Adaptive Cruise Control Loses Vehicles on Bridges, Worse Post-Level

[RaacerX]

2024 XLT Powerboost with Bluecruise. From the dealer, the adaptive cruise control would periodically lose the car in front while driving on a metal bridge. It will then downshift and accelerate super hard to try to catch the next vehicle, dangerously. I have not waited to see if it will stop before ramming the car in front, it's very scary. It seems more prevalent when using a "1" setting for the vehicle gap.

Other times, the ACC seems to get confused on what is happening and will began to feather the brakes or lifting on/off the throttle, pulsing it, or lose it all together and start braking for no reason. It seems to have gotten worse after a recent OTA update.

In Bluecruise mode, this does not happen nearly as much, I thought maybe because it is using more sensor inputs to reference...?

Last week I did 285/70R18 tires and a 1.75" level; the Bluecruise still seems to work fine, but when using the ACC without lane centering it struggles even more now.

I never had a single issue with my 2021 Ranger, and I had the sensor stuck behind a metal bumper with a short opening and it worked great for 3 years.

Is this something I need to take into the dealer?

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[wessermgm]

If you leveled it, they will just say that you voided the warranty on that aspect of the truck. They can possibly realign the sensors, but I imagine they will charge you for it. FWIW, I levelled two BC/ACC trucks and it did not appear to interfere at all with the operation. That being said, most of the leveling kits carry the "Not Compatible with Ford Bluecruise" disclaimer.

But I drove to Michigan and back from Texas on BC/ACC most of the time on a leveled truck (over bridges and the like) no issues. Thus, I suspect your problem is a bum sensor, level or not.

 

[RaacerX]

If you leveled it, they will just say that you voided the warranty on that aspect of the truck. They can possibly realign the sensors, but I imagine they will charge you for it. FWIW, I levelled two BC/ACC trucks and it did not appear to interfere at all with the operation. That being said, most of the leveling kits carry the "Not Compatible with Ford Bluecruise" disclaimer.

But I drove to Michigan and back from Texas on BC/ACC most of the time on a leveled truck (over bridges and the like) no issues. Thus, I suspect your problem is a bum sensor, level or not.

Yes, I have no way to prove that the issue occurred prior to the level, but all the level did was exasperate the existing issue. And the issue doesn't occur with Bluecruise, only when in Adaptive Cruise Control mode with lane centering off.

This is why I'm hoping to find a solution I can handle myself, ie a FORSCAN calibration, but I've been hesitant to go that route since most people don't need to.

I'm not sure if the 2024 has the same procedure as a 2020, but I checked the angle of the sensor with a laser guide and it is (within spec).

I may relocate the sensor up to the plastic grill.

I did find some references of people having increased issues after the June OTA update.

PS. Is there more than one ACC radar on the 2024?

 

[imnuts]

I've never had BlueCruise/adaptive cruise "lose" the car in front of me, bridge or not.

 

[fordtruckman2003]

2024 XLT Powerboost with Bluecruise. From the dealer, the adaptive cruise control would periodically lose the car in front while driving on a metal bridge. It will then downshift and accelerate super hard to try to catch the next vehicle, dangerously. I have not waited to see if it will stop before ramming the car in front, it's very scary. It seems more prevalent when using a "1" setting for the vehicle gap.

Other times, the ACC seems to get confused on what is happening and will began to feather the brakes or lifting on/off the throttle, pulsing it, or lose it all together and start braking for no reason. It seems to have gotten worse after a recent OTA update.

In Bluecruise mode, this does not happen nearly as much, I thought maybe because it is using more sensor inputs to reference...?

Last week I did 285/70R18 tires and a 1.75" level; the Bluecruise still seems to work fine, but when using the ACC without lane centering it struggles even more now.

I never had a single issue with my 2021 Ranger, and I had the sensor stuck behind a metal bumper with a short opening and it worked great for 3 years.

Is this something I need to take into the dealer?

When you adjust the rake of truck you have to open the cover and adjust the angle of radar sensor. You also need to recalibrate the IPMA cameras for adaptive cruise for proper performance.

 

[Fox146]

From page 27 it details some of the adjustments . At least you can confirm if the sensor is level

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

You simply can’t install a leveling kit and larger tires, not realign the sensors and expect systems to operate properly.

At this point, you have two choices. Talk to the dealer or shop and have the sensors re-aligned. Or remove the leveling kit and take it to the dealer and explain the issues.

Really kind of depends on your dealer, but some may certainly say it’s your issue because of the leveling kit.

 

[22Platinum]

There was a video of a guy with a 6" lift using ACC to in stop and go to follow the car in front of him; it eventually did the same thing, "lost" the car in front of him, accelerated to catch the next car and punched that woman's trunk open.

It was on the other forum, and the conclusion was it needed to go the dealer and have the sensors calibrated for the lift.

 

[HammaMan]

I've leveled and larger tires and not once touched my radar. I've also removed the front bumper and put it back on w/out touching the radar. 360 alignment isn't optional though and resetting the centering camera was just a click in forscan.

Chance OPs radar was already a little high-facing to begin with.

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

I've leveled and larger tires and not once touched my radar. I've also removed the front bumper and put it back on w/out touching the radar. 360 alignment isn't optional though and resetting the centering camera was just a click in forscan.

Chance OPs radar was already a little high-facing to begin with.

Very good possibility there indeed

 

[RaacerX]

I've leveled and larger tires and not once touched my radar. I've also removed the front bumper and put it back on w/out touching the radar. 360 alignment isn't optional though and resetting the centering camera was just a click in forscan.

Chance OPs radar was already a little high-facing to begin with.

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I used an older, slightly different service manual for the procedure, but it had the exact same steps in terms of checking the angle on the ACC sensor.

That's why I was wondering if there were perhaps 2 sensors on the newer vehicles, because I checked the one on the driver's side.

Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Also, the vast majority of people do levels and larger tires without any negative affect on the ACC; as stated, I was already having issues, and the level seems to have exasperated this, but at the same time, my sensor is flat.

At this point, before dealing with the dealer, I'm going to actually angle my sensor down a small amount; my completely baseless hypothesis is that the actual ACC sensor inside the housing is not on the 100% same plane as the exterior of the ACC.

 

[HammaMan]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I used an older, slightly different service manual for the procedure, but it had the exact same steps in terms of checking the angle on the ACC sensor.

That's why I was wondering if there were perhaps 2 sensors on the newer vehicles, because I checked the one on the driver's side.

Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Also, the vast majority of people do levels and larger tires without any negative affect on the ACC; as stated, I was already having issues, and the level seems to have exasperated this, but at the same time, my sensor is flat.

At this point, before dealing with the dealer, I'm going to actually angle my sensor down a small amount; my completely baseless hypothesis is that the actual ACC sensor inside the housing is not on the 100% same plane as the exterior of the ACC.

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