A small conundrum
Thread Starter
Old Fart
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,244
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From: Mesquite NV
A small conundrum
Why is it that I can't use my memory buttons while driving but I can fumble around, especially in the dark, looking for my left or right mirror buttons and adjust the mirrors? I know that the seats and steering wheel may be involved in the memory buttons, but overall the logic escapes me.
5 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: Northern Illinois
Imagine a 502a where someone fumbles around hits a memory button and the pedals, steering wheel move to where a short person can't hit the brakes. Accident and a liability for Ford are likely. My solution....shift to neutral, hit the memory button and all is good....even while moving at 70mph.
Thread Starter
Old Fart
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 312
From: Mesquite NV
Imagine a 502a where someone fumbles around hits a memory button and the pedals, steering wheel move to where a short person can't hit the brakes. Accident and a liability for Ford are likely. My solution....shift to neutral, hit the memory button and all is good....even while moving at 70mph.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2017
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When fumbling around, the adjustments are only made as long as you continue to activate the button....when hitting the memory button, it will automatically adjust until it gets to the preset positions ....so you lack the control to stop it. Maybe that has something to do with the decision to include the nanny function. You really shouldn’t need to adjust much once you are driving, if you take the time to adjust things before beginning your drive.
Flaccid Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,168
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From: Maine
I got into a short friend's car once, a Lexus IIRC, and she had the equivalent of "entry assistance"--or whatever Ford's feature is called--that moves the seat back to facilitate easier entry into the vehicle. Well, when I started her car, the seat proceeded move all the way forward and mashed me into the steering column, to the point that I could barely breathe, let alone move the car, until I felt around to find the seat adjustment switches.
If you're trying to adjust the mirrors, you can always stop doing that to respond to driving conditions. And, if you absolutely must do it while driving, you can practice and eventually do it without having to look. If you hit a seat memory button that moves the seat to a position where your chest is pressed into the steering wheel or where your feet can't reach the pedals, your only option to maintain control of the vehicle is to "fumble around" and find the seat switches to get back to the point that you can drive.
You can drive a few miles with less-than-optimal mirror position to get to a safe place to pull over and adjust them. You can't slam on the brakes you avoid a crash if you suddenly can't reach the pedals. I frankly can't understand why this wouldn't be immediately understood.
There's a separate problem if the operator of a vehicle is compelled to drive while distracted. I've read people posting that they absolutely have to look at their phone or mess with the Sync screen while driving, "because of work," or some nonsense. There's never a good reason to take your eyes off the road for the time it would take you to run over ten people before you could do something about it.
If you're trying to adjust the mirrors, you can always stop doing that to respond to driving conditions. And, if you absolutely must do it while driving, you can practice and eventually do it without having to look. If you hit a seat memory button that moves the seat to a position where your chest is pressed into the steering wheel or where your feet can't reach the pedals, your only option to maintain control of the vehicle is to "fumble around" and find the seat switches to get back to the point that you can drive.
You can drive a few miles with less-than-optimal mirror position to get to a safe place to pull over and adjust them. You can't slam on the brakes you avoid a crash if you suddenly can't reach the pedals. I frankly can't understand why this wouldn't be immediately understood.
There's a separate problem if the operator of a vehicle is compelled to drive while distracted. I've read people posting that they absolutely have to look at their phone or mess with the Sync screen while driving, "because of work," or some nonsense. There's never a good reason to take your eyes off the road for the time it would take you to run over ten people before you could do something about it.
Last edited by DeltaNu1142; Jan 13, 2019 at 05:48 AM.
One would think that most are smart enough to adjust your mirrors prior to departing. I fail to see the point of this post. The memory feature is a comfort and is disabled for safety reasons as mentioned, I am over 6 foot and my wife is a for shorter than me. That's enough to either cram me all the way into a steering wheel or her far enough away to not reach the breaks.
Thread Starter
Old Fart
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,244
Likes: 312
From: Mesquite NV
All valid points. I should have mentioned that I am the only driver of this vehicle and 6 ft tall. So for me there is no setting that will push me into the steering wheel or far enough away that I can't reach the pedals. Also I don't use the easy entry option as I find it unnecessary. My perspective is different than those that have other drivers of different stature.
And yes I should be smart enough to adjust my mirrors before driving. It has happened where I didn't. Obviously Madcap57 has done it as well or he would not have figured out the work around. So I am not totally alone.
And though you guys have educated me and have widened my perspective the logic still escapes me, although less so than when I started this post. Maybe Ford could provide a safety override for just me.
And yes I should be smart enough to adjust my mirrors before driving. It has happened where I didn't. Obviously Madcap57 has done it as well or he would not have figured out the work around. So I am not totally alone.
And though you guys have educated me and have widened my perspective the logic still escapes me, although less so than when I started this post. Maybe Ford could provide a safety override for just me.
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Senior Member
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The OPs post makes no sense. The memory button goes to a preset position that may not be suitable for driving so is deactivated while in drive. Memory allows you to quickly adjust for different drivers and you don't change drivers on the fly. The mirrors, wheel, and seats are the same. All can be individually controlled with the switches while driving. The individual switches are active for on the fly fine tuning.
Are you saying that you want all controls locked out to keep you from running people over? Try learning where they are when parked or simply not using them on the fly.
Are you saying that you want all controls locked out to keep you from running people over? Try learning where they are when parked or simply not using them on the fly.