2021 FORD EXPLORER Owners Manual

CONNECTED VEHICLE – TROUBLESHOOTING - VEHICLES WITH:
MODEM
Possible Cause and Resolution
Symptom
I cannot confirm the
connection of my FordPass
account to the modem. –
Modem is not enabled.
•Switch connectivity features on.
– Weak network signal.
•Move your vehicle closer to a place where the
network signal is not obstructed.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Connected Vehicle

CONNECTED VEHICLE – TROUBLESHOOTING - VEHICLES WITH:
SYNC 3
Possible Cause and Resolution
Symptom
I cannot connect to a Wi-Fi
network. –
Password error.
•Enter the correct network password.
– Weak network signal.
•Move your vehicle closer to the Wi-Fi hotspot or to
a place where the network signal is not obstructed.
– Multiple access points in range with the same SSID.
•Use a unique name for your SSID. Do not use the
default name unless it contains a unique identifier,
for example as part of the MAC address.
The Wi-Fi connection
disconnects after successful
connection. –
Weak network signal.
•Move your vehicle closer to the Wi-Fi hotspot or to
a place where the network signal is not obstructed.
I am close to a Wi-Fi hotspot
but the network signal
strength is weak. –
Obstructed network signal.
•If your vehicle has a heated windshield, position
your vehicle so that the windshield is not facing the
Wi-Fi hotspot.
• If your vehicle has metallic tinting on the windows
but not on the windshield, position your vehicle so
that the windshield is facing the Wi-Fi hotspot or
open the windows that are facing the hotspot.
• If your vehicle has metallic tinting on the windows
and the windshield, open the windows that are
facing the hotspot.
• If your vehicle is in a garage and you have the
garage door closed, open the garage door.
I cannot see a network in the
list of available networks
that I expect to see. –
Hidden network.
•Make the network visible and try again.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Connected Vehicle

Possible Cause and Resolution
Symptom
I cannot see the Wi-Fi
hotspot name when I search
for Wi-Fi networks on my
cell phone or other device. –
System limitation.
•Make sure Wi-Fi hotspot visibility is on.
• The system does not provide a Wi-Fi hotspot at
this time.
– Weak network signal.
•Move your vehicle closer to the Wi-Fi hotspot or to
a place where the network signal is not obstructed.
– Wi-Fi hotspot in high demand or has a slow Internet
connection.
•Use a more reliable Wi-Fi hotspot.
Software downloads take
too long.
–No software update available.
– Wi-Fi network requires a subscription or acceptance
of terms and conditions.
•Test the connection using another device. If the
network requires a subscription or acceptance of
terms and conditions, contact the network service
provider.
The system seems to
connect to a Wi-Fi network
and the signal strength is
excellent but the software
does not update.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Connected Vehicle

CREATING A VEHICLE WI-FI
HOTSPOT
You can create a Wi-Fi hotspot in your
vehicle and allow devices to connect to it
for access to the Internet.
Select the settings option on the
feature bar.
1. Press FordPass Connect.
2. Press
Vehicle Hotspot.
Note: The vehicle hotspot default setting
is on.
3. Press
Settings.
4. Press
Wi-Fi visibility.
Note: The Wi-Fi Visibility default setting is
on.
Finding the Wi-Fi Hotspot Name
and Password Select the settings option on the
feature bar.
1. Press
FordPass Connect.
2. Press
Vehicle Hotspot.
3. Press
Settings.
Note: The SSID is the hotspot name.
4. Press
View Password.
Connecting a Device to the Wi-Fi
Hotspot
1. On your device, switch Wi-Fi on and select the hotspot from the list of
available Wi-Fi networks.
2. When prompted, enter the password.
Purchasing a Data Plan
1. Connect a device to the hotspot.
Note: The vehicle network carrier ’s portal
opens on your device. 2. If the portal does not open on your
device, open a website and it redirects
to the vehicle network carrier ’s portal.
Note: Secure websites do not redirect.
3. Follow the instructions on the carrier portal to purchase a plan.
Note: If you have an active plan, the system
does not redirect to the vehicle network
carrier ’s portal when you connect a device.
Visit the vehicle network carrier ’s website
to purchase more data.
Note: If data usage information is available
in the vehicle hotspot menu, it is
approximate.
Note: If you carry out a master reset, the
system does not remove your vehicle from
your vehicle network carrier ’s account. To
remove your vehicle from the account,
contact your vehicle network carrier.
Note: The vehicle network carrier provides
Vehicle Hotspot services, subject to your
vehicle network carrier agreement, coverage
and availability.
CHANGING THE VEHICLE WI-
FI HOTSPOT NAME OR
PASSWORD Select the settings option on the
feature bar.
1. Press
FordPass Connect.
2. Press
Vehicle Hotspot.
3. Press
Settings.
4. Press
Edit.
5. Press
Change SSID Name.
6. Enter your required SSID.
7. Press
Done.
8. Press
Change Password.
9. Enter your required password.
10. Press
Done.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Vehicle Wi-Fi HotspotE280315 E280315 E280315

GENERAL INFORMATION
WARNING: Driving while distracted
can result in loss of vehicle control, crash
and injury. We strongly recommend that
you use extreme caution when using any
device that may take your focus off the
road. Your primary responsibility is the
safe operation of your vehicle. We
recommend against the use of any hand-held device while driving and
encourage the use of voice-operated
systems when possible. Make sure you
are aware of all applicable local laws
that may affect the use of electronic
devices while driving.
Radio Frequencies and Reception
Factors
Note: Listening to loud audio for long
periods of time could damage your hearing. Radio Reception Factors
The further you travel from an AM or FM station, the
weaker the signal and the weaker the reception.
Distance and strength
Hills, mountains, tall buildings, bridges, tunnels, freeway
overpasses, parking garages, dense tree foliage and
thunderstorms can interfere with the reception.
Terrain
When you pass a ground-based broadcast repeating
tower, a stronger signal may overtake a weaker one and
result in the audio system muting.
Station overload
AUDIO UNIT Note:
Depending on your vehicle option
package, the controls may look different
from what you see here.
Note: Some features, such as satellite
radio, may not be available in your location.
Check with an authorized dealer.
Note: The touchscreen system controls
most of the audio features. Adjusting the Volume
Turn to adjust the volume.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Audio SystemE286496 E265373

Changing Radio Stations
In radio mode, turn to search through the
radio frequency band.
In satellite radio mode, turn to find the
previous or next available satellite radio
station.
Switching the Audio Unit On and
Off
Press and release the button.
Using Seek, Fast Forward and
Reverse In radio mode, select a frequency band and
press and release either button. The
system stops at the first station it finds in
that direction. In satellite radio mode, press and release
to select the next or previous satellite radio
station. If you select a specific category,
such as jazz, rock or news, press to find the
next or previous station in that category.
DIGITAL RADIO (IF EQUIPPED)
Note: HD Radio broadcasts are not
available in all markets.
HD Radio technology is the digital
evolution of analog AM/FM radio. Your
system has a special receiver that allows
it to receive digital broadcasts, where
available, in addition to the analog
broadcasts, it already receives. Digital
broadcasts provide a better sound quality
than analog broadcasts with free,
crystal-clear audio and no static or
distortion. For more information, and a
guide to available stations and
programming, please visit
www.hdradio.com.
When HD Radio is on and you tune to a
station broadcasting HD Radio technology,
you may notice the HD Radio logo on your
screen. When this logo is available, you
may also see Title and Artist fields
on-screen.
The multicast indicator appears in FM
mode, only, if the current station is
broadcasting multiple digital broadcasts.
The highlighted numbers signify available
digital channels where new or different
content is available. HD1 signifies the main
programming status and is available in
analog and digital broadcasts. Other
multicast stations, HD2 through HD7, are
only available digitally.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Audio SystemE265696

When HD Radio broadcasts are active, you
can access the following functions:
•
Memory presets allow you to save an
active channel as a memory preset.
Touch and hold a memory preset slot
until the sound returns. There is a brief
mute while the radio saves the station.
Sound returns when finished. When switching to an HD2 or HD3 memory
preset, the sound mutes before the
digital audio plays, because the system
has to reacquire the digital signal.
Note: As with any saved radio station, you
cannot access the saved station if your
vehicle is outside the station ’s reception
area.
HD Radio Reception and Station Troubleshooting Potential reception issues
If you are listening to a multicast station and you are on
the fringe of the reception area, the station may mute due
to weak signal strength.
Reception area
If you are listening to HD1, the system switches back to
the analog broadcast until the digital broadcast is available
again. However, if you are listening to any of the possible
HD2-HD7 multicast channels, the station mutes and stays
muted unless it is able to connect to the digital signal
again.
When the system first receives a station, aside from HD2-
HD7 multicast stations, it first plays the station in the
analog version. Once the receiver verifies the station is an
HD Radio station, it shifts to the digital version. Depending
on the station quality, you may hear a slight sound change
when the station changes from analog to digital. Blending
is the shift from analog to digital sound or digital back to
analog sound.
Station blending
In order to provide the best possible
experience, use the contact form to report
any station issues found while listening to
a station broadcasting with HD Radio
technology. Independent entities own and
operate each station. These stations are
responsible for the accuracy of all audio
streams and data fields. 428
Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Audio System

Potential station issues
Action
Cause
Issues
No action required. This is a
broadcast issue.
This is poor time alignment
by the radio broadcaster.
Echo, stutter, skip or repeat
in audio.
Increase or decrease in
audio volume.
No action required. The
reception issue may clear up
as you continue to drive.
The radio is shifting between
analog and digital audio.
Sound fading or blending in
and out.
No action required. This is
normal behavior. Wait until
the audio is available.
The digital multicast is not
available until the HD Radio
broadcast is decoded. Once
decoded, the audio is avail-
able.
There is an audio mute
delay when selecting HD2 or
HD3, multicast preset or
Direct Tune.
No action required. The
station is not available in
your current location.
The previously stored
multicast preset or direct
tune is not available in your
current reception area.
Cannot access HD2 or HD3
multicast channel when
recalling a preset or from a
direct tune.
Fill out the station issue
form at website listed
below.1
Data service issue by the
radio broadcaster.
Text information does not
match currently playing
audio.
Fill out the station issue
form at website listed
below.1
Data service issue by the
radio broadcaster.
There is no text information
shown for currently selected
frequency.
1 http://hdradio.com/stations/feedback
HD Radio Technology manufactured under
license from iBiquity Digital Corporation
and foreign patents. HD Radio and the HD
and HD Radio logos are proprietary
trademarks of DTS Ford Motor Company
and DTS are not responsible for the
content sent using HD Radio technology.
Content may be changed, added or deleted
at any time at the station owner's
discretion. SATELLITE RADIO
(IF EQUIPPED)
SiriusXM® Satellite Radio broadcasts a
variety of music, news, sports, weather,
traffic and entertainment satellite radio
channels. For more information and a
complete list of SiriusXM satellite radio
channels, visit www.siriusxm.com in the
United States, www.siriusxm.ca in Canada,
or call SiriusXM at 1-888-539-7474.
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Explorer (CTW), enUSA, Edition date: 202007, Second-Printing Audio System