Driver side panel dies

[unesimpson1]

I have a 2022 Expedition Timberline. Nice car, but dang a lot of quirky stuff. The driver-side arm rest panel — power windows and mirror adjustment buttons — goes dead occasionally. I’m not certain, but it seems like this started after I began using the remote start. It doesn’t do it every time I use remote start, but it didn’t do it before I started using it. Any similar experience?

 

[apex96]

Dealing with this issue now on 2024 SSV (STX trim) expedition I use for work. Drivers door controls stop working intermittently and the overhead lights fail to respond as well. Funny thing is the passenger window works if the passenger activates their switch but it cannot be activated from the drivers door control panel. There seems to be no rhyme or reason, it's not a factor of water or temps as it's been through plenty of car washes and hot and cold environments. Dealer has acknowledges there's an issue but it's been very difficult to track down. Have another appointment for next week setup for additional electrical diagnostics.

Since the door controls and lights both go out at the same time I believe it to be a CANBUS or body control module issue.

Also just had it lock me out with the fob and would double beep but not unlock with the fob... that was fun. Had to use Fordpass to access the vehicle. This is a new issue, it's never acted up like that before. The STX trim does not have remote start on the fob but does have it through Fordpass. Issues started before I activated the vehicle in Fordpass, it's not likely the issue is caused by remote starting the vehicle.

Also of note, had a coworker using it one day and they mentioned that the APIM went nuts and began rebooting constantly while they were driving it... It's been an electrical nightmare of a vehicle since we took delivery in July last year...

 

[Fizzy]

This was being discussed in another thread about 6 months ago. Turned out to be water ingress somewhere that corroded a connector, or something like that. Dealer replaced under warranty. Search function should find it.

 

[apex96]

This was being discussed in another thread about 6 months ago. Turned out to be water ingress somewhere that corroded a connector, or something like that. Dealer replaced under warranty. Search function should find it.

Perhaps for 3rd Gens but not for 4th Gens. I believe older generations had an issue with water ingress into the GEM module that caused all sorts of issues. There are a few threads in regards to similar issues however there was never any true followup on a definite cause, most threads just simply died without an answer. I've even posted on one of them regarding this issue. Right now water ingress is not believed to be the cause... Since my work vehicle is under warranty I will keep fighting to have the issue found and then fixed. I'm happy to follow up with the actual cause and fix. To date the modules have been updated (apparently the factory files were not the latest) in the hopes that that would solve the issue. Updates were not the fix unfortunately.

 

[Fizzy]

Perhaps for 3rd Gens but not for 4th Gens. I believe older generations had an issue with water ingress into the GEM module that caused all sorts of issues. There are a few threads in regards to similar issues however there was never any true followup on a definite cause, most threads just simply died without an answer. I've even posted on one of them regarding this issue. Right now water ingress is not believed to be the cause... Since my work vehicle is under warranty I will keep fighting to have the issue found and then fixed. I'm happy to follow up with the actual cause and fix. To date the modules have been updated (apparently the factory files were not the latest) in the hopes that that would solve the issue. Updates were not the fix unfortunately.

Did you see this one?

 

[apex96]

Did you see this one?

Yep, I did, one of the only ones where potentially there was a fix. However since his complaint was only the door controls it's likely the fault was in the control. For those that experienced the lights and door issues, there is likely a different fault.

 

[unesimpson1]

This was being discussed in another thread about 6 months ago. Turned out to be water ingress somewhere that corroded a connector, or something like that. Dealer replaced under warranty. Search function should find it.

Thanks. I did try to find an existing thread before posting. I missed it.

 

[apex96]

@unesimpson1, I finally have an update to the failing driver side door controls, it took a lot of electrical diagnostic work to find the issue.

Quick rundown, it had been in multiple times (3) for the driver side door controls and overhead interior lights failing intermittently although more often than not they were offline than they were online.

Second to last visit the drivers side door controls were replaced. The controls and interior lights worked for about two weeks before again becoming inoperative.

Last visit we actually got to the root of the issue... The morning of drop-off I came out to the controls being inoperative and confirmed on my drive over to the dealership that they remained inoperative. I pulled into the service breezeway and left it running, grabbed my service advisor and brought them over to show them and have them confirm the door controls and interior lights were inoperative. Advisor noted the issues and had me pull it around to the main bay area while the grabbed the master tech to have them plug into it while it was running and check the CANBUS network. Tech was able to confirm loss of communication on the medium speed CANBUS network. Tech also noted the vanity mirror lights were also not working (full disclosure I don't use the vanity mirror and never checked it).

Tech pulled up the wiring diagram and noted that all three items (mirror lights, interior lights/overhead controls, driver side door controls) all branch off from one main power wire coming of the BCM. If there is a break in any of the three wires that branches off it will not complete the circuit and will cut power. With that known they dug into the wiring harnesses and uncovered a short to ground at the overhead console. the wiring loom was pinched against the roof and had rubbed through. Techs had never seen this before, photos were taken and all information was pushed to Ford engineers for further analysis. This was an issue with the assembly of the vehicle and the wire loom routing that allowed for a pinch point to happen.

Wiring loom was repaired and properly routed and secured in the headliner. Vehicle has been working great since.

Sorry I do not have photos from the advisor to share. Issue was in the headliner at the location of the overhead console.