Veh is a 2019 F-150 XLT Supercab 4x4,

So, I am driving along when suddenly bells start chiming and I get a warning on my instrument panel:

PRE-COLLISION ASSIST UNAVAILABLE - See Manual

I say to myself, "What the hell is the pre-collision assist, where is it and how do I access it? Dig out the manual and begin researching. I check my advance settings and see that in fact Pre-collision Assist is ON. So, now what? More research reveals the system utilizes a radar sensor which is placed behind the grille to detect the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Has it gone bad? Hou much will that cost to repair?

I was able to locate, observe and inspect the Pre-collision Assist radar sensor. Lo and behold what to see? The wing of a dead insect was splattered on the front surface of the radar sensor. I removed it by wiping the surface of the radar sensor with a cloth.

The bells no longer chime and and the Pre-collision Assist is back up and operating normally.

I would have been a very unhappy camper if I had had to take the truck into the dealership and pay a $100 Diagnosis Fee + .1 hour of labor to have the bug removed!

 

I'll bet it really would have bugged you.

 

The term "bug" comes from a moth getting into a computer back in 1947 causing a malfunction. It is nothing new.

 

I've seen ENIAC, if a moth got in there it would have been fricasseed..

 

The radar is behind one of the plastic "pads" on the front bumper. It's difficult for me to imagine how it would get a dead bug on it. The only time I've had any issue was during very heavy rain, which blinds the radar and triggers a warning that it is not working.

 

On a related but not identical situation. I was driving on a long trip home when I got a sudden screen notification on my Grand Cherokee that the adaptive cruise and emergency braking were inoperative due to a sensor problem. I pulled over and wiped the radar dome with a paper towel then restarted with no issues current and continued happily on my way.

 

What "pad" is it behind, the right one? My lowly 2020 XLT had the left "pad" damaged by a deer strike, there's nothing behind that one. I thought it came from a sensor up behind the rear view mirror.

 

 

Go ahead and zoom in, looks like I got cheated by the factory, nothing behind left, drivers side, at all.
2020 XLT 302A package

 

You must not have that option. If you're unsure just shoot me the last eight digits of your VIN and I can tell you.