Accessory power question with push button start
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: NH
Accessory power question with push button start
What am I missing? On our Lincoln with push-button start, pushing the "start" button without touching the brake activates accessory power mode, where you can operate the power windows, radio, wipers, sunroof, etc.
Pushing the start button on the new Super Duty activates "full accessory power" but that is basically the equivalent of turning the ignition key to position II - where all the warning lights turn on...which they do on the Super Duty. It also turns your headlights on at night. You can hit the button again and have retained power to operate the windows and roof for 10 minutes or so, but no wipers.
How do I just access standard acc power?
The owner's manual gives no information on this.
Lastly, why does the stupid Sync 3 screen go to full brightness at night if the headlights are off? Drives me nuts.
Pushing the start button on the new Super Duty activates "full accessory power" but that is basically the equivalent of turning the ignition key to position II - where all the warning lights turn on...which they do on the Super Duty. It also turns your headlights on at night. You can hit the button again and have retained power to operate the windows and roof for 10 minutes or so, but no wipers.
How do I just access standard acc power?
The owner's manual gives no information on this.
Lastly, why does the stupid Sync 3 screen go to full brightness at night if the headlights are off? Drives me nuts.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2016
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Great question!!! I also HATE the screen going to full bright. We live in a 5th wheel and I want my lights off if I am on the phone when I get at home at night. However the screen is so bright I find myself leaving the lights on. Hope the neighbors don't key my truck 
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Corn Country, Kansas
You got it Epic, press it twice for accessory mode. I played with a Lariat a few weeks back, worked like a charm.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 4
From: Western New York
On our MKC just pushing the radio volume button (on/off) does the same thing. I have to check if the windows operate but it does refresh the timeout on the radio which I assume would put it back in accessory mode.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: NH
Push it twice and what you have is "retained accessory power." No different than turning the engine off. It gives you 10 minutes or so of being able to operate the windows and sunroof and radio before timing out. Then you have to repeated the procedure...which annoyingly turns the headlights back on and delays them off by whatever time limit is set, and turns on the interior lights for their delay. During this period, you also cannot run the wipers.
I'm envisioning sitting in a parking lot on a dark, raining night, waiting for the better half to come out of the store. Once I park, I want to be able to listen to tunes and crack a window, plus occasionally clear the windshield so I can see when she's coming out of the store to pick her up.
Nowhere other than full accessory power do I see the ability to operate the wipers. It just seems like the normal "ACC" setting which the pushbutton Lincoln has is missing on this Super Duty...or I have no idea how to operate it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Corn Country, Kansas
Nope, that doesn't do it. Push it once for "full accessory power" which turns all the warning lights on, headlights on, etc. Yes, everything works on that setting but then you'd have to manually turn the headlights off, climate control off, etc.
Push it twice and what you have is "retained accessory power." No different than turning the engine off. It gives you 10 minutes or so of being able to operate the windows and sunroof and radio before timing out. Then you have to repeated the procedure...which annoyingly turns the headlights back on and delays them off by whatever time limit is set, and turns on the interior lights for their delay. During this period, you also cannot run the wipers.
I'm envisioning sitting in a parking lot on a dark, raining night, waiting for the better half to come out of the store. Once I park, I want to be able to listen to tunes and crack a window, plus occasionally clear the windshield so I can see when she's coming out of the store to pick her up.
Nowhere other than full accessory power do I see the ability to operate the wipers. It just seems like the normal "ACC" setting which the pushbutton Lincoln has is missing on this Super Duty...or I have no idea how to operate it.
Push it twice and what you have is "retained accessory power." No different than turning the engine off. It gives you 10 minutes or so of being able to operate the windows and sunroof and radio before timing out. Then you have to repeated the procedure...which annoyingly turns the headlights back on and delays them off by whatever time limit is set, and turns on the interior lights for their delay. During this period, you also cannot run the wipers.
I'm envisioning sitting in a parking lot on a dark, raining night, waiting for the better half to come out of the store. Once I park, I want to be able to listen to tunes and crack a window, plus occasionally clear the windshield so I can see when she's coming out of the store to pick her up.
Nowhere other than full accessory power do I see the ability to operate the wipers. It just seems like the normal "ACC" setting which the pushbutton Lincoln has is missing on this Super Duty...or I have no idea how to operate it.
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Hotshot
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From: NH
Now, with the smart key in pocket, you can just get in the truck, push nothing, and turn on the radio. That's nice, but it gives you no windows or wiper operation.
The worst thing is that massively bright Sync 3 screen at night. You can only fix it with the engine off by tediously going through several menus and switching to night mode (and then have to set it back to auto later) or the easier option of switching your parking lights on manually. Come on, Ford. Didn't anybody try this? F-150 is the same way.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
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The NAV in my 2011 has a button one the lower left of the controls that turns off the screen. I use it all the time when backing the RV at night (wouldn't have to if the reverse lights were in-op with the 5th wheel hooked up).
No button like this on the new trucks?
No button like this on the new trucks?
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: NH
Not anymore.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,446
Likes: 28
From: Hot Springs
There is a way with the Forescan software to activate full accessory power to be on for like 3hrs if im not mistaken..
Going to look more into this as it was a pain when I needed to charge my phone at the deer lease this week.
Going to look more into this as it was a pain when I needed to charge my phone at the deer lease this week.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,336
Likes: 4
From: Western New York
Having the power outlets shut down is not necessarily a bad thing. Did you consider adding an additional USB tied to an always hot source just for the phone charge?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,541
Likes: 5
From: Weatherford Texas.
ONe thing I wish we could do is either program the key fob for 2 vehicles, or program the vehicles to take the same fob, when I get this truck we will have 2 Fords with the push button start would love to only have to have one fob in my pocket.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
That makes way too much sense. I didn't think of that but now I'll have to deal with two fobs. One for the Super Duty and another for the wife's Explorer.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,336
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From: Western New York
I keep my fob for my wife's MKC in a drawer in the kitchen, now in a Faraday cage. It is close enough to the car outside that the puddle and tail lights often say "Hello" all by themselves for no apparent reason. I always try to sooth the car and ask it to be quiet but it never listens to me. Some days I try to drive it nuts by walking around the yard with the fob in my pocket and it really gets excited when mowing the lawn, often times calling out "can we go!? can we go!?"