How to Use ALL the Tech?

[Bossharp]

I'm getting a 2024 XL single cab and one big reason why I chose that over a 2023 was getting the 12" screen and the latest tech. Since I'm driving a older Honda (2015 Fit) I have never seen or used the technology newer vehicles have.. even common things like Android auto! I was happy enough to just connect my phone to it. I'm sure some will be a challenge and I will have to learn how to fully connect my Note 8 (hope it will work!) to get the most out of of my new truck!
But there is a lot more to the tech that a 2024 comes with than just receiving a phone call. Most I haven't experienced first hand and truthfully I'm a little concerned about the 'Big Brother' aspect of some of it. I've always been concerned with privacy just with my phone. Kathy ALWAYS put a piece of tape over the camera on her laptop lolol! Some of the features seems to boost safety like automatic braking lane assist and things along that line and that is one reason I'm buying new to take advantage of it. What do YOU find useful? Do you turn some off you find annoying or distractingly? Can you? I'm really really hoping I can download a/the owner's manual to get a head start on figuring some of this out way before I actually get the truck. I don't want to be driving back from Granger trying to figure out that 12" screen..
What's important to you and do you have any tricks or tips to take advantage of all this new technology Ford puts in the newer trucks?

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[Big Dog Daddy]

To date I've not been real concerned about the "big brother" aspect of my truck. I'm way more concerned about the Android phone I have. I don't really know how much data Ford could collect from us personally, it appears thier more interested data about the truck itself. When connected using Android Auto your personal information is moving through your cell phone. Obviously Ford could collect data, as Honda was found to be doing recently with customer email storage findings. But you never know. There's a couple of gentlemen here that are always happy to answer questions and both are Android guys as well as me @Snakebitten and @powerboatr powerboatr is also retired USN.

 

[Bossharp]

Bruce when I get my 2024 XL I want to be ready to fully use and take advantage of that big 12" screen. Do you know of a link I can download a owner's manual to get some idea how to use it? Even a 2023 would be ok. It's almost pitiful that I will have to Google Android auto to see what it's about! Never used it or really any of the tech newer Ford trucks come with so it will be a new learning experience/curve for me. I started a thread in the general topics about tech and you were recommended. I'm a little concerned about privacy and even wondered if Ford could remotely stop or disable your truck if they wanted to! The fact that new vehicles basically have a cell phone built for updates ect. Was kinda surprising to me. Can a owner turn off or disable some of the features that they find annoying? I know once I actually see a manual I will better understand the system and what's possible but there's no underestimating someone who has lived with and used one might have a few tricks to share..Thank you for any insight Bruce!
Clinton Meier USN ret from Cow country in Florida..

 

[Snakebitten]

Good luck on discovering all the "tech" before actually getting to experience it first hand.
Oh, and I didn't realize that the 2024 XL was being upgraded to the 12" Sync4. That's awesome!

You'll be finding out tidbits for weeks/months after you have had the truck. Afterall, the owners manual is 750 pages? ?

As for big brother, I'm with my good friend BigDogDaddy. You could be driving a perfectly restored 1965 F100 with that Note8 in the cab with you and you are just as On-the-grid as you will be in the 2024.

 

[Snakebitten]

You posted while I was typing.
The owners manual for Gen14 trucks are available in PDF format.

Do you have a VIN yet?

 

[JeffC57]

I couldn’t find the 2024 owners manual but here the ‘23:
https://www.ford.com/support/vehicle/f150/2023/owner-manuals/
Have fun
JeffC

 

[Big Dog Daddy]

The 2024 owners manual isn't posted yet. You'll have to keep checking. It should be soon. Good luck with your new truck I just fear your plans for it. That's going to be very nice.

https://www.ford.com/support/vehicle/f150/2024/owner-manuals/

 

[Bossharp]

Just started looking at the 2023 guide...You CAN turn OFF the modem lolol! I can see even now very very few folks read the whole thing. If Ford is like many other huge corporations there whole system of Sync 4 is designed by lawyers and the best engineers in the world. I'll call Granger tomorrow and see if Chip can send me a PDF because the web site owners manual is difficult to use..
The 'legal' disclaimers are fascinating at first glance! Data IS valuable and not just for functional use. One of the very first things I will turn off is location if it will let me. Just like I do with my phone. If it was just Ford using it (all data) I wouldn't care much but them ol pesky 3rd parties. Just what the police can access IF they want to is bad enough. Just like BOGO rewards grocery stores give you they make a incredible amount of money by selling your information on exactly what you buy just like a prostitute..over and over again.
No getting around that 'terms of use' but I'll try to limit what I can. I'm not sure I even want to know just what Ford and the lawyers can gather from the truck and phone. But I WILL go through what they will tell me. I can see right now I'll be spending quite a few hours sitting in my truck in park going thru the menus and screens.

 

[Snakebitten]

You should be able to download the website manual as a pdf. No?

I have it on my phone and find it easy enough to navigate.

 

[Big Dog Daddy]

You should be able to download the website manual as a pdf. No?

I have it on my phone and find it easy enough to navigate.

Ford hasn't put the 24 F150 manual online e yet.

 

[Samson16]

You CAN turn OFF the modem lolol!

It's very difficult to be completely off grid these days. If you have any connected device with you, then disabling the truck modem is doing more harm than good imo. Folded bills in your front pocket, a paperback book, and a box of matches. Anything more than that and someone is likely able to find you lol. Oh, I forgot...no visible tats, disposable Covid mask, large cheap sunglasses, and a dark hoodie with no writing or designs.

 

[Kodiak]

Ford has some info vids that are out there and on Youtube. They are short and typically cover one thing. Most of them are very good and you can probably apply a lot of that to the 2024 you are getting.

Now what you will find if you go through everything, is that when you pick up the truck you will remember maybe 10%. The best learning you can do is to get the truck, have it ready and devote time to walk through it. Make yourself a commitment to learn 1 thing a day and learn it thoroughly. If you think you will learn 1000 things all in one shot, you will not.

Watch a vid, go out to your truck and put it in motion, and reset it and do it all over again. Go inside and take a nap and then go out and do it all over again. This will sear it into your brain and then you can move onto the next.

Good luck with this.

 

[Davexxxx]

Before my 23 F150, the next newest vehicle we own is an 02 Jeep. The truck I replaced was an 01, so I understand the massive learning curve the OP is up against and the desire to learn as much in advance as possible. I even share some of the same concerns re privacy.

But that time is past. If you have a cell phone, even with every location permission disallowed, they still know where you are and have been, within a few hundred yards. If you use a credit card, they know what you do and have, for more than a decade. Privacy is an illusion now.

I decided that the time for being a dinosaur was past and embraced the suck.

For me, getting the new truck was more like getting a new computer, with an unfamiliar operating system, than a new truck.

Chip will go over the truck's system with you. The only thing I remember from my drive home from Granger, was wishing I didn't have to learn the cruise control on the fly. So, doing it again, I'd have prepped better for that.

I like all the truck's driver assistance systems and use them every time. They aren't perfect but the occasional imperfections, are miniscule, to how great the truck is, the rest of the time.

 

[Samson16]

I spent hours idling in my driveway just going through menus and settings options with the manual available for explanation.

 

[Chappy133]

Recommend viewing the Ford YouTube videos on the "tech."

IMHO most of this stuff was added due to all the "heads down" distracted drivers in their phone.

Since I tow with a camper the feature I wanted when going from a 2013 to 2022 F-150 was the adaptive cruise control. Had to take an overnight trip recently and got to use that feature. Takes some time to learn this feature but was impressed with the stop and go capability on the interstate. Haven't towed the camper with it yet but we are headed to Key West next month so all the adaptive cruise control and pro trailer assist features will get a good work out.

The only way I know to keep big brother from tracking you is to turn off your cell phone and put it in a RFID blocking bag (I am not personally too concerned) and pay cash for all your expenditures. Then the license plate readers will be the only way to track you.

Stay safe!

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