Adding Lane assist to a 502A
04-02-2017, 03:12 PM
#102
So, I've pretty much proven to myself that the service manual instructions to do a calibration on the LKS each time the mirror is removed from it's mount is not fooling around and it's not a recommendation to generate revenue or anything else so nefarious.
I installed the LK mirror and did the calibration when I first installed it. System worked ok, but I didn't have the on/off button working (as previously mentioned).
So I ended up removing and installed the mirror several times before I figured out I needed to run a wire from the roof harness to the switch and setting up my temporary switch.
This morning, we went out for a drive somewhere and I used the LK system. It would ride the outer white line to the point of hitting gravel occasionally and the yellow line it would cross by a foot or more into opposing traffic.
Then I started thinking about the mirror mount. The mirror "twists" on and off it's mount and it's pretty much a friction stop for the twist by four spring steel "fingers". That means it can be off a few degrees each time you remove/install it since the stop is not a fixed point.
A degree of two doesn't sound like much to be off, but when you consider the camera has to be looking at least 15-20 feet in front to see enough of the road lines (approx 6 feet from the camera to the hood leading edge alone), that degree or two can lead to an accumulated error of a foot or more. Which is just about how much my truck would wander over the lines.
So I hooked up IDS/VCMII and headed out to the highway. I fired off another calibration and then turned around a drove back. Now it would only allow the truck to get to the point where it would ride the white and yellow lines, never over.
So there you have it. The FSM isn't blowing smoke up yer butt when it says to calibrate the camera each time it is removed/installed on the window mount. The error can add up to enough to put you in a front 1/4 head on situation or put a tire out on a soft shoulder.
If you're going to have the system, might as well have it operating to it's maximum potential.
I installed the LK mirror and did the calibration when I first installed it. System worked ok, but I didn't have the on/off button working (as previously mentioned).
So I ended up removing and installed the mirror several times before I figured out I needed to run a wire from the roof harness to the switch and setting up my temporary switch.
This morning, we went out for a drive somewhere and I used the LK system. It would ride the outer white line to the point of hitting gravel occasionally and the yellow line it would cross by a foot or more into opposing traffic.
Then I started thinking about the mirror mount. The mirror "twists" on and off it's mount and it's pretty much a friction stop for the twist by four spring steel "fingers". That means it can be off a few degrees each time you remove/install it since the stop is not a fixed point.
A degree of two doesn't sound like much to be off, but when you consider the camera has to be looking at least 15-20 feet in front to see enough of the road lines (approx 6 feet from the camera to the hood leading edge alone), that degree or two can lead to an accumulated error of a foot or more. Which is just about how much my truck would wander over the lines.
So I hooked up IDS/VCMII and headed out to the highway. I fired off another calibration and then turned around a drove back. Now it would only allow the truck to get to the point where it would ride the white and yellow lines, never over.
So there you have it. The FSM isn't blowing smoke up yer butt when it says to calibrate the camera each time it is removed/installed on the window mount. The error can add up to enough to put you in a front 1/4 head on situation or put a tire out on a soft shoulder.
If you're going to have the system, might as well have it operating to it's maximum potential.
Last edited by Great white; 04-02-2017 at 03:25 PM.
The following 2 users liked this post by Great white:
Livnitup (04-02-2017),
Livoniabob (04-02-2017)
04-15-2017, 11:04 AM
#103
I've used LK for a bit now.
Is it a must have system?
Well, even though I like it, I have to say no its not.
It works reasonably well, but it's sure not a "save your bacon" system. Left to it's own devices, it wanders and weaves down the road. That's the way it's designed to work, except when it corrects once way, it will over run the lane on the other side. If it doesn't over run the lane, it looses lock all together. Then there are the random times it just looses lock, maybe due to sun or something similar, or maybe for no reason at all.
There has been a once or twice thing where I have felt it "help" me to stay off (what it considered) too close to the lane lines, but I wouldn't trust it to save me from crossing the white or yellow line. It just doesn't have that degree of accuracy, authority or reliability.
So at this stage of it's development, I'd say it just remains and interesting little curiosity in the truck. For sure not a must have. I would say not worth the cost of installing after the fact unless you got a screaming deal on the mirror, as the mirror is the largest cost item (900-1300 USD). Same could be said for the foolishly expensive console trim piece that holds the switch I guess (approx 240 USD).
When I get a chance, I'm going to retry the 2016 Explorer mirror. I think it might work now that I know the land keeping switch wasn't working (missing wiring) when I first tried it. If it works, it opens another option for anyone wanting to try the install. There also may be the possibility that the 2016 mirror might work better than the 2015 I have in the truck right now, maybe a firmware change from 2015-2016 or the like.
Is it a must have system?
Well, even though I like it, I have to say no its not.
It works reasonably well, but it's sure not a "save your bacon" system. Left to it's own devices, it wanders and weaves down the road. That's the way it's designed to work, except when it corrects once way, it will over run the lane on the other side. If it doesn't over run the lane, it looses lock all together. Then there are the random times it just looses lock, maybe due to sun or something similar, or maybe for no reason at all.
There has been a once or twice thing where I have felt it "help" me to stay off (what it considered) too close to the lane lines, but I wouldn't trust it to save me from crossing the white or yellow line. It just doesn't have that degree of accuracy, authority or reliability.
So at this stage of it's development, I'd say it just remains and interesting little curiosity in the truck. For sure not a must have. I would say not worth the cost of installing after the fact unless you got a screaming deal on the mirror, as the mirror is the largest cost item (900-1300 USD). Same could be said for the foolishly expensive console trim piece that holds the switch I guess (approx 240 USD).
When I get a chance, I'm going to retry the 2016 Explorer mirror. I think it might work now that I know the land keeping switch wasn't working (missing wiring) when I first tried it. If it works, it opens another option for anyone wanting to try the install. There also may be the possibility that the 2016 mirror might work better than the 2015 I have in the truck right now, maybe a firmware change from 2015-2016 or the like.
Last edited by Great white; 04-15-2017 at 11:09 AM.
04-18-2017, 06:10 PM
#105
Auto high beam mirror is the same as the AHB\ Lane keeping harness.
If it's just the autodim mirror, different harness. At least it's a different part number....
Last edited by Great white; 04-18-2017 at 10:04 PM.
04-19-2017, 05:19 AM
#107
Roof harness should be the same.
Floor harness is likely missing the wire (like mine) to go to the floor console on/off switch from the roof harness (I'm just adding that one pin) and you will need a new floor console harness.
At least that's what I needed to do to my 2016....
Floor harness is likely missing the wire (like mine) to go to the floor console on/off switch from the roof harness (I'm just adding that one pin) and you will need a new floor console harness.
At least that's what I needed to do to my 2016....
04-19-2017, 05:49 PM
#109
Better to just add the one missing 20 gauge wire from the connector up in the C pillar to the console side plug and be done with it.
Last edited by Great white; 04-19-2017 at 05:53 PM.
08-15-2017, 12:30 PM
#110
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
The floor harness is a monster. Literally runs from the rear headliner up in the passenger C pillar to the BCM up in the dash and connects everything in between.
Better to just add the one missing 20 gauge wire from the connector up in the C pillar to the console side plug and be done with it.
Better to just add the one missing 20 gauge wire from the connector up in the C pillar to the console side plug and be done with it.