SYNC 4 Issues / Connectivity Settings not Available

[Mako825]

Jumped in the 2024 Ford Expedition this morning to run an errand and the onboard NAV system would not let me search for my destination address. An info box popped up that read :
Feature Disabled
This feature requires connectivity.
Please enable in Connectivity Settings


When I go to Settings and select Connectivity I get this error message:

Menu Not Available
Connectivity Settings are currently not available.
Please wait and try again later. If the problem persists, please see your dealer.

The NAV, WI-FI and SYBC IV were all dialed in and working fine. Now, they and many of the other items on the display are unavailable. Is there something I can check? Maybe something was turned off by mistake?

 

[LegalBrief]

Did you pay for the cellular data plan.. no on board data be my guess.

 

[Mako825]

Hmmm….just got the suv a month ago and everything has been working fine. I thought that it came with Ford Connect or something that lasted until next year. Is a data plan required after you have it a month ?

 

[LegalBrief]

Hmmm….just got the suv a month ago and everything has been working fine. I thought that it came with Ford Connect or something that lasted until next year. Is a data plan required after you have it a month ?

No data plan... no work… free trial is I think 30 days

 

[Mako825]

Jumped in the 2024 Ford Expedition this morning to run an errand and the onboard NAV system would not let me search for my destination address. An info box popped up that read :
Feature Disabled
This feature requires connectivity.
Please enable in Connectivity Settings


When I go to Settings and select Connectivity I get this error message:

Menu Not Available
Connectivity Settings are currently not available.
Please wait and try again later. If the problem persists, please see your dealer.

The NAV, WI-FI and SYBC IV were all dialed in and working fine. Now, they and many of the other items on the display are unavailable. Is there something I can check? Maybe something was turned off by mistake?

I have been re-checking my on-board settings and doing a little more research. According to my FordPass account details, I have "Connected Navigation" and "Ford Premium Connectivity" until 01/01/2025. And, my FordPass account is active and linked to the 2024 Expedition. So, I came up empty as to why it quit working.

But then, I drove the Expedition today and while out and about, I checked the all the on-board settings and I everything was magically working again - except the NAV options. When I tried those it gave me an info box / error message that I needed to check several on-board connectivity settings. I found that "Vehicle Connectivity" was "off" and I turned it "on" and then the NAV options appeared and were also working.

The "Vehicle Connectivity" setting wasn't disabled by me, so I can only guess that the Expedition received a software update and it changed some of the settings. I don't really know what happened. It's all a little overly complicated for my tastes with too many subscriptions and too many switches to get things to work properly. But I am happy it's all working.

I guess I need to look at all the on-board options before these trial subscriptions expire 01/01/2025 and figure out which ones I like and want to keep. Then determine what subscription or service (Connected Navigation vs. Ford Premium Connectivity) is required for each. For example, I can't figure out why I need my vehicle to have a wi-fi hotspot? Would love to hear how others use this. Maybe I'm missing something?

 

[Mako825]

Well, I received an email from Ford that the subscription for Ford Connected Navigation is expiring at year-end and that I need to renew. I plan to as I like having / using the built-in / on-board GPS.

I also received an email from Ford that my Ford Premium Connectivity service is expiring at year-end and that I need to renew. I'm not sure that I need it as the features it lists are:
- Alexa
- Wi-Fi® Hotspot (for up to 10 devices)
- Entertainment (karaoke, games)
- Video and Audio Streaming
? Connected Navigation/Google Maps
- Voice Assistant
- Video Conferencing

I use none of these features. However, I am curious if my Ford Connected Navigation subscription requires a Ford Premium Connectivity subscription?

I am also curious if my radio (and apps like Sirius XM) requires Ford Premium Connectivity subscription in order to work?

I did call Ford Customer Service and had no luck getting any answers.

 

[Mako825]

Well, I received an email from Ford that the subscription for Ford Connected Navigation is expiring at year-end and that I need to renew. I plan to as I like having / using the built-in / on-board GPS.

I also received an email from Ford that my Ford Premium Connectivity service is expiring at year-end and that I need to renew. I'm not sure that I need it as the features it lists are:
- Alexa
- Wi-Fi® Hotspot (for up to 10 devices)
- Entertainment (karaoke, games)
- Video and Audio Streaming
? Connected Navigation/Google Maps
- Voice Assistant
- Video Conferencing

I use none of these features. However, I am curious if my Ford Connected Navigation subscription requires a Ford Premium Connectivity subscription?

I am also curious if my radio (and apps like Sirius XM) requires Ford Premium Connectivity subscription in order to work?

I did call Ford Customer Service and had no luck getting any answers.

I decided to try and call Ford Customer Service again. This time I was forwarded to someone in IT. They confirmed that Ford Connected Navigation and using my Sirius XM subscription are not dependent on having a Ford Premium Connectivity subscription. I also confirmed that getting Sync 4 software updates to my vehicle do not require a Ford Premium Connectivity subscription.

On the flip side, they told me that a Ford Connected Navigation subscription is required if one uses Alexa to call up songs that stream to the vehicle. Or, if you use your vehicle as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Or, if you video conference in your car using the vehicle display. Or, if you watch video content using the vehicle display when not moving. I do not do use nor need any of these features.

So, I only renewed the only Ford Connected Navigation subscription. When I went to pay, there was a promotion available and it only cost $50 instead of $80.