For Those Of Us That Bought SmartLink....

[Matt M PA]

..it's being cancelled on December 15, 2019.

So, I paid almost $300 for the unit, including 2 years of service and it will be rendered inoperative on the date above. Oh yeah...a $50 credit can be claimed. Big deal.

To say I'm ticked off would be an understatement and I do plan on contacting Ford. They're pushing the dealers heavily to get new buyers to sign up for FordPass. I'll drop that quickly.

Ok, so a bit of a rant...and I know it won't change anything...but I think it's rotten.

 

[Irish Pride]

I work at a Ford dealership and we never even carried it or sold it. Never could get the parts to sell. I had customers asking about it this time last year and we kept getting the run around with Ford. Vendor/quality control issues.

 

[Johnbigdog]

..it's being cancelled on December 15, 2019.

So, I paid almost $300 for the unit, including 2 years of service and it will be rendered inoperative on the date above. Oh yeah...a $50 credit can be claimed. Big deal.

To say I'm ticked off would be an understatement and I do plan on contacting Ford. They're pushing the dealers heavily to get new buyers to sign up for FordPass. I'll drop that quickly.

Ok, so a bit of a rant...and I know it won't change anything...but I think it's rotten.

Factory TCUs (tTelematics Control Module which is the way the car communicates with the mobile application) and the aftermarket units (the scalable security system as well as smart link) use different cell carriers. The factory units are AT&T and I cant remember what the others are.

A problem in the future for vehicles factory equipped is the cell generation. There are a lot of 2.5 and 3G tcus that wont be usable because the network doesnt support it. I dont know what's comming down the line to fix this if anything. I also havent heard of any charges for the factory system.

You can use the Ford Pass app without a TCU. It can kinda be helpfull.

Sorry for adding kinda useless info.

 

[Matt M PA]

A bit of an update. In my haste to read the email...I missed that it said a "full reimbursement plus $50..."

I don't use it much....but I'll miss it. Perhaps there's a aftermarket item that does something similar. Here's s screenshot of part of the email.

I'd have no use for FordPass without the SmartLink, as SL is the connection needed to lock, unlock, etc...

I work with a dealer, and it was a project to get the SmartLink in the first place. We got the parts in, then while trying to install it was determined that the dealership had to be "signed up" for the program. Once that was done (and I installed the hardware myself) it was hours with a technician trying to get it working.

More than a couple times it has lost connection for seemingly no reason...only to start working again at some point.

Using it required opening the FordPass app, then opening another window for SmartLink...and waiting for it to open. If I was walking towards the car, it seemed I got to the car...or close enough to use the key fob...before the app opened.

Perhaps there's an aftermarket item that does something similar? Regardless, it's coming to a close and it's the first car I've had with such a feature.

 

[JRV1631]

“I'd have no use for FordPass without the SmartLink, as SL is the connection needed to lock, unlock, etc...”

I purchased a 2018 Explorer Sport in July that had 10,200 miles on it. I can lock, unlock, start, see tire pressure, fuel level and vehicle location via FordPass. Does that mean the previous owner installed smart link and those features will go away on Dec 15th?

 

[Johnbigdog]

“I'd have no use for FordPass without the SmartLink, as SL is the connection needed to lock, unlock, etc...”

I purchased a 2018 Explorer Sport in July that had 10,200 miles on it. I can lock, unlock, start, see tire pressure, fuel level and vehicle location via FordPass. Does that mean the previous owner installed smart link and those features will go away on Dec 15th?

Smart link was a dongle that plugged into the data link connector.

There are a lot of fords that have tcus factory. Two systems

 

[Matt M PA]

Yes, to the above. The Taurus never got the modem, etc stuff needed to work with just FordPass.

I installed SmartLink to get those features. It was a bit buggy...and sometimes didn't work at all.

I the end, I think Ford is being more than fair in the refund, etc....as much as I may miss the system.

 

[JRV1631]

Yes, to the above. The Taurus never got the modem, etc stuff needed to work with just FordPass.

I installed SmartLink to get those features. It was a bit buggy...and sometimes didn't work at all.

I the end, I think Ford is being more than fair in the refund, etc....as much as I may miss the system.

Thanks for the clarification. And I agree, full refund plus $50 for the bummer, they’ve offered more than many manufacturers have in similar circumstances. Still sucks though. I just figured my 2016 SHO and my daughters 2016 Explorer Platinum, who’s VIN I have on my FordPass, didn’t have the current technology. Had I known about the “SmartLink” dongle...I’d probably be with you.

 

[Matt M PA]

Yes, my wife's 2018 EcoSport has all the lock, unlock, remote start, tire pressure check, etc from the FordPass app. The SHO is too old of a design, and wasn't updated. (Similar to how my 05 Excursion didn't get the independent front suspension, 3 valve engine, etc as the rest of '05 Super Duties)

I took the SmartLink system out last Saturday. I re-installed the Base Security System that was needed for Ford Remote Access system that didn't work on 2018s. (I was able to get a refund from the vendor for the remote access model, but not the base security part.) It's actually kind of cool...it has a motion sensor that blows the horn if the car is bumped, etc. Now...maybe this part is something all SHOs do....but if I lock the doors with the window down and open the door....there's a beep inside that gets faster before sounding the horn...and the dash displays a warning.

Anyhow, back on topic...I don't miss the SmartLink as much as I thought I would. To use it, you had to open FordPass, then open SmartLink and wait for that...then access the features. Seemed that I had often almost walked to the car before the app was ready to work. I'd like the extra range for the remote start....but I've never had it before so it's not much to miss, I suppose.

 

[Johnbigdog]

Now...maybe this part is something all SHOs do....but if I lock the doors with the window down and open the door....there's a beep inside that gets faster before sounding the horn...and the dash displays a warning.

Most all Fords with anti theft have this feature. If the opening is closed for X time after the doors are locked and the closed opening becomes open you have a few seconds to start the car or disable the perimeter alarm with the fob/keypad to disable the alarm.

The scalable system just adds the motion sensor.

 

[Matt M PA]

I knew it added motion sensor....but hd never checked it before so I didn't know about the dash part. thanks!