[Chuck]

Just traded my 2015 for a 2017 with tech package.
Two questions:
1. Is there no pre collision and auto breaking in the system when not in cruise?
I had hoped to use this in city traffic.
2. How can you permanently shut off the auto engine stop/start function?
Must you press the button to off each time you start the car.
HELP PLEASE

 

[Chuck]

I think I found the auto stop/start function in the steering wheel left side menu which has off.

 

[MKC4ME]

Chuck:

With adaptive cruise control on, auto braking may be applied to maintain a fixed distance behind the vehicle ahead. There is a collision warning system that pre-charges the brakes and applies full stopping power when the brake pedal is pressed lightly. However, it still requires driver input.

Auto stop/start can only be turned off with the push-button switch to the right of the display screen, and only until you turn the vehicle off. I have gotten used to it but sometimes turn it off in stop and go traffic. The engine only seems to turn off when you hold the brake pedal down hard and you can easily keep it on or turn it back on by reducing the brake pressure. The auto stop/start function in the left side menu only turns the status messaging on or off.

 

[Chuck]

Do you have to set the speed in order for the anti collision to work or is it just audible alerts?
Hard to believe that it only turns off messaging and not the function.

 

[bobandsherry]

Hard to believe that it only turns off messaging and not the function.

I'm sure it's required as Ford/Lincoln bases their MPG reported to government with it active (good for .1 mpg boost or so - which is worth serious $$ to Ford).

What's hard to believe is the collision sensor is only audible and does not engage braking. Many lower priced vehicles will bring car to complete stop.

Also hard to believe that adaptive cruise is only to 15MPH and then it disengages instead of bringing car to full stop. I had Kia Cadenza previously and it would come to full stop and then auto resume (within a window of a few seconds). That was really great in stop and go traffic. I will say that the Cadenza's breaking was pretty severe during the adaptive cruise, the MKC is much smoother at making the subtle adjustments to keep a reasonable distance.

Lincoln technology is well behind most manufacturers. But I knew about these "features" when I bought, still really like the MKC.

 

[Chuck]

What are the chances that these two items could be changed in a tech system sync 3 download?

 

[Fauster]

...What's hard to believe is the collision sensor is only audible and does not engage braking. Many lower priced vehicles will bring car to complete stop.

I'm not totally sold on an active autonomous braking system based on the collision alerts I have activated on my MKC.

For example, I was traveling along the right lane of an interstate highway in fairly heavy traffic. A ramp was under construction and had a stop sign replacing the yield sign. As a result, there were 3 - 4 cars waiting at the end of the ramp for a gap so that they could merge. As I approached, the MKC sensors identified the stopped vehicles on the ramp as an imminent collision and activated the alerts. I would have been run over from behind if the vehicle had braked hard for a perceived impact.

 

[KenZ]

I'm sure it's required as Ford/Lincoln bases their MPG reported to government with it active (good for .1 mpg boost or so - which is worth serious $$ to Ford).

What's hard to believe is the collision sensor is only audible and does not engage braking. Many lower priced vehicles will bring car to complete stop.

Also hard to believe that adaptive cruise is only to 15MPH and then it disengages instead of bringing car to full stop. I had Kia Cadenza previously and it would come to full stop and then auto resume (within a window of a few seconds). That was really great in stop and go traffic. I will say that the Cadenza's breaking was pretty severe during the adaptive cruise, the MKC is much smoother at making the subtle adjustments to keep a reasonable distance.

Lincoln technology is well behind most manufacturers. But I knew about these "features" when I bought, still really like the MKC.

Some of the features appear to be model specific in the Lincoln line... My 2017 MKZ does have adaptive cruise that comes to a full stop and then auto resume. And yes, you are correct, it is very handy in stop and go traffic. The only thing I don't like is that the auto-resume is a bit slow on resuming unless you have the distance set to it's very lowest which is way too close for me. I have gotten a honk or two from folks behind me when it doesn't react quickly enough. The MKZ also has auto-hold which is handy for long stoplights! It doesn't have the engine-off feature - at least on the 3.0T engine.

 

[KenZ]

I'm not totally sold on an active autonomous braking system based on the collision alerts I have activated on my MKC.

For example, I was traveling along the right lane of an interstate highway in fairly heavy traffic. A ramp was under construction and had a stop sign replacing the yield sign. As a result, there were 3 - 4 cars waiting at the end of the ramp for a gap so that they could merge. As I approached, the MKC sensors identified the stopped vehicles on the ramp as an imminent collision and activated the alerts. I would have been run over from behind if the vehicle had braked hard for a perceived impact.

Agreed.... I have this set to the most sensitive, which alerts me to things going on around me that I might not notice. I always warn new passengers about the potential flashing red lights on the windshield and warning signal. I would hate for the brakes to be automatically applied. If that happened, I would have to turn down the sensitivity which sort of defeats the purpose I use it for! I do like that it pre-charges them. For the few times the warning was real, it is pretty amazing how quickly you stop when that is done.

 

[bobandsherry]

I'm not totally sold on an active autonomous braking system based on the collision alerts I have activated on my MKC.

For example, I was traveling along the right lane of an interstate highway in fairly heavy traffic. A ramp was under construction and had a stop sign replacing the yield sign. As a result, there were 3 - 4 cars waiting at the end of the ramp for a gap so that they could merge. As I approached, the MKC sensors identified the stopped vehicles on the ramp as an imminent collision and activated the alerts. I would have been run over from behind if the vehicle had braked hard for a perceived impact.

Agree with you and I've had similar experiences. In my experience I get a "false" alert when a car makes a right turn in front of me and I begin to accelerate as the vehicle clears the road from their turn. When the alert goes off it is obvious the car in front me me has cleared the road and even if they stopped dead in their tracks I would not have had a collision. Passengers in my car really get a surprise as the alert goes off for what is clearly no reason - kind of makes the MKC look silly.

That said the MKC has Front Collision Warning (FCW) system and Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). As it only sends an alert it can activate much more frequently and less severe condition, it only needs to be good, not great, as a result. AEB systems are much more refined, active braking would where crash is more imminent and passed a point when human reaction could be considered. A well designed active braking system should not, and does not, react as the MKC's system does with it's alerts only system. Check out these results from Consumer Reports, it shows that other manufacturers that offer AEB have a pretty low "false" alert. It's also interesting to see how many manufacturers are now offering a true automated braking system.

 

[bobandsherry]

Some of the features appear to be model specific in the Lincoln line... My 2017 MKZ does have adaptive cruise that comes to a full stop and then auto resume.

This is reason I can't understand why Lincoln didn't include the same functionality in the MKC. Ford also has Automatic Emergency Braking in some of their cars but just include the "alert" only system in the MKC.

Another weak spot is the blind spot warning. In this case an audible warning / chime would be very useful, but again MKC offers only a light on the outside mirror (again, many lower priced cars offer such functionality).

I do really like my MKC, but the functionality included with the MKC is what I would expect in the "basic" offering. By paying $2,295 for "Technology" package or higher price for Reserve model I would expect the higher end and more active functionality. If I were to do it all over again, I'd probably pass on the technology package as it's mediocre at best.

 

[MKC4ME]

All this new technology is great... until I have to drive another vehicle that doesn't have it. I've rented vehicles that don't even have a back up camera and feel really handicapped. I do appreciate things like blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and lane departure alert but don't want to become too dependent on technology and lose essential driving skills.

 

[blankster]

The MKC came on the market in 2014 as a 2015 so some of those technologies were not on the that widespread at that time.. The problem with the MKC is its shared platform (and assembly plant) with the Escape so there are some limitations.. The auto-stop feature is probably more than a software change but I'm not an engineer. I would look to the MCR for the MKC for MY 2019 to have increased technology like auto-stop forward looking camera etc. and maybe a 9 speed transmission.. But until then the MKC (and Escape) is still selling well so less of an incentive to offer significant upgrades now.

 

[Davidrf59]

All of these new safety braking features and front collision warning first saw active duty in Volvo's, which at the time was owned by Ford.
My wife's car is a 2010 Volvo XC60. This was the first car that gave what was called city safety as standard equipment. From moving under 15mph, if the car detects that you are not braking and suspects an impact, it slams on the brakes.
I witnessed this only once, in stop and go traffic, and it went off without warning and it was crazy scary.

I believe that all these extra tech packages of lane keeping and forward collision warnings are still not developed well enough yet, and are more intrusive and annoying then they are worth. Try driving and paying attention instead of playing with your cell phone....that is the best way to drive....it also saves you thousands on the price of the car that you could better spend on a really nice set of wheels !