Forum Discussion

tennille's avatar
tennille
Explorer
Oct 03, 2015

Ford Flex adaptive cruise control

Hello all. We recently purchased a 2014 Ford Flex and had a Blue Ox baseplate installed along with the extra vehicle Even Brake wiring kit. Since the install the adaptive cruise control has fluctuated between non- functional and barely functional. The distance between cars it will maintain has dropped to ten or twelve feet at best to simply allowing a collision to occur without our intervention. Both the install shop and Blue Ox have verified the correct baseplate for the car with this option. The installer has removed the bumper at least once to check for any obstruction and found nothing. I have now wondered if it could be an issue with the Even Brake wiring. We are at a loss and don't want to simply do without this option which carried a hefty price tag. Anyone faced a similar situation or installed a baseplate without issues such as these. Thanks in advance.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Oct 04, 2015
    I don't know if Flex is one of them, but at least some Fords (I'm thinking Fusion) have their stop/turn controlled by a computerized control module. If your Flex is like that, I think I'd disconnect the diodes and see if anything changes. Might not be the cause, but still pretty easy troubleshooting.
  • tennille's avatar
    tennille
    Explorer
    Oct 04, 2015
    I removed the two connecting brackets where the tow hitch connects from the camper before I left the hitch place the first time thinking it might interfere. We have turned off the adaptive cruise control, which has to be done every time the car is started, but have discovered an even bigger issue.

    The frontal collision warning system will alarm when no one is around causing the car to brake suddenly and aggressively. There is no off switch for this. After reviewing the receipt from hitch company I see they installed diodes for the brake lights and wonder if that is a possible issue.
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer II
    Oct 03, 2015
    rjstractor wrote:
    Silly question- are you driving with the baseplate bracketry installed on the car? Either way I would think something is physically interfering with the sensors that determine your distance between you and the car in front. I would also think that anything that alters the front of the car could potentially mess this system up. Good luck, let us know what you find out.

    Blue Ox base plates don't have the external bracketry that some others have. They only have a pair of removeable "horns" that stick straight out from the base plate sockets. If the base plate itself is not interfering with the sensors, I'd wonder about the brake wiring.
  • rjstractor's avatar
    rjstractor
    Nomad
    Oct 03, 2015
    Silly question- are you driving with the baseplate bracketry installed on the car? Either way I would think something is physically interfering with the sensors that determine your distance between you and the car in front. I would also think that anything that alters the front of the car could potentially mess this system up. Good luck, let us know what you find out.

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