars and a bright red van is not going to be at significant risk.

From what I've read, the main risk is the use of relay devices to access the car where there is a proximity/touch entry system. My Ford still needs you to click the unlock button and I believe that isn't something that can be cloned. I've tested it out and it won't start without the fob inside the car.

I understand that the other risk is if they can gain entry that they use the diagnostic port to create a clone fob to allow the ignition to start but for that they would need specialist software and this also seems like they are unlikely to be targeting 3 year old Fords with as they will be looking for high value targets. I'm not immune from forgetting to lock the car on rare occasions so this is a theoretical risk but we're in a pretty safe neighbourhood and have never had anything nicked from the previous car even when I've forgotten to lock it or when the windows all wound down on their own accord (dodgy VW electrics).

A I being naive in thinking thieves aren't going to risk jail time for a very un-sexy second hand Ford people carrier or should I be taking extra precautions? If so what do people recommend?

Edited by Simonh82 on 28/07/2023 at 21:42

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Fri 28 Jul 2023 21:46
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Bromptonaut

The Crooklock seems to have made a comeback of late.

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Fri 28 Jul 2023 22:23
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - bathtub tom
when the windows all wound down on their own accord (dodgy VW electrics).

Are you sure? I know a couple of cases of keys being handed to babies to keep them quiet and global unlocking being activated. One didn't know the facility existed (RTFM!).

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Fri 28 Jul 2023 23:11
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Bromptonaut

when the windows all wound down on their own accord (dodgy VW electrics).

My Roomster had that feature, IIRC it was activated by some combo of button presses on the remote key.

Combination was not so difficult that it couldn't be achieved whilst bending down with key in pocket or by a child.

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Fri 28 Jul 2023 23:18
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Bromptonaut

Ordinary life in the 21st century has all sorts of risks that even our parents would not have considered.

Provided you are careful with the fob, as you would be with a physical key, then short of the fob being cloned the risk is what it's always been.

What other mitigations could you put in place?

A red van with a Postman Pat style black and white cat superglued to a boot side window would be pretty distinctive :-P

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Sat 29 Jul 2023 08:05
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - badbusdriver

Am I being naive in thinking thieves aren't going to risk jail time for a very un-sexy second hand Ford people carrier

Yes, you are.

Car thieves do not just target prestige or high value cars, they will target whatever they can find to make money from. They could even have a list of cars to steal, which may or may not have a Tourney Connect (or similar) on it. In any event, 2020 Tourneo Connect's on Autotrader range from £16.5-21k, so not exactly a low value car, at least not IMO.

should I be taking extra precautions? If so what do people recommend?

First question though, as you really don't seem to like keyless entry/start systems, why buy a car with it?.

But as has been said, a good old fashioned steering wheel lock would be a good option to make it less "stealable". Also a wheel clamp type thing. As you have a driveway, you could install one of those folding/retracting security posts to block the end if it. Finally, motion sensing lights (assuming the driveway is not lit by a street light) along with CCTV.

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Sat 29 Jul 2023 08:12
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - mcb100
Keep the key in a Faraday bag when it’s not in use. That way it can’t be scanned.
I’m not sure keyless is any less secure than having a barrel on the door and steering column into which a screwdriver could be jammed and forced.
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Sat 29 Jul 2023 08:53
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Maxime.

There have been a lot of car thefts in our neighbourhood

but we're in a pretty safe neighbourhood.

?

Steering wheel lock is your friend. Some very good ones available in Halfords (Others are available.)

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Sat 29 Jul 2023 10:11
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Xileno

It's a strange situation we're in, I'm seeing Landrovers Rangerovers etc with these steering wheel disk locks and similar. A vehicle costing many £££ needing something as crude as a disk lock to stop it getting nicked.

Faraday cage is a good call and they're cheap.

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Sat 29 Jul 2023 10:29
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - elekie&a/c doctor
With more and more cars having keyless start systems, even low end models , vehicles are now easier to steal than they were 20 years ago. When was the last time anyone saw a car with the radio or wheels stolen? It’s easier to take the whole car now . Best bet is a mechanical device on the steering wheel . Diskloc or similar will do the job . Cumbersome for the driver but a great deterrent to any thief .
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Sat 29 Jul 2023 12:47
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - FP

"A vehicle costing many £££ needing something as crude as a disk lock to stop it getting nicked."

I'm not sure that is the rationale. Surely it's a combination of deterrents: the theft of a keyless-access vehicle requires the necessary kit and presumably two people, and if faced with a car that has a Krooklok or similar - which can be defeated, but takes time and possibly involves making a noise - the would-be thieves may well decide it's not worth the effort.

I use a Faraday pouch and a steering-wheel thingy. They're cheap enough.

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Sat 29 Jul 2023 12:55
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Adampr

I just kind of assume I'll get the insurance payout and buy another car.

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Sat 29 Jul 2023 13:13
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - primus 1

I’ve just got rid of my ford puma, that had keyless, however, if the keys were motionless for more than 20 seconds, the key shut down thus blocking the relay theft attempt, has your car got this feature.?, other than that, some people use faraday pouches/cases, you could try one of those for peace of mind….

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Sat 29 Jul 2023 13:24
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - misar

The fob from a 2020 Ford will probably have the motion detector but if not there will almost certainly be a switch or keypress sequence to turn off its radio. The OP needs to read the manual.

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Sun 30 Jul 2023 08:36
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - daveyK_UK
There has been a spate of fiestas stolen with keyless entry, a Tourneo connect is certainly at risk.

Could you find a good local auto electrician who can deactivate the relay? Or is there a key sleeve you can add to prevent the signal?

I presume you have purchased the titanium model? The zetec model did not have keyless entry nor do the van versions unless you go for top of the range.
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Mon 31 Jul 2023 08:16
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - HGV ~ P Valentine

I have seen similar reports about electric ignition being hacked and stolen, not even requiring a key. I think it is a matter of balance, because the truth is that if they want to nick your vehicle then there is no security system they cannot get around, or will not learn to in time.

The great trian robbery was famous because people believed that no one could rob a moving train, but they did. They believed that if they changed the passwords that no one could get into the computers, that could lunch a nuclear missile from America, but someone did get in, with the big surprise being it was a pc they bought from Curry's or such like.

When I went up to North Wales, I did not even lock my car because it was so remote that unless the sheep learnt to drive, there was simply no one there to nick it, and you know it is amazing how relaxing, how much peace of mind you get living the old way, where you do not have to lock your doors, your car or anything, because there are still areas where you CAN TRUST the people around you.

Edited by HGV ~ P Valentine on 31/07/2023 at 08:19

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Mon 31 Jul 2023 09:29
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Andrew-T

I don't live in north Wales, but my (SWMBO's) car is always parked outside the front door, unlocked. I might not do that on the main street, but it isn't far away. It may help that it is 15 years old and would not make an ideal getaway car ....

Of course locked cars (or houses) may convey the message that there are things inside worth stealing ?

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Tue 1 Aug 2023 07:04
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - primus 1

I don't live in north Wales, but my (SWMBO's) car is always parked outside the front door, unlocked. I might not do that on the main street, but it isn't far away. It may help that it is 15 years old and would not make an ideal getaway car ....

Of course locked cars (or houses) may convey the message that there are things inside worth stealing ?

It’s still worth locking, if it is stolen your insurance may not pay out, not worth stealing?, there’s always some lowlife who’ll take it for a joyride, torch it, or sell it for drug money..

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Tue 1 Aug 2023 09:52
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Andrew-T

<< There’s always some lowlife who’ll take it for a joyride, torch it, or sell it for drug money. >>

True, but in my case only if they can get their hands on the key (it isn't keyless).

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Mon 31 Jul 2023 21:26
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - alan1302

When I went up to North Wales, I did not even lock my car because it was so remote that unless the sheep learnt to drive, there was simply no one there to nick it, and you know it is amazing how relaxing, how much peace of mind you get living the old way, where you do not have to lock your doors, your car or anything, because there are still areas where you CAN TRUST the people around you.

The old way was like that as there was nothing worth nicking.

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Mon 31 Jul 2023 23:22
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - edlithgow

When I went up to North Wales, I did not even lock my car because it was so remote that unless the sheep learnt to drive, there was simply no one there to nick it, and you know it is amazing how relaxing, how much peace of mind you get living the old way, where you do not have to lock your doors, your car or anything, because there are still areas where you CAN TRUST the people around you.

The old way was like that as there was nothing worth nicking.

The old parenoid way was (is in my case) removing the rotor arm.

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Tue 1 Aug 2023 09:54
Ford Torneo - Keyless ignition risk for non-premium brand - Andrew-T

<< The old way was like that as there was nothing worth nicking. >>

You should read early Victorian accounts of things poor people were transported to Australia for nicking. These days no-one would bother to pick those things off the floor.

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