Has anyone experienced a short range problem with their reverse sensors? I have a 2003 expy eddit bauer VIN C, so I have the four sensors on the back bumber. I was under the impression that this was supposed to work for an extended range. It does not start beeping until I am within about 2 feet of an object (even when going very slow). I have a minivan with a similar system an that one starts beepng at 8-10 feet giving me plenty of time to re-act.

 

My 03 EB does what you are describing. I never considered it as a problem.

 

Sounds normal. That's what my 2004 does with the four sensors.

I think any more than that would be annoying.

Bob

 

You should have the dealer check it out if there is any doubt. The sensors could be dirty, have loose connections behind the bumper, have water contamination, etc. They can use NGS to test the resistance values of them. Ive replaced a few modules on the late model Expy.

 

I think what you are describing is normal for your particular model with the 4 sensors. In mid '03 when the Expy was altered somewhat, it was given dual zone climate control on the EB, a softer suspension(read that in Car and Driver), and the reverse parking assist was given two additional sensors. However, with the two additional sensors, you only are using one type of sensor system which IS NOT extended range. The early '03 EB models that have two sensors use sonar and radar to detect objects which allows for the Extended Range of detection. The four sensors use only either sonar or radar, I'm not sure which one, but not both like the early '03 models with two sensors use. Mine has the two sensors and it begins to pick up about six feet away. I back out of my driveway every morning and it begins to pick up the fence at about 6 feet every day, works perfectly. So there's nothing wrong with yours I don't believe, it's just working with one sensor system, not two, which is why yours isn't extended range. But since Ford upgraded the Expy in some ways in mid '03, the had to downgrade somethings like the reverse system. The mid Eddie Bauer '03s and current Eddie Bauer '04s don't come with as good of a stereo system as the early ones, mine came with like a 340 watt audiophile and the newer ones have a 260 watt, no option of a 340 watt. Also the underhood light was omitted and you only have one set of power 3rd row seat buttons, the early ones had buttons behind the second seat and in the rear hatch area, the new ones only have them in the hatch area. But the new ones have dual zone climate control, softer suspension for a better ride, easier steering, and the Eddie Bauer running boards are now arizona beige like the bottom color, not black like mine. So, where Ford improved in some areas, they had to cut back in some. It all works out. Hope this helps.

 

They are design for 3 feet, according to the owners manual.

 

Right, the ones with four sensors are designed for three feet. The ones with two are designed for 6 feet, however, I do believe that even though the four sensors aren't extended range, they probably are more accurate at detecting objects at a closer range.

 

I was thinking about this thread today in repairing an 03 Expy for a Park Aid problem. The display only said check park aid system...nothing else and was inoperative. I used NGS to retrieve codes but nada.. no communication at all. Tested for power and ground to module... OK Module dead. I replaced the module and then life came back, but still had a fault code in it. This code was Radar Sensor Fault. The vehicle has two external sonar sensors and a one large radar sensor in the middle of the bumper accesed from behing the bumper pad. I had to drop the spare tire to get to it, and lo and behold the connector was there unplugged. I searched farther and found NO radar sensor. So I promptly went to the computer and did a dealership background check and discovered this vehicle had been in the body shop for rear end collision damage. There was a detailed listing of all the parts installed. Everything but a radar sensor. Them boys in the body shop failed to install it. And the collision had shorted out the module. The system had been disabled so the customer never knew about the problem till they one day decided to enable it and got the faults. This accident occured 8 months ago! So now the dealership will be eating a radar sensor (335.00), module (125.00) and the labor. You never know what wierd situation you will find yourself in during what seems a simple system diagnostic.

 

When I first got my 04 EB seems like the warning system would activate about twenty feet from the object. Recently, I began noticing on the Message System that the reverse sensing display when in reverse. Before that I could swear that this message would not display when in reverse. At any rate when I began noticing the message I noticed that the system would not issue a warning until coming within less than ten feet away from an object. Is something wrong here?

 

the reverse sensing message that displays, is it a range indicator as I have only seen the prompt to disable parking assist when I put it in reverse. I do get the beeping while backing up. I am just wondering if I should be seeing a range display in my message center.

 

NOTE: The liftgate must be closed for correct operation of the parking aid system.

Navigator, Early Build Expedition
The parking aid system detects objects behind the vehicle when the vehicle is in reverse gear. The parking aid module does this by calculating the distance to an object by the use of two ultrasonic sensors and one radar sensor mounted in the rear bumper. The ultrasonic field is emitted in a semicircular area around the rear of the vehicle. The parking aid sensors can detect objects approximately 5 m (16.4 ft) when the vehicle is moving and 3 m (9.8 ft) when the vehicle is stationary to the rear of the vehicle, 50 cm (1.6 ft) to the rear side of the vehicle, and 16 cm (6 in) above ground. A 750 Hz variable warning tone is generated from a parking aid speaker attached to the parking aid module. The parking aid speaker increases its warning tone rate as the vehicle gets closer to an obstacle. When an object is detected within 45 cm (18 inches) of the sensors, the warning tone becomes continuous.

The parking aid system is enabled when the vehicle ignition is in RUN and reverse (R) gear is selected. The system can be disabled by pressing the menu button on the message center. The parking aid system will indicate it is disabled by illuminating the park assist off located in the message center. The system will always enable when the ignition is transitioned to RUN, or upon entry into REVERSE (R) gear is selected.

The parking aid system will be disabled if any DTC is active. This will be indicated by the parking assist off in the message center. The parking aid module is on the UART based protocol (UBP) communication network and can be diagnosed with a diagnostic tool.

Late Build Expedition
The parking aid system detects objects behind the vehicle when the vehicle is in reverse gear. The parking aid module does this by calculating the distance to an object by the use of four ultrasonic sensors mounted in the rear bumper. The ultrasonic field is emitted in a semicircular area around the rear of the vehicle. The parking aid sensors can detect objects approximately 1.8 m (5.9 ft) to the rear of the vehicle, 50 cm (1.6 ft) to the rear side of the vehicle, and 16 cm (6 in) above ground. A 750 Hz variable warning tone is generated from a parking aid speaker attached to the parking aid module. The parking aid speaker increases its warning tone rate as the vehicle gets closer to an obstacle. When an object is detected within 25 cm (10 in) of the sensors, the warning tone becomes continuous.

The parking aid system is enabled when the ignition is in RUN and the transmission is in REVERSE. The system can be disabled through the message center RESET switch located in the instrument cluster. The parking aid menu is displayed until the transmission is taken out of REVERSE. While the menu is displayed, pressing the message center RESET switch will change the parking aid system status to OFF.

The parking aid system will be disabled if a fault is detected in one of the four sensors, the parking aid speaker or the parking aid module. This will be indicated by the parking aid disabled warning CHECK BACKUP AID displayed in the message center.
"Ford Service Manual"

 

I have the two sensor (03 model). I get a continous beep beep signal when in reverse and nothing is there.
I have cleaned the two external sensors, no effect.
When I place an object in front of a sensor, the beeping increases until it goes to continous tone. THis is true for either sensor. However, when I place an obect in the center to test the radar sensor, there is no effect, meaning there is no tone change. Would that indicate a bad radar sensor, or a bad control module?
An interesting side note, I looked in the side panel at the module, and it had a little white sticker on it that said " DROPPED - Do not use this part", hmmmm, wonder what that means!

Thanks,
SM

 

Your model, if I remeber correctly had the Sonar Sensors which worked differently than the '03v2 and later models with the four sensors. You may want to look behind the bumper and check to make sure the sensors are mounted correctly, if so you may just have a bad module.

 

Simplemind, TSB 05-06-04 and TSB 06-25-13 may pertain to your vehicle.

 

Thanks, but I'm not smart enough to use that information