How to Modify the Auto Lock Feature on the Ford Escort?
3 Answers
The method to modify the auto lock feature on the Ford Escort is as follows: 1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position, i.e., power on; 2. Press and hold the lock button on the driver's side door for about 5 seconds until you hear a beep, then release the lock button; 3. Press the unlock button five times consecutively, and after hearing five beeps, the setup is complete. The Ford Escort is a compact car with a body length of 4587mm, width of 1825mm, height of 1490mm, and a wheelbase of 2687mm. The Escort is equipped with a 1.0-liter turbocharged engine and a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine. The 1.0-liter turbocharged engine delivers 128 horsepower and a maximum torque of 170 Nm, with the engine's maximum power at 6000 rpm and maximum torque between 1400 and 4500 rpm. This engine features direct fuel injection technology and uses an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
I've tinkered with this before. The Ford Escort's auto-lock modification mainly relies on enabling the hidden ECU functions. Just buy an ELM327 diagnostic cable from Taobao and connect it to a laptop with FORScan software installed. Enter the vehicle configuration mode, find the speed-sensitive lock option, and change it from "disabled" to "enabled." The doors will automatically lock when the speed exceeds 20 km/h. Remember to back up the factory settings before making changes—once I messed up the tire pressure monitoring by tampering randomly and had to pay 200 yuan to have a shop reflash it. After flashing, test whether the doors can be opened from the inside to ensure the child lock function isn't affected. Also, remember to manually unlock the doors after parking, or passengers might yank the handles awkwardly trying to get out.
Last year, I also installed an OBD auto-lock module in my car, and the operation was extremely simple. I bought a dedicated module on Taobao for around 100 RMB and plugged it into the OBD port under the steering wheel while the engine was off. This device has three sensitivity levels, and I set it to medium, which automatically locks the doors at 15 km/h. However, be aware that the module can easily overheat and malfunction after being exposed to the summer sun. Once, while driving on the highway, I noticed it didn’t auto-lock, which scared me into pulling over to manually lock the doors. Regularly checking if the plug is loose is crucial, as these aftermarket modules are not as stable and reliable as factory-installed ones.
