[City2SuburbDude]

So far I think driving my F-150 Lariat (Standard Range) without BlueCruise is a pretty cool experience and it takes some time getting used to. I previously drove a Ford Explorer Sport Trac (Year 2002) for 20 years. So this new vehicle is a MAJOR upgrade in every way possible except one.

My biggest complaint so far is the lack of simplicity when it comes to the Ford Sync 4A console. For example, sometimes I just might want to scan up and down on the FM/AM radio spectrum to see what's happening on channels that are not on my preset. I feel to accomplish this I literally have to pull over and navigate through several menus or I'll need a co-pilot to perform a channel seek on my behalf while driving. On my old Sport Trac, I just long press on a seek button and I can accomplish this. On the flip side on the Sync 4A I do like the fact that can you mix AM, FM and Satellite presets together so that you don't have to let's say switch to AM mode to access AM presets only.

The other thing its simply not intuitive to make changes on the climate control. Let's say I just want to turn off the AC and ride around with the windows open. The F-150 Lightning Lariat console is not very intuitive to do this (although there is a touch screen button to set to LOW-MEDIUM-HIGH). On my 20 year old Explorer Sport Trac, I just turn a dial and I can turn the AC on or off.

Keep in mind that I am an IT geek but perhaps I am becoming a bit more GUI (Graphical User Interface) challenged as I get older but the Ford Sync 4A GUI just seems a bit convoluted. I wish there was a SIMPLE mode without all the bells and whistles so that its not trying to put every possible option in your face at the same time. I feel like it was easier for me to accomplish more for day-to-day activity on an old 2-DIN sized radio and with two climate control buttons on an old Sport Trac than I can on a ridiculously OVERSIZED almost distracting Ford Sync 4A display.

Perhaps just call me old school, but I kind of miss some of these simple old timer physical buttons. If this is simply user error on my side or just a lack of training, please point me in the right direction. Like my dealer told me, if I need to figure something out go to YouTube.

 

[FM_Jack]

I definitely agree with that and I think other manufacturers have done a better job. I posted in another thread that I wish the Driving Modes themselves were cards like Nav or Trip Energy become. And each card when clicked comes up and has "Hot Keys" like 1 pedal driving or driver assistance settings. and these settings are quick toggles or takes you directly to the setting under settings. Or maybe on the Trip Energy page something that takes you directly to the Charge settings.

This was a bigger issue for me in the mach e but because the guage cluster in the Lightning has more info, it is a bit easier to deal with. I definitely wish there was a faster way to turn off the A/C system in general.

 

[THEsocalledfan]

Do we know if the Android build is for sure coming for MY '23? When I ordered, it still said Synch 4, but wonder if a new build will help?

 

[lightningnc]

Tesla really has it right. My Model Y is significantly much easier to use than this crazy interface! Also I wish we could keep the camera running without having to sacrifice access to the radio and other stuff.

 

[ChasingCoral]

The other thing its simply not intuitive to make changes on the climate control. Let's say I just want to turn off the AC and ride around with the windows open. The F-150 Lightning Lariat console is not very intuitive to do this (although there is a touch screen button to set to LOW-MEDIUM-HIGH). On my 20 year old Explorer Sport Trac, I just turn a dial and I can turn the AC on or off.

Press the A/C "button" on the 15.5" touch screen. That will turn the A/C on or off. That is one of the controls that is always present on the screen.

Perhaps you should read through the manual starting on page 155.

 

[lightningnc]

You have to dig in to adjust the fan speed. Thats dumb. I don't like pressing a button to get to another button to change the speed.

 

[City2SuburbDude]

Press the A/C "button" on the 15.5" touch screen. That will turn the A/C on or off. That is one of the controls that is always present on the screen.

Perhaps you should read through the manual starting on page 155.

Yeah, you can do that, but it doesn't turn the fan off. That's why its not intuitive. I can turn off the AC but can only select to have a low, medium or high fan speed. Give me a turn off ALL climate control button.

 

[lightningnc]

getting to the fan speed is challenging. On my 2018 raptor it was just hard buttons. I used that more than anything in regard to AC. Volume of air and rarely temperature changes. I almost had an accident the other day because I'm not used to the interface and I needed to turn the fan speed up.

 

[HellBoy]

Tesla really has it right. My Model Y is significantly much easier to use than this crazy interface! Also I wish we could keep the camera running without having to sacrifice access to the radio and other stuff.

LOL nope it’s not…and then try to use it when it’s -30C outside, pure crap.

there’s just no replacement for traditional buttons & knobs…I ended up with a highly equipped XLT because I didn’t want to deal with ALL functions touch screen - I had loads of nightmares with my prev Model 3, and the worst part was when the screen died. With buttons and knobs, you can continue to use the vehicle without issues while a new screen is incoming, my Model 3 stayed parked, useless…for 2 months.

 

[FM_Jack]

LOL nope it’s not…and then try to use it when it’s -30C outside, pure crap.

there’s just no replacement for traditional buttons & knobs…I ended up with a highly equipped XLT because I didn’t want to deal with ALL functions touch screen - I had loads of nightmares with my prev Model 3, and the worst part was when the screen died. With buttons and knobs, you can continue to use the vehicle without issues while a new screen is incoming, my Model 3 stayed parked, useless…for 2 months.

Preach!

I want the camera button that you get with the horizontal screen. I do a 3 point turn every day I come home and I'm anal about parking my truck in the between the lines in parking spaces.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I want the camera button that you get with the horizontal screen. I do a 3 point turn every day I come home and I'm anal about parking my truck in the between the lines in parking spaces.

Or make it a permanent soft button. I really want a one-touch camera access.

 

[HellBoy]

Preach!

I want the camera button that you get with the horizontal screen. I do a 3 point turn every day I come home and I'm anal about parking my truck in the between the lines in parking spaces.

Yep! I use that button at least 2x a day! Super easy to pull up the 360 view & front camera

 

[ResidualJinx]

I'm sure this is a lost cause but can we just take the camera button from the double din screen, find where it wires into the APU, and then mount it where ever works for us with the slow tablet screen?

 

[ResidualJinx]

I'm sure this is a lost cause but can we just take the camera button from the double din screen, find where it wires into the APU, and then mount it where ever works for us with the slow tablet screen?

Initially I thought my idea was totally crazy and for sure impossible... but is that a mutherf-ing camera button on a 2022 Ford Edge with Sync 4a????

 

[FM_Jack]

Initially I thought my idea was totally crazy and for sure impossible... but is that a mutherf-ing camera button on a 2022 Ford Edge with Sync 4a????

And they have it on the lower trims, I think the left most top button for the driver. It is one my main stickin points in difference between the horizontal and vertical screens. I drove the Pro before I got my Lariat and I liked how it was full screen and how easy it was to turn on and off that feature with a hard button.

I wish they would put in the effort with the software and make it so we can have more saved buttons on cards that are more adjustable than they are now. So that at least on the screen, no matter where you are, it is always present. Or if they had a feature button that you can customize to be what you want on the steering wheel like other manufacturers do.

@Ford Motor Company hi

So I hope in future models they resolve this conflict with thinking everyone wants or needs everything to be in the screen. That is a flawed logic and imo, from the very beginning, I always thought it was the cheap and lazy way of doing it. Had nothing to do with minimalism. It saved them on designing and ordering the parts to make it happen.

And now part of me is wondering if one of the buttons on the left is a camera button I didn't realize this entire time >_> But I have never opened the frunk or tailgate with the in screen button. Why would I?

 

[ResidualJinx]

Yeah I was tracking they have them on the smaller screen but I was just thinking... hey give Ford a break, maybe they didn't create a hard coded button for Sync 4a... but I've confirmed that's a camera button on the Ford Edge, which means there really is a way to mod this out... now I'm thinking Ford Edge camera button and some crafty code modifications with FORScan. I wonder were I could put it

 

[Voltz]

I wish they would put in the effort with the software and make it so we can have more saved buttons on cards that are more adjustable than they are now. So that at least on the screen, no matter where you are, it is always present. Or if they had a feature button that you can customize to be what you want on the steering wheel like other manufacturers do.

A tablet Camera Card seems like an Occam-friendly solution and seems achievable in software. IMHO, the truck needs a physical camera button and a physical 1-pedal button, at least give me the option to create cards.

 

[FM_Jack]

A tablet Camera Card seems like an Occam-friendly solution and seems achievable in software. IMHO, the truck needs a physical camera button and a physical 1-pedal button, at least give me the option to create cards.

OMG yes, I have been leaving on the 1 pedal since one of the recent updates improved the mapping but I would go between the 2 more readily if it was easier to get to. I made a post about an idea I had about drive mode specific cards.

 

[red.blue]

Agree with these frustrations!! @Ford Motor Company pleeeeeease listen to your customers and release some updates. We have such a massive display and it is so under-utilized. No ability to customize or set favorite screens. Routine functions such as viewing cameras and adjusting climate are BURIED in sub-menus.

Why can't there just be a ONE dedicated climate screen to adjust everything? This requires opening THREE different menus/sliders: one for temp, a different one for fan speed, and different one for face/floor/defrost.

Look at Ram if you need more advice on how to do it right. They offer the ability to move and configure favorite items, split screen, and do everything with far less tapping thru multiple menus to just accomplish simple, routine tasks.