Audible alarm in reverse, 2014 Expedition EL XLT

[hahuston]

Hi, I have a very new to me 2014 Expedition EL XLT. This morning, when I put it in reverse, an alarm sounded for as long as it was in reverse. It was a low, solid tone. There were no warning lights or indicators on the display.

I haven't heard this alarm before. I can't find anything in the manual regarding this and I've used the search function in the forum. Google didn't turn up anything regarding the Expedition. Maybe I'm not using the right search verbiage? Any ideas? Thanks!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[CubSmurf]

Is it an interior alarm? Or exterior?

Could be rear-parking sensors (that think something is in the way...)

 

[Motorcity muscle]

More than likely previous owner added a back up alarm, probably near rear bumper.

 

[hahuston]

Is it an interior alarm? Or exterior?

Could be rear-parking sensors (that think something is in the way...)

It's an interior alarm. It happened again today, but this time I saw a notification on the stereo display. It said RPA Active. What is that?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[vincentrose]

Its the reverse sensing system. The tones are suppose to get more rapid as you get closer to the object. You can turn this on or off through the menu setup options

 

[hahuston]

Its the reverse sensing system. The tones are suppose to get more rapid as you get closer to the object. You can turn this on or off through the menu setup options

It's a continuous tone, not beeping. I was stationary and there was nothing behind me. It doesn't happen everytime. That's what has me stumped. I can't find RPA in the manual or online.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[bloodhound]

RPA = Rear parking assist. One of the sensors may have gone bad.

 

[tommyddsr]

If the RPA is setting a continuous alarm then something is blocking the sensor (trailer hitch, aux step, etc.) , there is something you are parking next to setting it off, or you have a bad sensor as bloodhound suggest.

 

[Trainmaster]

Tommy nailed it. The continuous tone says you're right next to something. If it's not detecting a trailer hitch or wall, try cleaning the bumper sensors or you may have a bad one.

 

[rollinstone]

Does it happen no matter where you're parked when you go into reverse? My parking sensors go off every time I back out of our narrow garage and the tone stays on until I clear the garage. The garage is narrow and it seems like it's sensing the walls.

 

[hahuston]

Update: we discovered it's the bump step we installed on the hitch. At 5' tall, I need a little help getting into the back of the Expy. The sun reflects off the bump step more often than it doesn't. I wish there was a way to re-aim the backup camera away just a bit. Anyway, we discovered the cause when we removed the bump step for the trailer, then didn't put the bump step back on right away. I'll just have to deal with the alarm on turn it off entirely.

 

[Motorcity muscle]

Great that you found the issue and posted the fix.