Back up sensors
03-14-2014, 08:10 PM
#11
I am having problems with my forth one not working and am thinking it may be the PAM. where did yours get disconnected at? It's really bugging me not having them
03-15-2014, 01:22 AM
#12
Senior Member
no worries! If it's a DEAD short, or a bad sensor (also shorting), I think the sensor will disable immediately (I'm not 100% on that)... If it's a disconnect (i.e. ground, +12V, or sensor), then I believe the system considers that a missing sensor and it takes approximately 4 seconds. Either way, a fault is indicated at that point. The reason being is a dead short on the signal line, the PAM can detect that immediately. I am guessing a bit here based on other knowledge but it would make sense. In that case, I would unplug one sensor at a time and see if it turns into a 4 second disable (as it WILL disable after 4 seconds if ALL sensors are dead). This will help you trace which sensor is actually shorting or completely failed.
My sensor broke RIGHT at the connector to the sensor. The reason mine broke is snow shooting at the sensors. If there's a recommendation I could make to anyone with these trucks, either add shrink-wrap around the connectors (and make sure it keeps water out), and/or add mudflaps to your truck to limit how much snow/gravel is thrown at those sensors. Again, this was a disconnect, not a solid short so there was the 4 second wait.
I had a lot of fun with mine in the beginning.... I learned a lot about the F150 ones overall lol. I really lost a lot of time out of my life on them but you only learn more by trying
.
Also posted some more info here: https://www.f150forum.com/f4/backup-...-stays-250978/
SCrew05, I never actually found where the break existed in one of mine. What I had to do is run a new wire from one of the other sensors, but you need to be careful. There's a main harness by the spare tire... you can jump the +12V or ground from any of the other sensors easily, you can't jump the signal though of course. My outer drivers side broke somewhere for the +12V wire, I jumped it from the next closest one and it's been fine for years. Based on the link I've provided, you can jump pin's 1 and 3 from any other sensor, but NOT pin 2 (as that's the signal wire). In reverse, you should see 12V across pins 1 and 3 with ignition on, if not, you have a break somewhere.
My sensor broke RIGHT at the connector to the sensor. The reason mine broke is snow shooting at the sensors. If there's a recommendation I could make to anyone with these trucks, either add shrink-wrap around the connectors (and make sure it keeps water out), and/or add mudflaps to your truck to limit how much snow/gravel is thrown at those sensors. Again, this was a disconnect, not a solid short so there was the 4 second wait.
I had a lot of fun with mine in the beginning.... I learned a lot about the F150 ones overall lol. I really lost a lot of time out of my life on them but you only learn more by trying
.Also posted some more info here: https://www.f150forum.com/f4/backup-...-stays-250978/
SCrew05, I never actually found where the break existed in one of mine. What I had to do is run a new wire from one of the other sensors, but you need to be careful. There's a main harness by the spare tire... you can jump the +12V or ground from any of the other sensors easily, you can't jump the signal though of course. My outer drivers side broke somewhere for the +12V wire, I jumped it from the next closest one and it's been fine for years. Based on the link I've provided, you can jump pin's 1 and 3 from any other sensor, but NOT pin 2 (as that's the signal wire). In reverse, you should see 12V across pins 1 and 3 with ignition on, if not, you have a break somewhere.
Last edited by homer; 03-15-2014 at 01:31 AM.