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What hidden features have you discovered in your Pacifica?

144K views 207 replies 86 participants last post by  YotoWerks  
#1 ·
Have yet to find a thread quite like this, so thought I'd start one. What surprise features have you found in your Pacifica? For example, in ours we discovered we can control the volume of the navigation guidance voice with the radio volume control (on front of dash or behind right side of steering wheel) when the voice is speaking.
 
#2 ·
Found out that if the rear hatch is open, as soon as you put it in reverse, it closes :-O, Not fun when I wanted to see something the cameras were not picking up well
 
#3 ·
The "Clip" on the driver's side visor to place a parking lot ticket for example. The fact on the 2017 model that just turning the radio volume control will un-mute the radio without having to push the volume button again. The small clip on the rear window wiper that will allow you to fully pull the wiper out of the way to wash the window or scrape the snow/ice off. The fact that the small button on the outside of each door handle can be depressed to open the doors vs. having to place your hand around the door handle. The fact that on the 2017 models with the optional 20" wheels, your provided lug-nut locks were the "Open" kind and should not have been. These lug-nut locks are made only for vehicles with a full hubcap or lug-nut "hub" cover, which of course the Pacifica does not have. The optional setting for vehicles with the blind-spot warning lights in the mirrors which allows you to add an audible double beep when an obstacle is detected (very much more effective).
 
#4 ·
Set your windshield wiper control to the first detent and the rain sensing wipers will always be on.

I have a 2017 Limited and if the lift-gate is open, when putting in reverse and/or moving in reverse does not close it.
However, a small red outline of the car, in the upper left corner, depicts the gate open.
Traveling at 5 MPH or more, in the center console a large picture with the gate open is displayed and remains there until shut.
I have to completely stop the car and then I can press the overhead close before the lift-gate closes.

Is this a new feature on the 2018?

Interesting about the locking lug nuts, Mine are just about a year old and are already rusting, I ask my dealer for the original lugs.
In fact, as I was typing this, the dealer emailed me that the lugs are on his desk!
 
#6 · (Edited)
..(edited)...I have a 2017 Limited and if the lift-gate is open, when putting in reverse and/or moving in reverse does not close it.
However, a small red outline of the car, in the upper left corner, depicts the gate open.
Traveling at 5 MPH or more, in the center console a large picture with the gate open is..... displayed and remains there until shut.
I have to completely stop the car and then I can press the overhead close before the lift-gate closes.

Is this a new feature on the 2018?
I think any of the warnings - door/gate/seat belt get center screen over a given speed.

I think I only had the side door open once -- I was able to close from the overhead button without stopping, but I may have been under 5 mph.

Also, my wife is always concerned with the liftgate whacking her in the head as she crosses the back of the van to get into the passenger seat, so more than once has gotten into the car after finishing loading something without closing the liftgate herself or reminding me to close it. And then I would start without realizing it was still open (because I did not have to put it in reverse.) Again, I always could close it from the button without having to put it into park, but not sure of the speed.
 
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#5 ·
None, I read the entire 800+ pg owners manual :) A good bedtime read
 
#8 ·
Just remembered another one. While we were driving with the windows down on the highway due to the bad A/C, I left a turn signal on after changing lanes and did not hear the clicking over the wind noise. After a while, the center of the dashboard displayed a picture of a directional and chimed.

Checked back in the manual, it says over 18 mph and 1 mile to trigger. Nice reminder. Keeps you from doing what Jerry Seinfeld called "an eventual left."
 
#14 ·
I recently discovered, when using the Navigation system for directions, in whatever State you happen to be in, on any street in the North East part of the town in which you are driving, the voice tells you to turn onto NEBRASKA-whatever-street! i.e. NE 8th St is called "Nebraska Eighth Street." How's that for an Easter Egg?



PS - I really would like a speedometer display update that allows you to select digital or a virtual analog needle dial, or an overlay of both (in the Hybrid to replace the digital-only speedometer display). Has anyone discovered a hidden Easter Egg on how to change that digital speedometer display yet?
 
#15 ·
I recently discovered, when using the Navigation system for directions, in whatever State you happen to be in, on any street in the North East part of the town in which you are driving, the voice tells you to turn onto NEBRASKA-whatever-street! i.e. NE 8th St is called "Nebraska Eighth Street." How's that for an Easter Egg? [SNIP]
I was in Atlanta a few years ago, and there was a ramp near downtown called "Connector [some number]" - like CT 15. The Garmin would say keep right to "Connecticut 15." But Nebraska for North East is pretty funny.
 
#18 ·
Not so much a hidden feature but more of a "hidden" surprise is this, and really not a big deal, but...
When I have the automatic wipers set to activate, (in the UConnect and on the turn signal stalk),
AND I have the headlights set to go on when the wipers are activated. I haven't seen the headlights go on when the wipers activate, in intermittent or continuous modes???
Hmmm?
 
#21 · (Edited)
They take about 10-20 seconds of operation to go on. If you are in a light rain, and using the intermittent wiper setting, they often will not go on if it is very long between wipe cycles. Personally, what I usually do in light rain is turn it low speed until they go on, then back to intermittent. However, if they activate so infrequently (like over a minute between wipes,) the headlights will eventually go off again. But if the lights don't come on in continuous mode after 20 seconds or so operation, have the dealer check it.

What I'd really like to see is a button to turn the lights on for the current trip...... There are many times I would like the van to a bit more visible (remember -- in these situations, it is more to be seen than using the lights to see.)

I'll try to find that "features I'd like" thread.
 
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#19 ·
I was surprised to see a “place your hands on the steering wheel” message when using ACC.
I often raise the lift gate manually by holding the button close the license plate Keeps it from hitting the garage door.
I like the hidden Chrysler logo in the middle of the windshield.
 
#22 ·
Shipping Mode. A feature that preserves battery life for transit and while aging on the lot. It turns off all aspects of automatic interior lights, the radio, remote response, and some other battery use items. While in shipping mode you need to manually unlock the doors with the hidden key located in the fob.


This may be a generalization but not many people at dealerships know about this feature. Shipping Mode normally is turned off during the post delivery inspection. Depending on the vehicle and model (Ones having dual zone air or not.), there is a hidden button sequence that can enter and exit the shipping mode.


While under a certain number of miles, the shipping mode will stay in the mode it is set to. After a certain distance you can load the shipping mode but it will exit the shipping mode on the next start. What is the use of that? Enter the shipping mode when you go to long-term parking at the airport. You will not be able to use the unlock/lock/emerg buttons on the key fob. But now you don't have to call for a $10 boost.


There is also two different secret button press sequences that let you enter a software update mode for some models. Then there is an extra sequence that will bring up the menu for the GPS and its device number. Anything with the new 4C Uconnect is single choice. Has GPS Nav or Nothing. The previous Uconnects have a GPS-prep ready model that needed the secret menu to activate the navigation. Those sequences have been changing for the past few years.
 
#28 ·
Hmm. Quick Response didn't work. Full post here.


Shipping mode. Lets give it a try. These are NOT perfect instructions. I usually will try and fail with some stuff before it works due to different models, years, and brands. I describe this below where I try using the up then the down arrows first if it doesn't work the first time.


I think for the last two years the cars with the higher end radios (RA3 RA4), you need to engage the hazard lights. Then its press and hold... the up or down button, on the left side of the steering wheel. Hold it for about 8 seconds. The engine does not need to be running but the key needs to be ON. The display graphic on the dash will scroll while pressing that. The odom will show "Ship" or "Shipping" for a few seconds when successful. Turn the engine to OFF/remove the key. Wait about 5 seconds, then open the door. If the doors unlock when you try that, it didn't stay in shipping mode. Starting the Shipping Mode on the newest 4th generation 4C radio is the same as the RA3 and RA4 with the hazards button. Exiting is the same.


You need to exit the van in a certain timed sequence or the doors will auto-unlock. It does measure how slowly you get out of the van and how fast the key is removed. This would reduce accidental lock-ins. The delays lets the system know that locking it up is planned.


There are different stages. Lock, enter ship mode, lock, wait, open door, wait, manual lock driver door and out. If the doors unlock when you get out you will need to start over. You would need to start over because the key must be on, to lock everything again. You have to do it this way because there is no manual lock button for the lift-gate. So since you turned it on to re-lock the doors, the shipping mode you were trying to set was cancelled. Once set and done, next time you open the doors with the key the Odom should show the distance again. Not a Ship message. It should stay as a Ship message while escaping the first time.


With some previous models/trims the sequence was a bit more sneaky. You have to hold the Tune button, the Front Defrost, and HOT passenger button. The buttons move around and the drivers HOT button is used if there is no dual air. This mode was used for about 3 years. I searched for months to find those sequences. Mechanics asked me for help. I interpreted some Fiat text files that I found after asking the 'Help Desk' new and different formats of the same general question.


Previous to these soft-button Shipping Modes it was just a fuse that was pulled for the trip from the factory. The fuse is pushed into spot and all systems are then live. So easy to use or fix.


Okay, how many people did I confuse? Making the changes isn't fast as I try different formats and sequences, if the Hazards method doesn't respond first. Hazards should work for all except for maybe some '17s. Now the steering wheel is nearly a duplicate between models the same Hazards should be that format for the future. Unless engineers change things like engineers seem to do with perfectly working equipment.
 
#32 ·
[EDITED]Hmm. Quick Response didn't work. Full post here.


Shipping mode. Lets give it a try. These are NOT perfect instructions. I usually will try and fail with some stuff before it works due to different models, years, and brands. I describe this below where I try using the up then the down arrows first if it doesn't work the first time..... [snip]

@Jerith -- @stop-eject posted vehicle prep instructions including shipping mode/customer mode some time ago in a thread named something like "picking up a new Pacifica"
The thread is at https://www.pacificaforums.com/foru...m/forum/209-dealers-purchasing-ordering/28689-when-picking-up-new-pacifica.html
You followed with a really good outline for checking out a new purchase and other members constributed more.

If you don't want to go back to the thread, @stop-eject's document link is
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9vvq5aq6z...zeigo/04 - Vehicle Quick ReferenceNew Vehicle Preparation Instructions.pdf?dl=0

Pages 11 & 12 have shipping mode/customer mode instructions -- not sure what MY these apply to, but it is clearly valid across model lines. They seem fairly short and actually a toggle. What I don't know is if this kills everything. Interesting in that there is no reference to doors locking, etc.

If you are doing this, it is important to remember that the van will require a manual lock/unlock with the key that is "hidden" in the fob -- I wonder if any forum members think that that is a "hidden feature....."
 
#29 · (Edited)
More fun with Navigation & Guidance: When the compass directional letters come after the street name, it seems to pronounce them correctly, SouthEast, NorthWest, etc. When they come before the street name, SouthEast is pronounced by the letters: "S" "E" (esss, eeee).


Also, some of the ordinal street numbers don't pronounce correctly, like 8th, should be eighth, but would be called: eight "teee" "aaych" (trying to phonetically spell how you say the individual letters T and H)


So SE 8th St would sound like an alphabet/number lesson from Sesame Street, (today's episode was brought you by the letters and numbers): "esss" "eee" 8 "teee" "aaych" Street.

Really good idea about moving the kids to the third row.


Really would have liked a speedometer like the Oil Temp gage and digital indicator. Just would be nice to have a visual needle or dial for how the speed is changing, easier to interpret than the digits.
 
#35 ·
Great thread!

Has anyone found a way to purposely lock key fob inside?

As windsurfers, we can’t take the fob with us (they don’t play well under water?)

Here’s our method:

1) sit in driver’s seat and place fob out sight
2) lock doors using driver’s side door lock
3) Open door using handle and exit
4) Close door and lock with hard key copy you made from the emergency key in your fob
5) check driver door and sliding door to verify that they’re locked
6) Secure “surf key” on your person

This locks all doors but dies not set alarm.

We have surf keys for each member so they can arrive in another vehicle later or. One in from water earlier and still access gear.

Anybody have a better method?
 
#40 ·
I don't have a limited, but from comments I've seen there really needs a button to disable the automatic fold/unfold paired with a manual fold/unfold toggle
 
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#41 ·
On the Hybrid: when you first hit the road on the way to work, and get up to about 40 or 50 mph or so for the first time, that little sound you hear on the side front of the car is not a rock or a stick hitting the car. That is the sound of the wind closing the door to the charging receptacle, that when you unplugged this morning you forgot to close, again...
 
#42 ·
I've had my 2017 Limited for just over 2 years now and last year discovered that the windshield Froster works Great! (The de-froster needs some work).
The A/C also likes to turn on when I don't want it on?


I've only lately discovered that I can hear an incoming text through the UConnect system. Yippee!!!! (OK, I don't text much even outside of the van).


The biggest thing I want to discover is, Where are the 20 speakers located with my Harmen Karden sound system????


George
 
#65 ·
I've had my 2017 Limited for just over 2 years now and last year discovered that the windshield Froster works Great! (The de-froster needs some work).
The A/C also likes to turn on when I don't want it on?


I've only lately discovered that I can hear an incoming text through the UConnect system. Yippee!!!! (OK, I don't text much even outside of the van).


The biggest thing I want to discover is, Where are the 20 speakers located with my Harmen Karden sound system????


George

On most modern cars, A/C compressor is engaged when the defrost mode is selected regardless of whether or not the A/C is manually turned on by the user. However, the A/C compressor is usually disabled when cool ambient air temp is detected. I'm unsure of the exact temp for the Pacifica, but on most vehicles the threshold is about 40°F.


As far as your sound system goes, remember that when manufacturers say "speakers" they are counting each individual driver (woofer & tweeter) as a separate speaker. For example, a single coaxial speaker (which consists of a woofer and tweeter mounted to the same pole/axis) would be two separate speakers by the manufacturer's count. You have speakers in the top of the instrument panel, both front doors, both sliding doors, the liftgate, and each rear quarter panel.




I don't know if this is a Hidden feature but, I discovered a couple days ago that setting the parking brake, (while the van is on), turns off the DRL.

Why?


George

Most newer vehicles disable DRL when the park brake is engaged. I'm unsure of the reasoning behind this. There may be a legal requirement, but I think it is because it is assumed that when the park brake is engaged, the vehicle is not moving and DRL are not needed.
 
#43 ·
I was happy to discover that there was an actual place to mount the fuel filler funner inside the compartment at the back of the van. Before, it was just rattling around in there. I also realized there are clips on the back of the seats for hanging shopping bags from.

The "20" speakers are sort of cheating, since the smaller speakers count as two since they have high-range and mid-range drivers combined into one unit. So for those you have 3 across the dash, one in each sliding door, and one on each side of the back row, making "14" speakers. Then there are 6 low-range speakers. One on each door, and two on the rear hatch. FWIW, I measured the sound output from these speakers since it sounded so incredibly bass heavy, and sure enough. The flattest EQ setting I got was turning the bass all the way down, mids to -2 and treble to +1.
 
#44 ·
After 6 months I found the conversation drop down mirror today. It still had the protective wrap on it so the dealer's detailing person missed it too!

How did I miss it? No one sits in back so why would have I looked for it? There are only bikes, luggage or other gear back there.
 
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#45 ·
Those are the dumbest dam things ever dreamed up. You are to keep your eyes on the road. If you are one of those persons that can not carry on a conversation without looking at the person while you are driving, you should not be driving.
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KKP
 
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#48 ·
Ah Ha, I was waiting for some one with little ones to make a comment. But we all know that little kids in their car seats are all well minded and would never cause any reason for a parent to have to watch them.:wink2: They all act like little angels when in the car.0:)
I do have a five year old here but she does not ride with me. Does not like to ride. She is a cat.
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Sure they are a good idea for a very quick glance at the kids. Especially if it gets quiet in the back.:surprise:
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KKP