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Old 10-31-2018, 02:30 PM   #1
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Disconnecting Ford E-350 backup sensors

Happy Halloween everyone!
Just installed a new rear bumper from Buckstop without sensors on my 2013 E-350 and am really happy with the fit and look of it. Only problem is I now have a "Check rear park aid" alert when reversing. They were disconnected at the wiring harness on the frame near the factory spare tire location. I've thoroughly searched the site without any success although I know this subject has to have come up more than once.
So how can I eliminate this notification?

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Old 11-21-2018, 11:40 AM   #2
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The sound of silence

I was over at Agile last week and am hopefully that we will be able to find a solution to my problem through a Ford specialist they work with. He as already worked his magic to get my speedometer accurate. I will update after he has a chance to tinker with it again, hopefully it will help someone in the future with the same problem
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Old 11-21-2018, 01:36 PM   #3
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Surprised nobody responded. And yes if you find a fix, please post what you did to correct it.
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Old 11-22-2018, 05:41 AM   #4
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There is a free to use software package called FORScan (https://forscan.org/home.html that's touted as giving service/factory level access to so much inside the PCM. I've read it successfully disables or modifies several convenient but annoying factory added features a particular owner wanted removed. One example that quickly comes to mind is something called "dark car" that deals with when dome lights triggered to operate.

It might very well be able to deal with the rear bumper sensor issue. The Ford specialist Agile works with might have something superior to FORScan or something close enough to modify the bumper sensor operation.

I'd also like to know what happens, more for curiosity than anticipated use though. Looking forward to any updates!
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Old 11-22-2018, 10:12 AM   #5
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Features like Rear Park Aid, TPMS, Trailer Towing, etc... can be enabled/disabled with Forscan IF you know what to change in the "As-Built" data. I haven't found the rear park aid bit to flip yet unfortunately.

The park aid system is comprised of a module (the sensors plug into this) and the Instrument Cluster being "enabled". Which is to say that the IC, when enabled, will be requesting status data from the park aid module to display on the message center. When the function is disabled in the IC, it not longer requests data so it won't show anything on the message center. You're in a state now where the IC is requesting data and the park aid module is sending back "I'm not working, I'm not working, I'm not working".

If you compare a bunch of As Built data for a number of VINs with various configurations, you can possibly find differences that at least give you a starting point. Then make changes in forscan and see what happens. You can't mess things up too bad if you're only playing with the IC. I'll eventually find it the next time I'm messing around. I have to change a bunch of stuff on a van that's in the shop now. Not sure how soon I'll be doing it though.
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Old 11-22-2018, 12:59 PM   #6
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Thank you MG and JWA, really solid information! I have no experience with these sorts of things so am hesitant to start tinkering with Forscan but it's great to hear that it's that simple for someone with the proper knowledge to adjust. Stoked to hear TPMS can be disabled as I'm sick of looking at that too.
I will post an update after he has a chance to work on it.
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Old 11-22-2018, 04:39 PM   #7
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I put a small piece of black tape over the TPMS warning light. Almost forgot it was even there. ��
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Old 05-30-2019, 11:15 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rothy View Post
Thank you MG and JWA, really solid information! I have no experience with these sorts of things so am hesitant to start tinkering with Forscan but it's great to hear that it's that simple for someone with the proper knowledge to adjust. Stoked to hear TPMS can be disabled as I'm sick of looking at that too.
I will post an update after he has a chance to work on it.
Rothy, did you ever find a solution to this backup alert problem?
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Old 05-30-2019, 02:49 PM   #9
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For your year van there's a selection in the setup menu where you can disable the rear park aid, but I haven't had any luck getting it to work--it's as if it doesn't "take", at least not after ignition has been turned off.

Short of figuring out how to do it in Forscan, it occurred to me that the backup sensor ought to be disabled if you're towing something. Perhaps a workaround would be to plug something into the towing plug (if equipped) to convince it that you're towing?

[edit] Just found this with Google Fu:

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/forsc...987/index1957/

Anyone with Forscan willing to try it? It would give me yet another reason to get around to buying an adapter and setting it up.
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Old 05-30-2019, 07:41 PM   #10
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This would be a great mod. I cut in the sensors on my new bumper and it worked great. Then after adding the spare tire swing arm, the tire triggered light beeping but after a few cycles it worked fine again. Then I added the other swing arm with a big box on it. After that it constantly beeped. Unplugged the two under the box and it just errors in reverse.

Would be nice to disable it. Would be nicer to get it working again. I've wondered about tilting the sensors down a little?

Maybe I should get the Forscan to turn off the TPMS anyway. I don't run 70 PSI anymore with my 10 Ply Mud Terrains. EDIT: Browsing Forscan site, it seems Forscan will only allow increasing TPMS pressure, not decreasing it.
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