Reverse warning sensor.

[st.pauljoe]

Hi everybody! My name is Joe and I currently have a 2004 Explorer Limited. This is my third Explorer and I upgraded each time. The one I have now is nice and it has all the creature comforts but it's not without some quirks. My wife likes this one because nothing can get close to it without some bell or whistle going off. Which brings me to a small problem, well to me it is, she has a total different outlook. The reverse sensor or I think they call it a parking aid module just decided not to go off one day (lost one bike). On the lower left of the steering column a little light will come on every time it's put in reverse. I can click the light off but it does not turn the sensor on. I have a basic repair manual but the only mention of it is in the wiring diagrams and that doesn't say anything. It doesn't even tell me where it is or what fuse or relay is associated with it. Could this be another wiring problem (my power windows had broken wires) or a fuse/relay issue? Also is anybody else having problems with the stock radio that holds 6 cd's but they keep getting stuck? I can't say keeps because they finally came out the first time they were stuck, but now nothing happens. Thanks for any input you all might have.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the stock 2002-2005 section.

 

[jrford]

reverse sensors . . .just installed the OEM version 4 years after.
They is really nothing too the backup sensor, there are only the sensors (4), module and switch. sounds like a sensor is out one or more. The stealership can tell you which one is failed for a diagnostic fee and replace it ($110 each at the dealer). OR you can buy them on fleabay for $30 each (last time i checked), note the $8 ones from a previous post worked but are long gone. . . .

CD Player, if you can take it out and split it you can have it fixed for $80 or so, the trays fall off, some have had luck fixing it themselves. I have a post on it in the audio section. .

 

[hosmer79]

Not to sound like a newbie or mean but aren't you turning the reverse sensor off if you're hitting that light button on the dash? Are you just putting it in reverse and going and not getting any feedback from the sensors or are you putting it in reverse then pressing the switch? Sorry if I misunderstood you but just wanted to clarify. If it didn't go off one time with a bike laying on the ground I wouldn't be surprised if the sensor just didn't "see" it. Reverse sensors made this long ago are prone to poor readings I'd say. I'd never fully trust my reverse sensors! Good luck!

 

[st.pauljoe]

Reverse Sensor

Sorry if I was not clear. The sensor worked fine then suddenly it stopped. The little light comes on every time reverse is passed or put in reverse. It's annoying so I turn the light off. The next time I start the vehicle the light will be off until I go past reverse or put it in reverse.

 

[xlt03]

The light is off when you are driving the vehicle. When in reverse it should light up and the sensors are active. The switch is for you to turn off the beeping sound when you are in reverse in case you are towing something behind Explorer which will be in the area of the sensors. Think of the switch as a sanity switch when backing up with a trailer etc. so you don't have to listen to the beeping because you already know there is something (trailer) behind Explorer. So when you turned off the switch you deactivated reverse sensor hence lost bike if I read your posting correctly.

 

[st.pauljoe]

Reverse Sensor

Thank you for reading my post. One day I noticed that in reverse it didn't beep, it was in the winter here in Minnesota so I thought it was just covered with snow. Come spring I noticed that there still wasn't a beep when I backed up close to something. Now when I start the vehicle the light is off, but when I shift from park to drive the light will come on and stay on, if I hit the button while driving the light will turn off until I go past reverse to park then it will come on again and stay on until I turn off the truck or hit the button.

 

[jrford]

when I shift from park to drive the light will come on and stay on,

this means there is a fault in the system. When i just plugged in the module without the sensors, it did the same thing.

 

[Rob_E]

This exact thing happens to mine everytime the sensors get dirty. As soon as I give the truck a good washing, they work like new again. Maybe the same will work for you??

 

[Warrior68]

I'm having the same trouble with my reverse sensors. As soon as I put it in reverse the light on the switch turns to off, and the sensors do not work. If I hit the switch while in reverse the off light goes off, but as soon as the truck moves backward the slightest bit, the off light comes back on. Not a big deal, I have to trouble parking it without the sensors, but I would like them to work just because I cant stand when stuff doesn't work right. I am wondering if it is in the switch itself? When I first got the vehicle I sensors were working fine, I was playing around with everything and ended up playing around with the sensor switch, it was stuck and would not move at all, I gave it good hard push, it made a loud click, like it had been stuck or something. Whats odd about the whole thing is that the sensors will occasional surprise me a work. The vehicle gets washed weekly so its not dirty senors.

 

[Rob_E]

Mine are doing the same thing now as well. As I suggested before, washing always fixed the problem... until it didn't. Mine might not turn themselves off once a month, but then the sensors beep like crazy for no reason.