Warning alarms for no reason

[DBRanger]

Each time I read one of these threads I recall why we intentionally bought an XL in an effort to avoid the unnecessary technology.

You are correct, I didn't want any nanny items, which include tpms etc. They are OK until they break, then get out your wallet. I got a message on the dash today telling me that Pre Collision assist was inactive because the sensor was blocked. I had parked outside and the truck was frosted over. Windshield was clear, I don't know where the sensor is nor do I really care.

On the positive side, the Ranger really heats up and defrosts everything really fast, and it was 8 degrees F this morning. I really love this truck. Drove to work on some snowy icy country roads in 4WD with no problem. Like it was on tracks.

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[AzScorpion]

Each time I read one of these threads I recall why we intentionally bought an XL in an effort to avoid the unnecessary technology.

I use to think it was all unnecessary stuff too but this is the first truck I've owned with all the sensors and I really do like it. I don't think I could go back to the basic having now had it but I do see your point. One other solution is you could live in an area without all that crud.

 

[HenryMac]

One other solution is you could live in an area without all that crud.

I do. When the roads you drive on are dirt, with no painted side and center lines... lane departure is a fools errand.

 

[RoadBoss]

You are correct, I didn't want any nanny items, which include tpms etc. They are OK until they break, then get out your wallet. I got a message on the dash today telling me that Pre Collision assist was inactive because the sensor was blocked. I had parked outside and the truck was frosted over. Windshield was clear, I don't know where the sensor is nor do I really care.

On the positive side, the Ranger really heats up and defrosts everything really fast, and it was 8 degrees F this morning. I really love this truck. Drove to work on some snowy icy country roads in 4WD with no problem. Like it was on tracks.

I think the pre collision sensor is in the plastic area behind the rear view mirror at the top of the windshield.

and yes, its pretty amazing how fast it starts to defrost. I'm almost wondering if there's an electric heating element or something... seems like within 30 seconds of running its already melting ice from the windshield.

i got an XL model too, but I specifically ordered the co-pilot 360 with it as well because I thought the lane keeping assist might be nice on long road trips (it is).
but what I've really come to enjoy is the parking sensors, they're even nice on rocky and rutty trails to know when the corner of your vehicle is about to run into the side of a mountain or a huge rock. Also the cross traffic alert in reverse is great when the truck bed is all filled up and its hard to see out the back. hopefully it all lasts, but if that stuff does break outside of warranty I probably won't be in a hurry to fix it.

 

[Grumpy Old Guys Ranger]

I am in the Barrie, Ontario area, and mine is doing the same thing, a little bit of snow and the alarms are going crazy, the parking alert on/off button is getting used a lot more then is should be.

 

[I_smell_like_diesel]

I had the same issue with my Lariat. We got almost a foot of snow in 8 hours, where I live. I think theres ice that gets into the sensor bezel and gives it a false reading. Mine gave fault readings for 3 days even after throughly cleaning it off at a quarter wash. Once it thawed out, it was back to normal. Very irritating after a while, to say the least.

 

[Hibtacer]

Went through the carwash last night here in Lincoln, NE and apparently some water froze on the aforementioned parking sensors. Drove all over damn town with the same beeping and screen flashing as the OP mentioned. I thought maybe the carwash had damaged one of the sensors until I saw this post last night. Anyhoo, after a night in the warm garage all is fine again. It's a little troubling that a trip through the carwash / minor ice buildup caused this issue.

Had the same thing happen to me through a car wash with 25 degrees.

 

[Howopeeps]

Took my truck to the car wash today. On the way home alarm kept going off that trailer was connected then a couple seconds later it says trailer disconnected. Keeps going back and forth between the warning.

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Took my truck to the car wash today. On the way home alarm kept going off that trailer was connected then a couple seconds later it says trailer disconnected. Keeps going back and forth between the warning.

Hi Justin,

Not sure what if going on, but sounds like water in the trailer connector. Are the caps are tight? You might spray WD40 in the connector. WD40 is a water displacement spray...NOT a lube The 40 is their 40th try to get it right....

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

 

[Howopeeps]

Hi Justin,

Not sure what if going on, but sounds like water in the trailer connector. Are the caps are tight? You might spray WD40 in the connector. WD40 is a water displacement spray...NOT a lube The 40 is their 40th try to get it right....

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

Thanks for the help. Would this make a difference if I never got a trailer connector installed. I only have a hitch

 

[P. A. Schilke]

Thanks for the help. Would this make a difference if I never got a trailer connector installed. I only have a hitch

Hi Justin,

Yep...but the vehicle should have covers over the plugins for the trailer. Mine did for my 4 pin connector...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired.

 

[rangerdanger]

Known issue: SOLVED: Front Far Left Parking Sensor Going Off Constantly

 

[Fawnbuster]

There is a button to turn off the front bumper sensors... May have to use this in snowy conditions with ice buildup...

Best,
Phil Schilke
Ranger Vehicle Engineering
Ford Motor Co. Retired

I knew the rear sensor button works to shut off the alarm when backing up with the tailgate down, are all of these sensors tied into this same switch or is there another one I need to look for? Thanks for your input I will try that the next time it happens. When it occurred it was a rather wet snow that was just starting to stick to the bumper. My next question is when I am driving in snow and the wind whips the snow up onto the taillights will that cause the side radar to do the same thing and if so can I turn that off with the same switch? I make it a habit of keeping my lights and lamps cleared off as much as possible but in some conditions that would require doing so every few minutes and that's not feasible.

 

[kieefer]

I’ve had the front sensors go off a few times for no reason, once was a morning of heavy frost, suspect the other times are bugs or dirt.
I did have a weird very quick warning during a sharp curve a couple of times and the one time I caught eye on it, it was the open door warning. Weird.

 

[Racket]

Any consolation, I have similar experiences... but I am in South Florida. Dealer is replacing my front outboard sensors and lower radar. I've got about 3700 miles on my Lariat.

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