2018 FORD EXPLORER bluetooth

Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
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.
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.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

Cell phone issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
•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.
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.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

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.
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.
Try switching your device off, resetting it or
removing the battery, then reconnect it to
SYNC 3.
The device is in a bad
state.
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.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

USB and Bluetooth Stereo issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Convert the file to a supported format. See
Entertainment (page 437).
The file format is not
supported by SYNC 3.
Update media index. See
Settings (page
467).
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.
Connect a compatible device or media
player.
The device or media
player is incompatible.
SYNC 3 does
not display the
song informa-
tion, repeat, or
shuffle buttons. Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
Verify password.
Password error.
Failed connec-
tion.
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.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

Wi-Fi Issues
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
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 interfer-
ence.
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
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 feasible.
There may be an
obstruction between
SYNC 3 and the hotspot.
Poor signal seen
by SYNC 3
despite being
near a hotspot.
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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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

AppLink issues
Possible solution(s)
Possible cause(s)
Issue
Switch Bluetooth off and then on to reset
it on your phone. If you are in your vehicle,
SYNC 3 should be able to automatically re-
connect to your phone if you press the
"Phone" button.
There is a Bluetooth issue
on some older versions
of the Android operating
system that may cause
apps that were found on
your previous vehicle
drive to not be found
again if you did not
switch Bluetooth off.
My Android
phone is
connected, my
app(s) are
running, I
restarted them,
but I still cannot
find any apps.
Unplug the USB cable from the phone, wait
a moment, and plug the USB cable back in
to the phone. After a few seconds, the app
should appear in SYNC 3's Mobile Apps
Menu. If not, "Force Close" the application
and restart it.
You may need to reset
the USB connection to
SYNC 3.
My iPhone is
connected, my
app is running, I
restarted the
app but I still
cannot find it on
SYNC 3.
Increase the Bluetooth volume of the
device by using the device's volume control
buttons which are most often found on the
side of the device.
The Bluetooth volume on
the phone may be low.
I have an
Android phone.
I found and
started my
media app on
SYNC 3, but
there is no
sound or the
sound is very
low.
Force close or uninstall the apps you do not
want SYNC 3 to find. If the app has a "Ford
SYNC" setting, disable that setting in the
app's settings menu on the phone.
Some Android devices
have a limited number of
Bluetooth ports that
apps can use to connect.
If you have more AppLink
apps on your phone than
the number of available
Bluetooth ports, you will
not see all of your apps
listed in the SYNC 3
mobile apps menu.
I can only see
some of the
AppLink apps
running on my
phone listed in
the SYNC 3
Mobile Apps
Menu.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

General
Possible solution
Possible cause
Issue
SYNC 3 only supports four languages in a
single module for text display, voice control
and voice prompts. The country where you
bought your vehicle dictates the four
languages based on the most popular
languages spoken. If the selected language
is not available, SYNC 3 remains in the
current active language.
SYNC 3 does not support
the currently selected
language for the instru-
ment cluster and inform-
ation and entertainment
display.
The language
selected for the
instrument
cluster and
information and
entertainment
display does not
match the
SYNC 3
SYNC 3 offers several new voice control
features for a wide range of languages.
Dialing a contact name directly from the
phonebook without pre-recording (for
example,
“call John Smith ”) or selecting a
track, artist, album, genre or playlist directly
from your media player (for example, "play
artist Madonna").
language
(phone, USB,
Bluetooth
audio, voice
control and
voice prompts). SYNC 3 System Reset
The system has a System Reset feature that can be performed if the function of a SYNC
3 feature is lost. This reset is intended to restore functionality and will not erase any
information previously stored in the system (such as paired devices, phonebook, call
history, text messages, or user settings). To perform a System Reset, press and hold
the Seek Up (>>|) button while pressing and holding the Radio Power button. After
approximately 5 seconds the screen will go black. Allow 1-2 minutes for the system
reset to complete. You may then resume using the SYNC 3 system.
For additional assistance with SYNC 3
troubleshooting, refer to the regional Ford
or Lincoln website.
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing SYNC™ 3

Engine Coolant Check................................291
Adding Coolant.................................................... 291
Coolant Change................................................. 293
Engine Coolant Temperature Management.................................................. 294
Fail-Safe Cooling............................................... 293
Recycled Coolant............................................... 293
Severe Climates................................................. 293
Engine Emission Control............................183
Engine Immobilizer See: Passive Anti-Theft System..................... 74
Engine Oil Check..........................................289
Adding Engine Oil.............................................. 289
Engine Oil Dipstick - 2.3L EcoBoost™.................................................288
Engine Oil Dipstick - 3.5L Duratec/3.5L Ecoboost™.................................................289
Engine Specifications - 2.3L EcoBoost™.................................................343
Drivebelt Routing............................................... 343
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Duratec.........................................................343
Drivebelt Routing............................................... 344
Engine Specifications - 3.5L Ecoboost™.................................................344
Drivebelt Routing............................................... 345
Entertainment...............................................437 AM/FM Radio...................................................... 439
Apps........................................................................\
447
Bluetooth Stereo or USB................................ 446
CD (If equipped)................................................ 445
HD Radio ™ Information (If
Available)........................................................ 442
SiriusXM® Satellite Radio (If Activated)....................................................... 440
Sources................................................................. 438
Supported Media Players, Formats and Metadata Information................................. 447
USB Ports.............................................................. 447
Environment
......................................................15
Essential Towing Checks..........................252
Before Towing a Trailer.................................... 253
Hitches................................................................... 252
Launching or Retrieving a Boat or Personal Watercraft (PWC)........................................ 254
Safety Chains...................................................... 252
Trailer Brakes....................................................... 253
Trailer Lamps....................................................... 253When Towing a Trailer.....................................
253
Event Data Recording See: Data Recording.............................................. 9
Export Unique Options.................................14
Exterior Mirrors
................................................92
Auto-dimming Feature...................................... 94
Auto-Folding Mirrors........................................... 93
Blind Spot Information System...................... 94
Direction Indicator Mirrors ............................... 94
Fold-Away Exterior Mirrors............................... 93
Heated Exterior Mirrors ..................................... 94
Integrated Blind Spot Mirror............................ 94
Memory Mirrors .................................................... 94
Power Exterior Mirrors........................................ 92
F
Fastening the Seatbelts..............................36 Rear Inflatable Seatbelt.................................... 38
Seatbelt Locking Modes.................................... 37
Using Seatbelts During Pregnancy................36
Flat Tire See: Changing a Road Wheel........................ 337
Floor Mats......................................................258
Fog Lamps - Front See: Front Fog Lamps......................................... 87
Foot Pedals See: Adjusting the Pedals................................ 80
Ford Credit
..........................................................11
US Only...................................................................... 11
Ford Protect
...................................................497
Ford Protect Extended Service Plan
(CANADA ONLY).......................................... 498
Ford Protect Extended Service Plans (U.S. Only).................................................................. 497
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................191 Principle of Operation........................................ 191
Front Fog Lamps
............................................87
Front Parking Aid.........................................206
Obstacle Distance Indicator.......................... 207
Front Passenger Sensing System............46
Fuel and Refueling
........................................175
Fuel Consumption........................................181
Advertised Capacity........................................... 181
Fuel Economy....................................................... 181
Fuel Filler Funnel Location.........................177
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Explorer (TUB) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201711, Fourth-Printing Index