Any idea of this message?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,975
Likes: 6,035
From: SE Michigan
I downloaded a copy of the manual onto my tablet, but frankly I find the .pdf very difficult to use, and I rarely have my tablet available when I need it most.
Second, I find the onboard version of the owners manual next to useless. Try this sometime - go look up “windshield wipers” - you’ll find next to nothing about them. Or try to find a discussion of the difference between “lane keeping” and “lane centering”.
Third, I find snarky comments about folks who haven’t plowed through nearly seven hundred pages of owners manual to likewise be next to useless.
Ford needs to do a better job on its documentation - much, much better.
Second, I find the onboard version of the owners manual next to useless. Try this sometime - go look up “windshield wipers” - you’ll find next to nothing about them. Or try to find a discussion of the difference between “lane keeping” and “lane centering”.
Third, I find snarky comments about folks who haven’t plowed through nearly seven hundred pages of owners manual to likewise be next to useless.
Ford needs to do a better job on its documentation - much, much better.
To your specific points:
- windshield wipers returns 9 findings. First one takes you to the section called Wipers and Washers. Seems to have everything you could want there.
- lane keeping returns 65 findings. First 10 are table of contents. 13th brings you to the Lane Keeping section of the manual.
- lane centering returns 43 findings.
The difference between lane keeping and lane centering is that lane keeping works all the time whereas lane centering only works during usage of cruise control. That's clear by the first sentence in the Lane Centering section.
As far as snarking comments, when an error message tells you specifically to see the manual, and you don't look, that's pretty funny. It's also funny to me when people say they were distracted from the large message on the screen that told them that their charging door was open (on the Lightning), and they backed up and smashed it into the garage pillar.
I think when someone spends $60 - $90,000 on a vehicle, and can't be bothered to read the manual, that's pretty amazing. These vehicles have features and functions that if you don't read the manual and go through the in-vehicle settings, you'd never know about.
Last edited by Ricktwuhk; Nov 5, 2022 at 10:11 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 14,975
Likes: 6,035
From: SE Michigan
It seems if I put my 21 into reverse before all computers have fully booted I get the reverse brake assist not available message. If I wait the few seconds for all the booting to finish (everything is up on the screen) before shifting into reverse, I do not get the message. I'm thinking software and where the reverse braking assist is in the boot order. Just my experience with my truck.
Get in truck, start it. Then, put on your seatbelt and get situated, which allows the truck time to boot.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 157
Likes: 84
You can put the PDF on phones, tablets, and PCs. PDFs have a search capability, making it easy to find things when you have specifics, like a message. Paper manuals are being eliminated on many things, and this is a trend. Either get on board, and be clueless about features.
To your specific points:
- windshield wipers returns 9 findings. First one takes you to the section called Wipers and Washers. Seems to have everything you could want there.
- lane keeping returns 65 findings. First 10 are table of contents. 13th brings you to the Lane Keeping section of the manual.
- lane centering returns 43 findings.
The difference between lane keeping and lane centering is that lane keeping works all the time whereas lane centering only works during usage of cruise control. That's clear by the first sentence in the Lane Centering section.
As far as snarking comments, when an error message tells you specifically to see the manual, and you don't look, that's pretty funny. It's also funny to me when people say they were distracted from the large message on the screen that told them that their charging door was open (on the Lightning), and they backed up and smashed it into the garage pillar.
I think when someone spends $60 - $90,000 on a vehicle, and can't be bothered to read the manual, that's pretty amazing. These vehicles have features and functions that if you don't read the manual and go through the in-vehicle settings, you'd never know about.
To your specific points:
- windshield wipers returns 9 findings. First one takes you to the section called Wipers and Washers. Seems to have everything you could want there.
- lane keeping returns 65 findings. First 10 are table of contents. 13th brings you to the Lane Keeping section of the manual.
- lane centering returns 43 findings.
The difference between lane keeping and lane centering is that lane keeping works all the time whereas lane centering only works during usage of cruise control. That's clear by the first sentence in the Lane Centering section.
As far as snarking comments, when an error message tells you specifically to see the manual, and you don't look, that's pretty funny. It's also funny to me when people say they were distracted from the large message on the screen that told them that their charging door was open (on the Lightning), and they backed up and smashed it into the garage pillar.
I think when someone spends $60 - $90,000 on a vehicle, and can't be bothered to read the manual, that's pretty amazing. These vehicles have features and functions that if you don't read the manual and go through the in-vehicle settings, you'd never know about.
You may not have read my comment carefully (ironic, I think) where I said a) I find .PDFs difficult to navigate (especially on a phone!), and b) I may or may not have a tablet with me.
I’m glad it works so well for you … as I noted above, I think Ford has a long way to go in the documentation department - especially for a $65k, technically complex vehicle.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 11
Likes: 8
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 171
From: North East Texas
there was a recall on brake controller that also addressed this message
i only get it now when i have trailer connected and shift from drive to reverse, i see it, then if i press OK it goes away, until i go fwd and then back to reverse. so its letting you know its NOT going to try to stop you if a trailer is connected.
and its not mentioned in the book. but if you start truck and drive off before everything is booted up, you can expect weird messages until its READY for flight .
sync4 takes longer to get on line
i only get it now when i have trailer connected and shift from drive to reverse, i see it, then if i press OK it goes away, until i go fwd and then back to reverse. so its letting you know its NOT going to try to stop you if a trailer is connected.
and its not mentioned in the book. but if you start truck and drive off before everything is booted up, you can expect weird messages until its READY for flight .
sync4 takes longer to get on line
Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 81
Likes: 29
The point is not the message itself, it is that the feature we paid for is not working. In my case the system did use to work. I know because one day I hooked the trailer just to move a few feet and didn’t bother to plug the electric connector. When I tried to go back the brakes locked aggressively. A few days later the message came on on start up and the system is disabled. Dealer flashed the module or something but it didn’t help. Told me that they would consult with Ford and call me to bring the truck back. Still waiting.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 317
Likes: 83
From: franklin,in
there was a recall on brake controller that also addressed this message
i only get it now when i have trailer connected and shift from drive to reverse, i see it, then if i press OK it goes away, until i go fwd and then back to reverse. so its letting you know its NOT going to try to stop you if a trailer is connected.
and its not mentioned in the book. but if you start truck and drive off before everything is booted up, you can expect weird messages until its READY for flight .
sync4 takes longer to get on line
i only get it now when i have trailer connected and shift from drive to reverse, i see it, then if i press OK it goes away, until i go fwd and then back to reverse. so its letting you know its NOT going to try to stop you if a trailer is connected.
and its not mentioned in the book. but if you start truck and drive off before everything is booted up, you can expect weird messages until its READY for flight .
sync4 takes longer to get on line
The point is not the message itself, it is that the feature we paid for is not working. In my case the system did use to work. I know because one day I hooked the trailer just to move a few feet and didn’t bother to plug the electric connector. When I tried to go back the brakes locked aggressively. A few days later the message came on on start up and the system is disabled. Dealer flashed the module or something but it didn’t help. Told me that they would consult with Ford and call me to bring the truck back. Still waiting.