Lariat Headlight Flicker

[SigOris]

Forscan will operate off of a smartphone. You need a Bluetooth OBD reader to connect to the truck.

Thought Bluetooth was Read Only

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[Ames]

Possibly related, maybe not: I have had problems with my trailer monitoring system going crazy. It will tell me I have a trailer attached (spoiler: I don't) and then that the trailer is disconnected, then that the turn signals on the trailer aren't working, then that the blind spot detectors are deactivated, etc... It will run through a variation of this cycle 2 or 3 times in a 30 minute drive. Not always, but sometimes. I took it to the dealer once while it was acting up and they saw it but had no idea where to start looking and I didn't want them to have my truck for an extended time so I'm just living with it. I've done some light wire and connection inspecting but nothing is jumping out at me.

 

[Rene Michaels]

I have found that all exterior sensors (parking etc) are very sensitive to road grime, salt & sand etc
so, I keep a micro-fiber towel in truck to wipe them off, I expect it to be the same for interior sensors

Ain't that the truth!!!

 

[Beez]

YIKES. The battery is barely a year old.

Andrew, have you upped your Rangers battery charging capacity (BMS) in FORScan? Allot of the rogue electrical issues seem to disappear when you take it from 75% to 95%.

 

[Dr3wDrop]

Andrew, have you upped your Rangers battery charging capacity (BMS) in FORScan? Allot of the rogue electrical issues seem to disappear when you take it from 75% to 95%.

Yes I did. Sorry for my lengthy post earlier but I upped it on 1/1/23 to 90%.

Not so Brief update to my thread here.

12/6/22 - Last time I noticed headlight flicker (until today).

12/27/22 - I was having unrelated issues with my exterior door handle 'smart' locks not functioning in the start of my day. Later in the day the electronic locks cycled 100+ times on a 45 min drive home on the freeway. Took it immediately into Ford and they tested the battery and said it was good but low on charge. Booked an appointment for 12/29.

12/28/22 - I had no issues with the locks but in reverse the rear detection sonar noise was coming out of the front left pod. Not the rear speakers like normal.

12/29/22 - I took it into the dealer and they could not replicate any issues from above. Asked them to load test the battery and they said they needed it overnight.

12/30/22 - Got a call from the dealer and they said the 'battery warranty tester' showed a "really good battery". Receipt from the 'warranty tester' is below. Took the truck home and no issues until today.

1/1/23 - I played with forscan and upped the BCM from 75% to 90% and enabled bambi mode among other things. No symptoms from above after 12/29 dealer visit and battery was tested. *see note below regarding my experience so far with bambi mode*

Today 1/6/23 - Leaving home on my way into work the front left headlight was flickering VIOLENTLY. Like strobe light effect. Only did it leaving my driveway and the first 300 feet out of the alley. Once I got on the main drag it was working fine as far as I could tell. I wish I was able to get a video but I was super late to work. (*Weather condition for this morning was wet but not raining*)


On a side note, does anyone else hear a relay click or activation thump sound when they activate their highbeams? I noticed it when playing with forscan after enabling bambi mode. I panicked and turned bambi back off to see if the relay noise went away but it didnt so I turned it back on. Idk if its relevant to my issues or not. I have not used by highbeams since I have enabled bambi on Sunday.

 

[RangerBill]

Possibly related, maybe not: I have had problems with my trailer monitoring system going crazy. It will tell me I have a trailer attached (spoiler: I don't) and then that the trailer is disconnected, then that the turn signals on the trailer aren't working, then that the blind spot detectors are deactivated, etc... It will run through a variation of this cycle 2 or 3 times in a 30 minute drive. Not always, but sometimes. I took it to the dealer once while it was acting up and they saw it but had no idea where to start looking and I didn't want them to have my truck for an extended time so I'm just living with it. I've done some light wire and connection inspecting but nothing is jumping out at me.

See this TSB.

 

[Ames]

See this TSB.

I like the cut of your jib, sailor.

 

[P-38Ranger]

Weird. I know I was shocked on my lariat when the system automatically puts on the brights even for the briefest time to make sure the camera has the light it needs to see. I initially thought the headlight was going off not the bright lights.
probably just a bad bulb.

 

[Dr3wDrop]

Weird. I know I was shocked on my lariat when the system automatically puts on the brights even for the briefest time to make sure the camera has the light it needs to see. I initially thought the headlight was going off not the bright lights.
probably just a bad bulb.

That's where I am confused. It doesn't do it every day or even the entire time I drive. Just immediately after start up.

 

[Big Blue]

Thought Bluetooth was Read Only

Bluetooth can read and write, hardwire is recommended though. Android is read only and clear codes, no changes.

 

[MississippiCelery]

I just purchased a 2022 tremor with 4K miles. I love it. Unfortunately, I’m having 2 issues, one related to this thread: my passenger side outer edge LED light flickers occasionally. I think this is the daytime running light?
Uploading a video.

To me it looks like a section of the LED is going out, but I’m open to suggestions.

Any help is appreciated.

(the other issue is I can’t get my truck to activate in FordPass but I’m waiting on a response from Ford on that one)

 

[Dr3wDrop]

I just purchased a 2022 tremor with 4K miles. I love it. Unfortunately, I’m having 2 issues, one related to this thread: my passenger side outer edge LED light flickers occasionally. I think this is the daytime running light?
Uploading a video.

To me it looks like a section of the LED is going out, but I’m open to suggestions.

Any help is appreciated.

(the other issue is I can’t get my truck to activate in FordPass but I’m waiting on a response from Ford on that one)

DUDE! This must be what is happening with my truck. I have never been able to catch it from the outside but the pulsing looks similar to my issue. Crazy thing for me is it is random and not predictable.

 

[airline tech]

It's definitely a voltage fluctuation causing the pulse, flicker. So, it's either internal of the headlight assembly or wire feed into it and or the previous owner has been into the system with Forscan and changed the DRL settings. should be on & bright (Daytime) without headlights (and)on & dim with headlights on and possibly might try turning off DRL's in IPC and then reselect them on.
It looks like you are aware, but just to be sure, in order for the DRL to be ON, you have to have the truck in any position except (Park) and FordPass issue, you have to have your phone physically connected @ USB Hub, it has to see the phone connected before it will authorize and you will have to go into phone settings and allow Bluetooth connection. I had issues with mine at first then tried actual USB port and it worked, but the system also might be locking you out, it may have original owners' info locked in memory, and he is getting notifications to authorize your access.

 

[airline tech]

Just on a hunch, being that now I know that the charging system can take the battery voltage as low as 12.2 volts at idle, do either of you (2) have a voltmeter that you can check what the battery voltage is when it does it. Then you would need a second person to place truck in neutral and raise engine speed to about 2,000 RPM. I suspect it will stop, flickering. You can also use engineering mode to monitor the voltage.

 

[Dr3wDrop]

Just on a hunch, being that now I know that the charging system can take the battery voltage as low as 12.2 volts at idle, do either of you (2) have a voltmeter that you can check what the battery voltage is when it does it. Then you would need a second person to place truck in neutral and raise engine speed to about 2,000 RPM. I suspect it will stop, flickering. You can also use engineering mode to monitor the voltage.

Sounds a little complex but I can see what I can do. Mine is sporadic so its hard to duplicate.

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