I have observed three different results (please note: this is not a comprehensive, data-logged representation, simply a WAG or slightly better interpretation of my observation)

• 90% of the time - Running boards deploy, approach lighting turns on
• 7% of the time, nothing happens until I touch the handle or press the Unlock button on the fob
• 3% of the time, the running boards deploy, approach lighting turns on and the doors unlock

Living where I live and carousing where I carouse, I would prefer (or at least don't mind) the third option all the time. Second option is ridiculous.
But what's most disturbing is that it's not consistent. Am I an outlier, or are others seeing the same thing?

 

How is your battery state of health and charge? Running boards are many times the first thing to indicate an issue

 

While I cannot say exact percentages, I would say that this is damn near a perfect description of what mine does as well. Mine is a 24 Plat Tremor 6.7 HO. My batteries are always at 93% or higher, AGM and have been tested in good condition.

 

Nope you are not an outlier. Mine does the same thing. However I do not have automatic running boards, I have the fixed.
100% of the time I get close to the vehicle the approach lights will turn on.
I would say.....perhaps 5% of the time the doors will automatically unlock.
Rather annoying especially if I don't notice coming inside at night and I come out in the morning and the doors on the truck are unlocked.

 

My truck received the "approach" update one night and all of a sudden my truck started turning on the lights and dropping the running boards when I approached- which I hated. You know, sometimes a person may actually walk by their truck and not want to get in. So I tried to find the menu to turn the option off. It wasn't in there. I had to go into FORScan to turn on the menu that allows me to turn the approach stuff off.

Ford continues to amaze at how badly they can screw up the simplest electronics and associated updates. It's not rocket science, but Ford continues its campaign to convince us that it is.

 

^^^^
Pretty much my experience. And yes, that automatic unlocking is a bit concerning although I've not yet had that happen when I was leaving the truck - only when I was truly approaching.

 

I've not noticed any changes in the approach actions. I do have the option turned off in the settings, though. I do kinda wish they'd add the proximity lock/unlock feature so that it unlocks as you get close with fob, but more importantly, it would lock when you walk away with the fob.

 

Approach settings are in sync screen
it will prompt you ..that it also turns off approach lighting

Battery state of charge effects every thing in these trucks
as does fob battery

Charge your batteries to 95%
Then see what occurs
You can also set running boards to exstended time deployed..
mine picks me up within 20 feet if i approach driver side
if I approach from rear of truck its about 5 feet the boards drop amd lights come on..but not unlock until I touch the door. It that helps

 

That's interesting on the battery charge. In another thread I note that my autofold mirrors don't fold on locking, be it using the keypad, fob, or handle button. My truck is 6 months old with 2500 miles, I would hope my two batteries are still OK!

 

short trips don't recharge them to 95%
They use tons of power
If mine sits for over 4 days
it gets battery charger hooked up
otas will not download either if state of charge is less than 60...

 

I have approach turned on all the time, and it reacts differently for no apparent reason.

I do drive only 12-15 miles each way to work and back, but every couple of weeks I drive 800-1000 over a weekend. If Ford has not designed their charging system to work with that sort of driving habits they may as well go back to school. I have dual batteries and dual alternators...

And yes, I do have the running boards in the extended time mode, because even thought the screen says in "normal" mode they stay out for approx 25 seconds, mine were consistently 8-12 seconds. Not enough time to go from one side of the truck to the other.

 

The Battery management system is poorly engineered.
These vehicles should come with a battery maintainer.
This video is helpful to understand it in my opinion.

 

OK, one other point.

Say that the battery level is "too low" to deploy the steps until you touch the handle. OK, I can SORTA understand that.

BUT WHY does it unlock sometimes? As far as I know, it's not SUPPOSED to do that. Ever.

 

not to poop on your parade or demean you
but 12 to 15 miles will not charge the batteries back up to 95% , simply not enough time to replace what was used in the start sequence etc. these trucks pulls a bunch of amps right off the get go, yes the gas pulls less amps than the 6.7 .
you would think if levels are low enough to cause issues the boards would not deploy
but state of charge issues create more weirdness because a module might wake up or engage late of out of sequence , remember you are turning on much more than a starter and ac fan
one other thing i have found is to remote start which ever vehicle we are using, even if its 30 to 45 seconds early
it will allow truck to get started and wake every thing up and also start charging, then unlock and press start and get ready to go

800 miles yes sir it should top off easy
if it was me, charge it to 95%
then say mid week toss it back on charger
dual alternators still will only allow so many amps back in at once to prevent ruining the battery
i have 2 alternators but one is 24 volt to run the 2k on board genny thing