Question 1

How do I spot a fake locksmith before I get ripped off?

Accepted Answer

Three things. First, search the business name and check that the phone number matches the listing. Scam operations often run call centers that forward to random numbers, and there's no physical location you can verify. Second, ask for a firm price over the phone for your specific year and model. A real tech will ask make, model, and key type before quoting. If they won't give you a number until they're standing next to your car, that's the setup for a bait-and-switch. Third, ask for their BSIS license number. Every locksmith company operating in California is required to have one and should be able to give it to you immediately. If they hesitate or change the subject, hang up.

Question 2

What exactly is a smart key and why does programming matter?

Accepted Answer

Your 2020 Explorer uses a smart key system where the fob communicates wirelessly with the vehicle's immobilizer to authorize a start. The physical key blade handles entry if needed, but the fob itself has to be recognized by the vehicle before the engine will run. A replacement fob that hasn't been programmed to your specific Explorer is just plastic. The vehicle won't acknowledge it.

Where owners get burned is when an unqualified tech or a scam operator tells them the car needs a module replacement or a full security system reset when the real job is programming a key through the diagnostic port. The 2020 Explorer requires professional-grade diagnostic equipment for key programming. There's no button sequence or ignition trick that adds a new smart key on this generation. If someone tells you otherwise, they either don't know the system or they're stalling for a bigger invoice.

Question 3

What equipment do you use to program a 2020 Explorer key?

Accepted Answer

Programming the 2020 Explorer smart key takes professional diagnostic tooling that communicates with the vehicle's security and body systems through the OBD port. I use equipment that handles Ford's current key-learning protocol, including all-keys-lost scenarios where no working key is present. A number of cheaper scan tools and basic code readers don't have the depth to complete this job on current Ford platforms, and some aftermarket programmers have had their Ford functions stripped down by software updates. If a locksmith can't tell you specifically what tool they're using and whether it covers the 2020 Explorer, that's worth pressing on before you agree to anything.

Question 4

I have a spare fob but I never programmed it. Can I add it myself without a dealer?

Accepted Answer

Not on this one. The 2020 Explorer does not have an owner-accessible self-programming sequence for smart keys. That kind of ignition-turn relearn exists on older Ford models with a basic key and cylinder, but adding a fob to this system requires a diagnostic tool connected to the OBD port. The good news is you don't need to go to the dealer. A mobile locksmith with the right equipment can add your spare on-site, wherever the car is parked. Doing it now, while you still have a working key, is also faster and less expensive than waiting until you're in an all-keys-lost situation.

Question 5

The door handle touch sensor stopped unlocking my Explorer but the fob buttons still work. Is the key the problem?

Accepted Answer

Probably not the key. If the fob buttons are locking and unlocking the car normally and the start system is recognizing the fob, the key itself is doing its job. Passive entry through the door handle touch sensor is a separate function, and it's one of the more common complaints on this generation of Explorer. Dirt, moisture, or residue on the handle can interrupt the sensor. Start by wiping the handle area down and retesting. If it stays dead on one door while the other works, you're looking at the handle sensor or wiring on that door, not a key issue. If both handles quit at the same time, that's more likely a vehicle-side setting or system fault worth pulling codes on.

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