Display of autonomous vehicles Lane Assist and Adaptive Cruise control features on a 2020 Ford Explorer ST

Fully loaded Autonomous Vehicles

Whether you are comfortable with an autonomous vehicle or not, the safety features are quickly becoming standard on many new cars and SUV models like the new Ford Explorers. Though modern vehicles do not currently drive themselves fully (without hands on the steering wheel due to legal reasons), it is good to brush up on the fantastic features available now when looking for a new car.

Blind Spot Information System, or BLIS

BLIS is a feature that alerts you of other vehicles that may be hidden in your blindspots. If there is a car beside you while you are driving, the light on the mirror will turn on. If you turn on your blinker to change lanes and a vehicle may be lurking in your blind spot, some car, SUV, and self-driving truck models, like the Ford Ranger, will make an audible beep and display an alert on the dash to make you aware. Also, on autonomous vehicles, BLIS is beneficial when backing out of a parking spot, as it will make an audible warning if someone is coming through the parking lot a little too fast and makes backing up unsafe. Ford’s BLIS feature is undoubtedly a must-have safety feature in today’s modern world.

Video of Cross-Traffic Alert.

 

Pre-Collision Assist with Emergency Braking

We get it – accidents happen, but they don’t have to with autonomous vehicles. Not anymore, at least. Imagine this, you’re driving down the road approaching a green light. You get briefly distracted for whatever reason, the light changes, and the person in front of you stops. Better have your insurance company on speed dial, right? Well, maybe not. The Pre-Collision Assist can detect if you’re approaching the other vehicle a little too fast, make audible alert, and even brake for you! This feature has dramatically reduced the likelihood of a fender-bender, especially ones with injuries, and is also another must-have safety feature!

Adaptive Cruise Control

This feature pairs nicely with the next element on the list and is as close to self-driving as it gets in modern-day. As implied by the name, it automatically adjusts the speed of your car with traffic. If you’re cruising down the interstate and the vehicle ahead slows down, you do not need to brake. Your Adaptive Cruise Control will detect the vehicle ahead and automatically adjust its speed accordingly. If traffic speeds back up, then it will automatically return to its original rate. If you frequently travel, this is definitely something you need to test drive, I promise you will love it.

Display of autonomous vehicle Lane Assist and Adaptive Cruise control features on a 2020 Ford Explorer ST

Display of the Lane Assist and Adaptive Cruise control features on a 2020 Ford Explorer ST

Lane-Keeping System

Sometimes, we get distracted. That’s just how it is sometimes, and with Lane-Keeping assist, autonomous vehicles are making things safer. This feature does not mean hands-free, but it is there to act as supplementary assistance for steering. This not perfect but will definitely help with reasonable roads. It will make an audible noise if you begin to drift across the yellow line, and if it keeps happening, your car will recommend taking a break. If you’re looking for autonomous cars with this feature, I would recommend looking at the Ford Escapes.

Lane Assist is not a substitution for driving. Everyone in the video is experienced with lane-keeping tech. Hands should be kept on the wheel at all times and the driver be prepared to control if needed.

 

For more information on Ford Co-Pilot360 and it’s incredible features, click here!

Apple CarPlay Sync 3 Ford Technology

 

 

 

It’s becoming tougher and tougher to ignore — our vehicles are becoming smarter. Luckily, your local Ford Dealer is here to help! With new updates to Ford SYNC3 technology, which are far better to the previous SYNC system, it is faster than ever before to enter your target location into your navigation system, voice control some of your favorite apps, and even control your smart home devices through the Alexa App. details

 

But no worries, we’re here to help with every bit of it! 

 

Most of the time, SYNC3 handles most of the heavy lifting for us by doing it all automatically. However, here are some troubleshooting tips from a Ford dealer just in case things don’t go quite so smoothly.

 

Make sure your USB cable is firmly connected to your phone and your vehicle.

Sometimes the frankest option is the best option, and here’s to hoping this is one of those times, but if not,

 

Disconnect, forget and reconnect your devices. 

Go into the settings on your Ford console and your smartphone to completely unpair the Bluetooth connection. Make sure to select the forget device option on both devices to begin from a clean slate. Hopefully, that will solve the problem, and your devices will be operating as usual.

 

Perform a Master Reset on your Ford Console.

This will completely restore your SYNC connect system and forget all of your Bluetooth devices. Which is also an excellent thing to keep in mind if you are planning on selling or trading your vehicle soon as well. Make sure your vehicle is in park. Then navigate to Settings -> General -> Scroll to the bottom -> Master Reset -> Continue. If you are not planning on parting ways with your vehicle, hit Yes for automatic updates. It will help prevent the next step.

 

Make sure you have the latest SYNC3 update.

Most likely it is up to date as SYNC3 will update on its own when connected to Wi-Fi. However, if it is not, the latest version of SYNC3 varies depending on the vehicle. There is not a quick fix for a manual SYNC3 update. And sadly, if your car or truck is no longer under its factory warranty, a manual update could cost you some money. If you are unsure about whether or not your vehicle has the latest version of SYNC3 you can contact the Chatsworth Ford Service department at 1-706-503-1647 between 8am – 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday, or reach out to us on Facebook and make sure to have your VIN handy. We’re always here to help our Ford family.

 

 

Follow us on Social media!

 

Chatsworth Ford: Top Quality and Service Since 1990

Chatsworth Ford should be your first and last stop for all your new and used vehicle needs. Proudly serving the greater Chatsworth, Georgia, area since 1990, Chatsworth Ford has a large selection of vehicles from sedans to SUVs, pickup trucks, and more. Our expert ford dealer sales staff is here to help you smoothly transition into your next vehicle whether you want something brand-new or slightly used. Looking for a Ford dealership near me? Stop in today — we look forward to serving you.

 

Highly Trained Service Staff

All of our service technicians are Ford Factory Certified, so you know when you bring your car in for service, you will get the best. The Ford technical training program provides its technicians with multiple training methods to make sure that they have the knowledge and skills to diagnose and repair all Ford vehicles. Our service technicians also have access to the latest technologies from Ford and access to state-of-the-industry training in computer diagnostics.