SMAX bumper antenna issue

Hello, I'm experiencing an issue with my 2007 Ford S-MAX (gasoline engine). The car has 239036 km on the clock. I'm getting an error stored in memory related to the bumper antenna. Unlocking and locking no longer function correctly, and the engine refuses to start without the key physically in the ignition. From what I've gathered, the likely culprit is a defective cable or plug connection to the antenna component. Has anyone encountered something similar? I'm trying to understand how radio signal, antenna mount, signal interference and vehicle antenna play into this.

4 comment(s)

Sounds frustrating! I had a similar problem with my old Renault Megane, though not exactly the same symptoms. The keyless entry and remote start went haywire. Turned out to be a dodgy connection at the antenna base, corroded to heck. Think of it like a garden hose with a kink – the signal just can't flow properly. Check the connection points before you do anything drastic.

Thanks for the insight. When you say 'antenna base,' are you referring to where the antenna physically mounts to the bumper, or is there another connection point I should be looking for? I'm trying to narrow down the possibilities before I start tearing things apart.

Yeah, sorry, should've been clearer. I mean where the antenna screws into the bodywork, usually around the wheel arch. The connector block can get water ingress. Honestly, with those symptoms, I'd get it to a workshop. Sounds like it could be a more complex issue than just a loose wire.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate you sharing your experience. I took your advice and went to the workshop. The issue was indeed the bumper antenna connection, which they replaced for 95€. Everything is working as expected.

Join the discussion now: