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.
What hidden features have you discovered in your Pacifica?
1 reading
PacificaMinivanFan
21 - 40 of 208 Posts
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.
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.
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.
Would you be willing to share the codes for getting into shipping mode, software update mode, etc.?
Yes, it would be helpful for some of these posts that may not be in the manuals or obvious in them, like those of @Jerith and @pachyderm, to have the details, and, if you know, the trim(s) / year(s) they apply to.
As far as I've heard the liftgate lock button is on all of the Pacifica hybrids, but no clue when it comes to the gas-only models.
Wish I could take credit for the discovery of the button, but I'm delighted to share that which others have discovered. Good find on on the "Getting to know your vehicle" page, @Tuskwhite :grin2:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Joined
·
771 Posts
The button on the extreme right underside of the liftgate handle is on the Gas Models as well. I have had my Pacifica for over a year and never knew it was there. Prior to using it this week, I had always had to take the key fob out of my pocket to push the lock button if I was unloading the cargo area. Great Find!
@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....."
Thanks for the detailed info and link. This could be a super handy feature if you're doing water sports (surfing, kayaking, etc.). Put the car into shipping mode, leave the key fob in the car, just take the little water proof key with you.
I would test it after putting it into shipping mode to make sure the fob IS ignored. This sequence was not as elaborate as @Jerith outlined.
Joined
·
73 Posts
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?
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?
What .... you can do that...? Oh my bad. I’ll have to try that now. Many times I wished such a button existed but didn’t know it was there. I know.... RT(F)M. Lol.
Joined
·
4 Posts
yeah if my tailgate is open and I put the van in Reverse (2017) my backup camera comes on an shows me the sky!!!
I sealed up the 'teen key' fob against the elements and I tuck it into my wetsuit (or shorts when the water's warm) when I go surfing. But that wouldn't work in your case because you have multiple people coming in and out of the van. Unless you buy a whole bunch of fobs
21 - 40 of 208 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
