I posted this in the Expy forum, but since it doesn't get much traffic and I know there are some very knowledgable folks that frequent this forum, I thought I'd pose this issue to you all to see if you have any ideas on where to start with this...

My wifes '08 Expedition EL has the rearview mirror rear camera and the reverse sensors. This morning when she went to back up the screen turned blue and the sensors stopped working. She put it back in park and then reverse and nothing but blue screen and no sensors. She shut the truck off and then back on and still nothing.

Any thoughts? Bad sensor? Came un-hooked somewhere?

She's at 40K miles so were out of luck most likely warranty wise...

 

Have you checked your fuses?

 

Not yet... she called me at work this morning and told me about it. A fuse was my first thought... just trying to put together a game plan to hopefully figure this out tonight or tomorrow.

 

I'd just check fuses then check the connection to the camera itself in the hatch. However, I'm not aware that the sensors/camera are on the same circuit. Maybe they share a common harness.

 

I didn't have long to look at it this evening, but what I noticed is that when I put the truck in reverse, the camera comes up blue and then disappears. In the Information Center it shows "Parking Aid" and underneath is On Off. Neither one is highlighted like it normally would be...either on or off. This makes me lean more toward a fuse...

Now, I opened the hood and there is a fuse box right in the front of the truck... now I just have to figure out which fuse is which...

 

I think they might be on the same circuit in her truck. I say that because it doesn't have the traditional sensor "dots" on the bumper, in fact I'm not real sure where they are. The camera is right under the lift gate chrome cover... I am assuming the sensors are in that same general area...

 

Okay, it was a simple fix... the fuse had burned out... replaced it and all is well now. I have to wonder what might have caused it but I'm just gonna go with it for now and hope it doesn't happen for another 40K miles.

I'll tell ya' what, it's amazing how reliant you can become on the back up sensors and the camera. You don't realize it until you don't have it...

Thanks for the responses!

 

how reliant you can become on the back up sensors
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I don't have the camera, just the sensor. When I got it I thought it would be a waste, just something else to break, but yeah, I rely on it now too.

 

How much was the fuse?

 

I used a "spare" fuse from the fuse box, so it didn't cost me anything... I'd guess at Autozone or the like it would be a couple of bucks.

One thing I didn't mention, the fuse is located in the fuse box on the right passenger side kick panel... took all of a few minutes to remove and replace it. I had originally thought it would be in the fuse box under the hood at the front of the truck...

 

Dang it... the wife was leaving for work yesterday and came back in to tell me that the camera and sensors were out again... swapped out the fuse and it's working again...

Of course, this now begs the question... what is causing it to blow fuses????? I have no idea where to begin tracking this down.

 

Have you installed anything since you bought the truck home? Even a light bulb?

 

Not a thing... besides 40K miles and regular maintenance...

We are talking with the dealership right now. Since we are past the 36K bumper to bumper, this could get pricey. We are also having a powertrain issue right now that they are claiming is actually the power steering pump being bad due to a leak. I've called BS on them because if it were leaking, I would have seen fluid on the floor of my garage at some point, and the fact that the power steering has never has any sort of hiccup. What is happening is a pronounced "whine" when you accelerate. It doesn't do it when you turn the steering wheel, and it doesn't do it when the truck is in park and you rev the engine... or if you rev the engine and turn the steering wheel... so how in the heck can it be the power steering pump??? I think thats the angle they are taking because the tranny would be under warranty and the power steering pump would not...

I'm pretty disappointed right now, we intend to keep this truck for a long time, but dang, I'm starting to question the intelligence of that if at 40K miles crap is already starting to self destruct...

 

Have you opened the hood and listened to where the noise is coming from? I have a constant "whine" sound that my '03 Expedition that is actually the ac compressor pulley bearing that is failing. The noise is there whether the ac is operating or not, as long as the engine is running there is noise. It will be getting replaced under my extended warranty for $100 and also will have the rear ac leak addressed under the warranty.

 

Interestingly, you don't hear the whine until you are accelerating down the road. Sitting still it's not doing it.

Interestingly, the powersteering fluid was very burnt looking so I flushed it and my wife hasn't mentioned the noise since then... so maybe that was the issue. Power steering fluid after 40K miles? I suppose...

Now, the reverse camera is still working, but the sensors are not. I am pretty sure they are on the same circuit since the same fuse being replaced got them both going again when the fuse blew. What I suspect is the sensors were shorting somewhere and blowing the fuse.. now they've shorted completely and just stopped working, not affecting the camera. Now I just need to figure out where the wiring runs. I suspect it is the rear door opening and closing over time wearing down the wire sheathing.