Might be too obscure- but wondering if anyone knows why this might be. Shortly after I had my passenger airbag replaced due to a recall- I noticed the airbag light and check engine light were on- previously neither were- I then lost my keys. Called a locksmith who couldn’t hook up the computer to the OBD- he even went and got another computer still didn’t work. He said this was very odd. I called the Ford dealer and asked if it could be an issue resulting from the recent recall airbag maintenance and he said no way.

 

Welcome to the forum

Older Rangers were made from 1983 to 2011 and there were A LOT of changes over that 28 year period.......................

So you telling us the YEAR of your Ranger would be a BIG help, lol

Also what engine size, it may or may not matter

 

2011 6 cylinder

 

Yes, the airbag light and CEL were on because Ford goofed on the airbag replacement, 100%

But nothing to do with why a mobile locksmith can't access the system to add more keys

Now the 2004 - 2011 Ranger's PATS(passive anti-theft system) is different than earlier Rangers
Its in the Instrument cluster not the computer so locksmith may have not had the correct software, you still plug laptop into the OBD2 port under the dash but to connect to the PATS a different software is used

There are different Ford software "modules", these are sub-routines added to main software package when new vehicles are sold and need a different communications

You can call other mobile locksmiths and tell them the year and the trouble the other locksmith had
Or you may have to bite the bullet and have the vehicle towed to Ford Dealer, same dealer that goofed up the airbag install to kill two birds with one stone

There is a software YOU can use, if you feel up to it, called Forscan

Read here: https://forscan.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=839

Its a long thread, lol, but worth while to read it

You do need TWO keys cut first, you then erase all the old keys and add the TWO new keys, won't work with just adding in one key

 

Thanks Ron- very helpful info! I’ve tried calling other locksmiths but the info you provided might make it more clear to them! Fingers crossed