2017 FORD FLEX Owners Manual

Action and Description
Menu Item
The screen displays with a darker background to make
nighttime viewing easier.
Night
The screen goes black and does not display anything.
To switch the screen back on, simply tap the screen.
Off
Enable this option to automatically dim the display brightness based
on ambient lighting conditions.
Auto Dim
Voice Control
You can adjust the voice control settings
by selecting the following options. Menu Item
Enable this option to remove additional voice prompts
and confirmations.
Advanced Mode
Enable this option to have the system confirm a contacts
name with you before making a call.
Phone Confirmation
Enable this option to have the system display a list of
available voice commands when the voice button is
pressed.
Voice Command List
Valet Mode
Valet mode allows you to lock the system.
No information is accessible until the
system is unlocked with the correct PIN.
When you select valet mode a pop up
appears informing you that a four digit
code must be entered to enable and
disable valet mode. You can use any PIN
you chose but you must use the same PIN
to disable valet mode. The system asks
you to input the code.
Note: If the system is locked and you
cannot remember the PIN, please contact
the Customer Relationship Center.
United States: 1-800-392-3673
Canada: 1-800-565-3673 To enable valet mode, enter your chosen
PIN. The system then asks to confirm your
PIN by reentering it. The system then locks.
To unlock the system, enter the same pin
number. The system reconnects to your
phone and all of your options are available
again.
SYNC™ 3 TROUBLESHOOTING
Your SYNC 3 system is easy to use.
However, should questions arise, please
refer to the tables below.
To check your cell phone's compatibility,
visit the Ford website.
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Website
owner.ford.com Website
www.syncmyride.ca
www.syncmaroute.ca Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Refer to your device's manual about audio
adjustments.
The audio control
settings on your cell
phone may be affecting
SYNC 3 performance.
There is back-
ground noise
during a phone
call.
Try switching your cell phone off, resetting
it or removing the battery, then try again.
Possible cell phone
malfunction.
During a call, I
can hear the
other person
but they cannot
hear me.
Make sure that the microphone for SYNC
3 is not set to off. Look for the microphone
icon on the phone screen.
To restart your system, shut down the
engine, open and close the door, and then
lock the door and wait for 2-3 minutes.
Make sure that your SYNC 3 screen is black
and the lighted USB port is off.
The system may need to
be restarted.
During a call, I
cannot hear the
other person
and they cannot
hear me.
Check your cell phone's compatibility.
This is a cell phone-
dependent feature.
SYNC 3 is not
able to down-
load my phone-
book. Make sure you allow SYNC 3 to retrieve
contacts from your phone. Refer to your
cell manual.
Possible cell phone
malfunction. You must switch on your cell phone and
the automatic phonebook download
feature on SYNC 3.
Try switching your cell phone off, resetting
it or removing the battery, then try again.
Make sure you allow SYNC 3 to retrieve
contacts from your phone. Refer to your
cell manual.
Limitations on your cell
phone's capability.
The system
says "Phone-
book down-
loaded" but my
SYNC 3 phone-
book is empty or
is missing
contacts.
If the missing contacts are stored on your
SIM card, move them to your cell phone's
memory.
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Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
You must switch on your cell phone and
the automatic phonebook download
feature on SYNC 3.
Check your cell phone's compatibility.
This is a cell phone-
dependent feature.
I am having
trouble
connecting my
cell phone to
SYNC 3. Try switching your cell phone off, resetting
it or removing the battery, then try again.
Possible cell phone
malfunction. Try deleting your device from SYNC 3 and
deleting SYNC from your device, then trying
again.
Always check the security and auto accept
prompt settings relative to the SYNC 3
Bluetooth connection on your cell phone.
Update your cell phone's firmware.
Switch the auto download setting off.
Check your cell phone's compatibility.
This is a cell phone-
dependent feature.
Text messaging
is not working
on SYNC 3. Try switching your cell phone off, resetting
it or removing the battery, then try again.
Possible cell phone
malfunction.
iPhone
•Go to your cell phone's Settings.
• Go to the Bluetooth Menu.
• Press the blue circle to the right of the
device named with your vehicle make
and model to enter the next menu.
• Turn Show Notifications on.
• Disconnect then reconnect your iPhone
from the SYNC 3 system to activate this
settings update.
Your iPhone is now set up to forward
incoming text messages to SYNC 3.
Repeat these steps for every other SYNC 3
vehicle that you connect. Your iPhone will
only forward incoming text messages to
SYNC 3 if the iPhone is not unlocked in the
messaging application.
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Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Replying to text messages using SYNC 3 is
not supported by iPhone.
Text messages from WhatsApp and Face-
book Messenger are not supported.
Your cell phone must support downloading
text messages through Bluetooth to receive
incoming text messages.
This is a cell phone-
dependent feature.
Audible text
messages do
not work on my
cell phone. Because each cell phone is different, refer
to your device's manual for the specific cell
phone you are pairing. In fact, there can be
differences between cell phones due to
brand, model, service provider and software
version.
This is a cell phone limita-
tion. USB and Bluetooth Stereo issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Disconnect the device from SYNC 3. Try
switching your device off, resetting it or
removing the battery, then reconnect it to
SYNC 3.
Possible device malfunc-
tion.
I am having
trouble
connecting my
device. Make sure you are using the manufacturer's
cable.
Make sure to correctly insert the USB cable
into the device and your vehicle's USB port.
Make sure that the device does not have
an auto-install program or active security
settings.
Make sure your device is unlocked before
connecting it to SYNC 3.
The device has a lock
screen enabled.
Make sure you are not leaving the device in
your vehicle during very hot or cold
temperatures.
This is a device limitation.
SYNC 3 does
not recognize
my device when
I start my
vehicle.
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USB and Bluetooth Stereo issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Make sure you connect the device to SYNC
3 and that you have started the media
player on your device.
This is a device-
dependent feature.
Bluetooth audio
does not
stream. The device is not
connected.
Make sure that all song details are popu-
lated.
Your music files may not
contain the correct artist,
song title, album or genre
information.
SYNC 3 does
not recognize
music that is on
my device. Try replacing the corrupt file with a new
version.
The file may be
corrupted.
Some devices require you to change the
USB settings from mass storage to media
transfer protocol class.
The song may have
copyright protection that
does not allow it to play.
Convert the file to a supported format. See
Entertainment (page 381).
The file format is not
supported by SYNC 3.
Update media index. See
Settings (page
410).
The device needs to be
re-indexed.
Make sure your device is unlocked before
connecting it to SYNC 3.
The device has a lock
screen enabled.
Disconnect the device from SYNC 3. Try
switching your device off, resetting it or
removing the battery, then connect it back
to SYNC 3.
This is a device limitation.
When I connect
my device, I
sometimes do
not hear any
sound. To listen to Apple devices through USB,
select AirPlay from the devices Control
Center, then select Dock Connector.
To listen to Apple devices through
Bluetooth Stereo, select AirPlay from the
devices Control Center, then select SYNC.
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Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Verify password.
Password error.
Failed connection.
Check for a poor Wi-Fi
signal.
Weak signal.
Use a unique name for your
SSID, don’t use the default
name unless it contains a
unique identifier, such as
part of the MAC address.
Multiple Access points
within range with the same
SSID.
Position the vehicle close to
the hotspot with the front of
the vehicle facing the
hotspot direction and
remove obstacles if
possible. Other Wi-Fi,
Bluetooth, microwave and
cordless phones may cause
interference.
Weak signal probably due
to distance from the
hotspot, obstruction or high
interference.
Disconnecting after
successful connection.
If the vehicle is equipped
with heated windshield, try
positioning the vehicle so
that the windshield is not
facing the hotspot. If you
have metallic window tinting
There may be an obstruction
between SYNC 3 and the
hotspot.
Poor signal seen by SYNC 3
despite being near a
hotspot.
but not on the windshield,
position the vehicle to face
the hotspot. If all windows
are tinted, you can open the
windows in the direction of
the hotspot if that is feas-
ible.
Try to remove other
obstructions that may
impact signal quality such
as opening the garage door.
Please set the network to
visible and try again.
The hotspot was defined as
a hidden network.
A hotspot is not listed in the
list of available networks.
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Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
SYNC 3 currently does not
provide a hotspot
SYNC 3 does not currently
provide a hotspot.
SYNC 3 is not seen when
searching for Wi-Fi networks
from your phone or other
devices.
Check the signal quality
(under network details), if
SYNC 3 indicates good or
excellent, test with another
high-speed equipped
hotspot where the environ-
ment is more predictable.
Poor signal strength, too far
from the hotspot, hotspot is
supporting multiple
connections, slow Internet
connection or other prob-
lems.
Software download takes
too long.
Test the connection with
another device, if the
hotspot requires a subscrip-
tion, you may contact the
service provider.
It is possible that there is no
new software. The
connected hotspot may be
a managed one and it
requires either a subscrip-
tion or agreeing to the terms
and conditions.
SYNC 3 seems to connect
with a hotspot and the
signal strength is excellent
but the software is not being
updated. AppLink issues
Possible solution(s)
Possible cause(s)
Issue
Make sure you have a
compatible smartphone; an
Android with OS 2.3 or
higher or an iPhone 3GS or
newer with iOS 5.0 or higher.
Additionally, make sure you
You did not connect an
Applink Compatible phone
to SYNC 3.
AppLink Mobile Applica-
tions: When I select
"Connect Mobile Apps,"
SYNC 3 does not find any
applications.
pair and connect your phone
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AppLink issues
Possible solution(s)
Possible cause(s)
Issue
to SYNC 3 in order to find
AppLink-capable apps on
your device. iPhone users
must also connect to a USB
port with an Apple USB
cable.
Make sure you have down-
loaded and installed the
latest version of the app
from your phone's app store.
Make sure the app is running
on your phone. Some apps
AppLink-enabled apps are
not installed and running on
your mobile device.
My phone is connected, but
I still cannot find any apps.
require you to register or
login to the app on the
phone before using them
with AppLink. Also, some
may have a "Ford SYNC"
setting, so check the app's
settings menu on the phone.
Closing and restarting apps
may help SYNC 3 find the
application if you cannot
discover it inside the vehicle.
On an Android device, if
apps have an 'Exit' or 'Quit'
Sometimes apps do not
properly close and re-open
their connection to SYNC 3,
over ignition cycles, for
example.
My phone is connected, my
app(s) are running, but I still
cannot find any apps. option, then select it and
restart the app. If the app
does not have that option,
select the phone's settings
menu and select 'Apps',
then find the particular app
and choose 'Force stop.' Do
not forget to restart the app
afterward, then select
"Connect Mobile Apps" on
SYNC 3.
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