Parking Sensors

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Sobert

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My parking sensors keep beeping even when I am driving down the road and nothing is remotely close to my Expedition. What could be causing this and how can I fix?
 

ExpeditionAndy

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Welcome to the forum.

What year is your Expedition? Do you have forward sensors or just rear sensors? First visually inspect all of the sensors. It might be something as simple as a sensor that is out of place. I had that happen on my 05 once. Whenever I put it in reverse it would go off like I was about to hit something. It turned out that one of the sensors got pushed into the rear bumper at the car wash by the pressure washer. I had to reach up behind the bumper and I had to snap it back into place once I did that it worked fine, beyond that it is going to take some diagnosis.
 

Clemson82

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Our 2014 does the same thing. It's very seldom and very random. Just driving down the road with nothing around and it will beep a few times. It's so infrequent I haven't bothered to diagnose it any further, other than to make sure the sensors are clean with some glass cleaner. I only hand wash, so they shouldn't be dislodged by water pressure. I'm interested to hear if anyone else has this issue.
 

99WhiteC5Coupe

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Our 2014 does the same thing. It's very seldom and very random. Just driving down the road with nothing around and it will beep a few times. It's so infrequent I haven't bothered to diagnose it any further, other than to make sure the sensors are clean with some glass cleaner. I only hand wash, so they shouldn't be dislodged by water pressure. I'm interested to hear if anyone else has this issue.


I have a 2015 Expediton Limited 4x4 - purchased new and never wrecked or damaged. The vehicle was ordered by me and picked up with 2 miles on it - two days after it arrived.

Since new, the FRONT parking sensors will activate intermittently with no pattern. The owner's manual states to keep the sensor clean and clear - and I have checked them several times. They look perfect and are not out of place. I took it to the selling dealer who could not duplicate the problem and of course, found no codes.....

I've also had the problem of a random "Trailer Wiring Fault" message appearing on the dash display. I have never towed with the vehicle and have never even opened the four and seven pin connectors. I took a picture of the warning and took it to the dealer. They could not duplicate and of course, found no codes.......

I've also had the problem of entering the vehicle, starting the engine with the push button start - and before driving away - the dash displays "No Key Detected". I replaced the battery in both fobs but continued to get the warning intermittently. I took it to the dealer who could not duplicate the problem and of course, found no codes........

Very frustrating.
 

B-McD

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I too have had the front parking sensor issue. Sitting alone at a stoplight, no cars around, it starts going off intermittently. I disabled it in the menu. If I need to park close to a wall in a downtown garage or similar I just re-engage it.
 

ExpeditionAndy

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I too have had the front parking sensor issue. Sitting alone at a stoplight, no cars around, it starts going off intermittently. I disabled it in the menu. If I need to park close to a wall in a downtown garage or similar I just re-engage it.
Doesn't re-enable itself when you start the car again?
 

B-McD

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Andy - I'll have to check. It happens so infrequently that I really don't think about it. What good is the check box in the menu if it keeps re-enabling?? But I know each carmaker is different on that stuff. On my Audis, the first thing I did before leaving the dealer's lot when I bought them was to disable that start/stop thing and the lane keeping nanny. On the Audi it stays off for good. Other carmakers you have to disable it each time you drive.
 

ExpeditionAndy

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I can't remember if it turns off permanently or if it shuts it off just for that driving session. I just checked my 17 owner's manual and it doesn't say.
 

Soupcan

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I'm glad to hear that I'm not going crazy. I just purchased a 2015 Limited last Monday and my front sensors have gone off a few random times at a stop light. Nothing's perfect I guess..

Everything else is awesome in this vehicle so far.
 

ExpeditionAndy

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I'm glad to hear that I'm not going crazy. I just purchased a 2015 Limited last Monday and my front sensors have gone off a few random times at a stop light. Nothing's perfect I guess..

Everything else is awesome in this vehicle so far.
The owner's manual says that they activate at about 30" when you are in drive and stopped or moving slowly. I have noticed when backing up into my driveway, if the wind is blowing and the bushes are moving, I get the vehicle approaching from the side warning tones.
 

ElliottM

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OK, after reading this thread, it gives me doubt about what I want to do, but I'll pose the question here anyway. I have a '16 XLT with the rear sensors, and I think I want to install front sensors. For prior vehicles I've purchased sensor systems off eBay, and they've worked quite well. My question is, is there a way to purchase after-market sensors for the front and integrate them with the vehicle's existing system? As I type this and think through it, I realize one problem would be the backup sensors only work when in reverse.

I'd appreciate any advice on doing this.
 

powerboatr

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The owner's manual says that they activate at about 30" when you are in drive and stopped or moving slowly. I have noticed when backing up into my driveway, if the wind is blowing and the bushes are moving, I get the vehicle approaching from the side warning tones.
i get it with my garbage can if i am just right ...cracks me up
fronts go off in traffic every now and then , i think its glare or maybe just an ugly car in front of me.. no reason..they just go beep, then silent.
 

AK_Zack

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My fronts go off randomly too! Not often enough to take it in but I always find it odd, and it's usually only a few beeps. I have a 2016 Platinum.
 

Daryl Lang

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I have a 2015 Expediton Limited 4x4 - purchased new and never wrecked or damaged. The vehicle was ordered by me and picked up with 2 miles on it - two days after it arrived.

Since new, the FRONT parking sensors will activate intermittently with no pattern. The owner's manual states to keep the sensor clean and clear - and I have checked them several times. They look perfect and are not out of place. I took it to the selling dealer who could not duplicate the problem and of course, found no codes.....

I've also had the problem of a random "Trailer Wiring Fault" message appearing on the dash display. I have never towed with the vehicle and have never even opened the four and seven pin connectors. I took a picture of the warning and took it to the dealer. They could not duplicate and of course, found no codes.......

I've also had the problem of entering the vehicle, starting the engine with the push button start - and before driving away - the dash displays "No Key Detected". I replaced the battery in both fobs but continued to get the warning intermittently. I took it to the dealer who could not duplicate the problem and of course, found no codes........

Very frustrating.
Hi All,

New member here. This exactly matches the symptoms on our 2016 limited 4x4. Parking sensors are the most annoying part, but we also get the trailer wiring fault and the no key detected errors. I've got multiple videos on my phone of the sensors. Multiple trips to the dealer, but they are useless, they check for codes and TSBs and then dont know what to do. Has anyone solved this? Other than this strange electrical stuff, we love the expedition!

Thanks,

Daryl
 

Linksvu

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Any updates here? We have a brush guard on the front and would love to shut them off completely.
 

Linksvu

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I found a solution, or at least one that has worked for me. I found these: https://www.amazon.com/Ranch-Hand-USCBP-Sensor-Cover/dp/B01N543CIO

They work. Since I put them on, the front sensors have not gone off and these is no warning signal. Not sure what exactly they do, but it is a great solution for me. True, they are not the best looking since they just stick on top of the sensor, but for my setup with a front grill causing the front sensors to go off all the time, this has been a solid option for me.
 
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Plati

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I found a solution, or at least one that has worked for me. I found these: https://www.amazon.com/Ranch-Hand-USCBP-Sensor-Cover/dp/B01N543CIO

They work. Since I put them on, the front sensors have not gone off and these is no warning signal. Not sure what exactly they do, but it is a great solution for me. True, they are not the best looking since they just stick on top of the sensor, but for my setup with a front grill causing the front sensors to go off all the time, this has been a solid option for me.
I believe those sensors are ultrasonic sensors. They send a chirp out (sound waves) and listen for a reflected sound back. They use the time difference to calculate distance away. Looks like these pads absorb the outgoing chirp so nothing reflects back. Probably could home brew the same thing if desired.

The old Polaroid cameras used this technology for autofocus.
https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/autofocus2.htm
 
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donsmrs

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Just bought a 2014 Limited a month ago and this week, its sensor is screeching. If there is a separate fuse for that, (probably too much to hope for), I'd be happy to pull it.
 

Plati

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Just bought a 2014 Limited a month ago and this week, its sensor is screeching. If there is a separate fuse for that, (probably too much to hope for), I'd be happy to pull it.
Can you just find the connector and disconnect it?
Worth a try, might create an issue but you would know right away
 
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