Radio not working on startup

[FordIVTteam]

Thanks Shaay,
I already have the reminders set to off and even if I switch the 911 assist to on it still does it.
It does it every time I turn the vehicle on and put reverse and then put back in drive. it is a specific pattern that does not fail.

No problem, copter7. The 911 Assist feature is usually the culprit. If you've tried master resets and your software is current, you'ill need to have the dealer look into this.

Keep me posted.

Shaay

 

[DMG632]

Several times now, when starting up our 2016 Platinum Explorer with sync 2, the radio doesn't work. It's off upon starting the vehicle and can't be turned on either by the power button on the sync screen or by the power button on the volume knob on the center console. We also can't make the radio go to full screen, however the other 3 screens work fine.

If you shut the vehicle off for about 5 mins and start it back up, it returns to normal. But if you only shut it off for a few seconds, it still won't work. And yes, we opened the door to completely power off the vehicle.

Has anyone else had this issue? I know it's an issue in the F150's with sync 3 as well. We haven't had time to take it to the dealership and since it doesn't happen on a regular basis, the chances of them being able to recreate the problem are probably pretty slim. We have not tried any of the resets that can be done by holding down certain buttons on the radio because I just learned of them tonight. Thanks for any input!

I just experienced this last night on my 16 Sport, the exact same thing. When you touch the on/off screen button it beeps but does not turn on, the center volume button has no effect. After eating dinner I went out to start checking fuses and it turned on normally.

Bringing it to the dealer would be useless since it only happened once in 6 weeks. Plus I hate going to the dealer just to have them say "we can't find anything wrong, it's working as designed".

 

[FordIVTteam]

I just experienced this last night on my 16 Sport, the exact same thing. When you touch the on/off screen button it beeps but does not turn on, the center volume button has no effect. After eating dinner I went out to start checking fuses and it turned on normally.

Bringing it to the dealer would be useless since it only happened once in 6 weeks. Plus I hate going to the dealer just to have them say "we can't find anything wrong, it's working as designed".

Hey DMG632,

I recommend checking the software version and see if you have any updates. You can find the info here: https://owner.ford.com/tools/account/how-tos/keep-your-sync-up-to-date.html

Cara

 

[DMG632]

Hey DMG632,

I recommend checking the software version and see if you have any updates. You can find the info here: https://owner.ford.com/tools/account/how-tos/keep-your-sync-up-to-date.html

Cara

Thank you for the reply. I have checked several times and it always comes back as:
Your SYNC is up-to-date!
Now, you're running the fastest, simplest and best version of SYNC

 

[peterk9]

Thank you for the reply. I have checked several times and it always comes back as:
Your SYNC is up-to-date!
Now, you're running the fastest, simplest and best version of SYNC

Have you checked the software version using the MFT to confirm?

Peter

 

[DMG632]

Have you checked the software version using the MFT to confirm?

Peter

Thanks Peter, I did check the software version and it has most recent version.

 

[peterk9]

Thanks Peter, I did check the software version and it has most recent version.

Curious as to why this issue is occurring. So far it seems to be restricted to only the 2016 models. I wonder if it will carry over to the 2017's? Each new model year seems to bring with it a unique problem.

Peter

 

[DMG632]

Curious as to why this issue is occurring.
Peter

This is a easy answer: Ford wants us to buy new Explorer with Sync 3

But who knows what problems are ahead for Sync 3. Just look at the new Honda Pilot's, they are having major issues with their new re-design, the more electronics in cars, the more problems with cars. When I totaled my 2012 Pilot I would have bought another Pilot, but I have never bought a first year new car... I am a buyer NOT a beta tester.

All kidding aside, I have no problems with Sync 2 (except for this one time occurrence) and rather enjoy it. It loads & indexes thumb drives rather quickly, no issue with the GPS, the Sirus radio stays tuned in much better that my Double Din Kenwood ever did. Even after my audio up-grade the floor noise coming from the factory head-unit is very low. This coming from an audiophile with bad hearing..... too many concerts from the 60's

 

[PinkJewel]

I have (just got a few months ago) a 2016 base explorer.. on 3 separate occasions when entering the truck the radio will not turn on!! The first time after a few minutes and turning it off, running into a store and back out it was fine, a month later I got in the vehicle drove a bit, parked it for a few hours get back in the radio would not come back on until the next morning....third time was about 2 weeks ago, drove to work, radio was fine, get in, drive, stop at a store come back radio would not come back on.. Each time I brought it to the dealer and they could not find anything wrong or duplicate the problem. The first time they claimed they rest it, but it still happened twice after this and still they are clueless.

 

[DMG632]

This has been talked about before, I have experienced it several times over the last 4 months. Since it is very only happens one every month or so..... the dealer has no idea how to fix it.
http://www.explorerforum.com/xenforo/index.php?threads/radio-not-working-on-startup.444243/

 

[PinkJewel]

Thank you, I tried searching but must have missed it.

 

[PinkJewel]

This has been talked about before, I have experienced it several times over the last 4 months. Since it is very only happens one every month or so..... the dealer has no idea how to fix it.
http://www.explorerforum.com/xenforo/index.php?threads/radio-not-working-on-startup.444243/

I don't have the MFT though, its just the base model so I am not sure its the same issue.

 

[peterk9]

I don't have the MFT though, its just the base model so I am not sure its the same issue.

Welcome to the Forum.
Your thread has been merged with this one since the symptoms appear to be similar.
Please add 'Base' to your profile so the Explorer shows as "2016 Base" in the margin. Thanks.

Peter

 

[Linux3]

I have this problem and also face bringing the car back to the dealer when the radio is working again.
Try this.
While the car is running, turn the radio off.
Turn off your Explorer and wait a couple of hours. (Actually, I don't know how much time but more than a few minutes).
Start your car.
More times than not my radio is not working. If the power button on the MFT is pressed it beeps but that is all.
This doesn't always result in the radio not working, just most of the time. The radio didn't fail when the dealer tried it. Sigh.

 

[peterk9]

I have this problem and also face bringing the car back to the dealer when the radio is working again.
Try this.
While the car is running, turn the radio off.
Turn off your Explorer and wait a couple of hours. (Actually, I don't know how much time but more than a few minutes).
Start your car.
More times than not my radio is not working. If the power button on the MFT is pressed it beeps but that is all.
This doesn't always result in the radio not working, just most of the time. The radio didn't fail when the dealer tried it. Sigh.

If you leave the radio ON when you turn the Explorer off will the radio come back ON when the vehicle is turned on? Also, with the Explorer turned OFF will the radio turn ON when you press the radio power button?

Peter

 

[FordIVTteam]

I have this problem and also face bringing the car back to the dealer when the radio is working again.
Try this.
While the car is running, turn the radio off.
Turn off your Explorer and wait a couple of hours. (Actually, I don't know how much time but more than a few minutes).
Start your car.
More times than not my radio is not working. If the power button on the MFT is pressed it beeps but that is all.
This doesn't always result in the radio not working, just most of the time. The radio didn't fail when the dealer tried it. Sigh.

Hi Linux3,

Have you done the master reset: https://owner.ford.com/how-tos/sync...h/settings/how-to-perform-a-master-reset.html You can also snap a video of the issue when it happens to show the dealer what's going on. Make sure they check for software updates as well.

Shaay

 

[Linux3]

If you leave the radio ON when you turn the Explorer off will the radio come back ON when the vehicle is turned on? Also, with the Explorer turned OFF will the radio turn ON when you press the radio power button?

Peter

With the Explorer running, turn the radio OFF.
Turn off the car and leave it for a while.
Turn the car back on and try to turn the radio ON.
More times than not pressing the powr button in MFT will click but not turn the radio ON.
If I leave the radio ON and turn off the car it will turn ON when I start the car.
The only times I have had the radio fail is when I turn it off before shutting down the car.

T have a travel trailer and when backing up I would turn the radio OFF so I could hear my wife's directions. This is what led me to narrow down the problem.
I have not performed a master reset. I hate losing all my customizations.

 

[peterk9]

With the Explorer running, turn the radio OFF.
Turn off the car and leave it for a while.
Turn the car back on and try to turn the radio ON.
More times than not pressing the powr button in MFT will click but not turn the radio ON.
If I leave the radio ON and turn off the car it will turn ON when I start the car.
The only times I have had the radio fail is when I turn it off before shutting down the car.

T have a travel trailer and when backing up I would turn the radio OFF so I could hear my wife's directions. This is what led me to narrow down the problem.
I have not performed a master reset. I hate losing all my customizations.

Since I never turn the radio off before turning the vehicle off I thought I'd go out and try it. I get the same as you. Turn radio off, turn vehicle off. Turn vehicle on and the radio remains off. If I press the control button on the screen I hear a beep and the radio turns on. So it looks like the only difference is that your radio doesn't always turn on when you press the screen button. What if you use the radio's ON/OFF button instead of the screen icon? Will that work all the time?

Peter

 

[Linux3]

Since I never turn the radio off before turning the vehicle off I thought I'd go out and try it. I get the same as you. Turn radio off, turn vehicle off. Turn vehicle on and the radio remains off. If I press the control button on the screen I hear a beep and the radio turns on. So it looks like the only difference is that your radio doesn't always turn on when you press the screen button. What if you use the radio's ON/OFF button instead of the screen icon? Will that work all the time?

Peter

When the MFT button doesn't turn on the radio the radio power button doesn't work either.

 

[peterk9]

When the MFT button doesn't turn on the radio the radio power button doesn't work either.

That should be brought to the dealer's attention. The radio not coming ON when you start the EXplorer seems to be the normal situation if you've turned it off prior to shutting down the vehicle. It appears to put the last function into memory. As mentioned by the Ford IVT team, a Master Reset might fix it. It is likely something the dealer would do anyway.

Peter