Question 1

My key blade snapped. Can you get the broken piece out and replace it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The 2018 MKT uses an Intelligent Access fob with an internal emergency blade for situations where the push-button system fails or the battery is completely dead. That blade is not used for everyday starting, but it does handle the door lock cylinder in a pinch. If that blade breaks off inside the lock, extraction is a clean job: the right tool goes into the keyway, hooks the broken section, and pulls it free without harming the cylinder. From there, a replacement blade gets cut to your vehicle on site. If the lock cylinder itself has worn to the point where it binds or drags, I can assess whether it needs a replacement or just a properly cut blade to match the current wafer positions.

Question 2

What exactly is a smart key, and how does the 2018 MKT use one?

Accepted Answer

The Intelligent Access fob on your MKT does a few things at once. It handles passive entry, so the door handles recognize it when you reach for them without you pressing a button. It also communicates with the vehicle security system to authorize the engine start when you press the start button. Inside the fob is a transponder that handles that security handshake. Five buttons on the fob cover your main remote functions. The emergency blade stored inside the fob is there specifically for situations where the electronics fail and you still need to physically unlock the car. The whole thing runs on a CR2032 cell, and when that battery gets weak enough, any one of those functions can start acting up before the fob goes fully dead.

Question 3

My Lincoln is showing a key-not-detected warning. What should I check first?

Accepted Answer

Start with the battery. A low CR2032 in the fob is behind the majority of these calls, and the warning can appear even before the battery reads as fully dead on a tester. Pull the fob open, drop in a fresh CR2032, and make sure it is seated flat against the contacts with no tilt.

If that does not clear it, try the backup location. The 2018 MKT has a designated spot in the center console area where you can set the fob directly so the car reads the transponder passively. That is your workaround if the battery dies unexpectedly mid-trip, and it also helps confirm whether the issue is battery-related or something deeper.

If neither of those gets the car recognizing the fob, the next step is connecting to the vehicle through diagnostic equipment to check whether the key is still registered and whether the security system is throwing any faults. Some owners on forums have found that a fob which got wet or was stored near a strong RF source can lose its registration and needs to be re-paired. That is not a DIY fix on this system.

Question 4

Can I program a second fob myself, or do I need equipment?

Accepted Answer

You need equipment. The 2018 MKT Intelligent Access system does not have a self-programming sequence you can run through the ignition or the door lock. Adding a fob requires a diagnostic tool connected to the OBD port to communicate with the vehicle security system and register the new key. If you bought a fob online, it still has to go through that process before it will do anything. The fob itself being the right part gets you halfway there. The programming is the other half, and there is no shortcut on this generation.

Question 5

I have two fobs. One works perfectly, the other has been flaky for months. Do I need to replace the flaky one or can it be fixed?

Accepted Answer

Worth diagnosing before you replace it. A fob that is intermittent rather than completely dead is often a battery or contact issue rather than a failed unit. CR2032 cells can read as acceptable voltage on a basic tester but still underperform under the load of actual RF transmission. Try a name-brand fresh cell and make sure the battery contact clips inside the fob are making clean, even contact with the cell.

If it is still inconsistent after that, the fob shell itself can develop micro-cracks in the internal board from being dropped, and that shows up as buttons working some of the time but not reliably. At that point, a replacement fob programmed to your vehicle makes more sense than chasing an intermittent connection. I can test both fobs on site and give you a real answer before any parts get ordered.

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