App-Based Connected Services Considerations: Ford/Lincoln

Posted on: 19 August 2025

Have you had the experience where the vehicle notified the owner that it was being moved while it was in your repair facility? App-based connected services are available from many vehicle makers and may require special considerations before beginning repairs. Let's see what Ford/Lincoln has to say?

Starting in 2017, Ford/Lincoln offered vehicles with app-based connected services. These apps allow contracted vehicles to have functions like remote start, door lock/unlock, and status notifications. To help determine if a vehicle could utilize app-based connected services, Ford and Lincoln each published charts:

Ford/Lincoln may use different terms for their app-based connected services, including:

FordPass Connect
Lincoln Way App
Sync Connect
Lincoln Connect
Connected Services
Telematics Control Unit (TCU)

Per the Health And Safety Precautions document found in vehicle-specific Workshop Manuals (WSM) under 1: General Information ➤ 00: Service Information ➤ 100-00 General Information ➤ Description And Operation ➤ Health And Safety Precautions:

“WARNING: Vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and a Telematics Control Unit (TCU) have remote start technology and may start the engine at any time. When working in close proximity to rotating engine parts, make sure the remote start system is disabled by keeping the hood open or disconnecting the battery. The Remote Start feature is switched on/off via the instrument cluster. Refer to the Owner’s Manual, Information Displays, Settings. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.”

For system information, part removal, and installation procedures are found under: 4: Electrical ➤ 15: Information And Entertainment System ➤ 415-00 Information And Entertainment Systems - General Information.

Always remember to perform any required initializations after disconnecting the battery and restore any modified vehicle settings before returning the vehicle to the owner.

For additional Ford/Lincoln information, check out the following pages:
Ford OEM Information
Lincoln OEM Information

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App-Based Connected Services Considerations: Ford/Lincoln

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