"Parking aid malfunction"

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › "Parking aid malfunction"

decibel

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#289662 21-Sep-2021 09:34

Aaahh ! We have a visitor ready to leave and her Ford Focus won't start - the screen warning is "Parking Aid malfunction - service required."

There is nothing that I can see in the manual that allows this to be bypassed. (she never uses the parking aid anyway)

Any quick clues to get her going?

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Ultimate Geek

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#2781530 21-Sep-2021 10:01

Have you checked the parking sensors on the outside of the car – any of them covered in debris?

Stu

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#2781534 21-Sep-2021 10:05

Other than above with dirty sensors, there are plenty of suggestions that show up in a quick search with Google.

eg:

https://www.focusfanatics.com/threads/parking-aid-malfunction-service-required-error.797242/

https://www.reddit.com/r/FordFocus/comments/api4es/stranded_twice_in_2_days_parking_aid_malfunction/

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Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Bung

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#2781536 21-Sep-2021 10:07

From a quick search the answers range from cleaning off anything stuck to the sensors to the transmission control module being faulty. Does it have the Dual Clutch Transmission? F ix O r R epair D aily.

decibel

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2781550 21-Sep-2021 10:34

Thanks, checked all the sensors and read all those really enlightening posts.

I think Bung has the right idea about what FORD stands for. 👎

frankv

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#2781613 21-Sep-2021 12:02

If cleaning the sensors didn't work...

If you have an OBD2 plugin, you might be able to reset the error code.

Otherwise try disconnecting the battery, waiting 30 seconds or so, then reconnecting it.

decibel

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2781758 21-Sep-2021 16:14

frankv:Otherwise try disconnecting the battery, waiting 30 seconds or so, then reconnecting it.

The man from State Roadside Rescue mentioned that but apparently the downside would be losing the diagnostic info that Ford would need.

Anyway, it is on its way to the Ford service centre in Masterton.

ezbee

2405 posts

Uber Geek

#2781775 21-Sep-2021 16:58

Its seems bizarre to NOT allow a car to start for this type of malfunction.
You can park manually, and a big flashing warning and disabling parking assist would seem to be sufficient.
Many people would not know if disconnecting battery will do the job if engine stopped in situation its unsafe to stay.
Always carry a toolkit with right sized spanner it seems.
Plus being able to move the car helps you get to service center with state preserved for diagnosis.

It will be interesting to see how this goes with Ford and their explanation for this concerning behavior

My sister had funny run in with Ford dealer who initially fobbed her off on giving radio code for second hand Focus they sold her.
Why the heck you have to make a return trip and become forceful with them on something that took them a minute to look up ?

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decibel

315 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2781800 21-Sep-2021 18:02

ezbee:...Its seems bizarre to NOT allow a car to start for this type of malfunction...

My thought exactly - a case of design by over-complication. (or is that over-complication by design.)

It will be interesting to see how this goes with Ford and their explanation for this concerning behavior.

I have printed off a 12 page document from Ford in the USA extending the warranty on this model car up to 150,000 miles when a faulty TCM module is involved.

And you guessed it, I have just heard in the last 30 minutes from the Ford dealer that it is the TCM unit.

We will see if New Zealanders are the poor relation to Americans as to whether Ford extends that longer warranty to us.

sbiddle

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#2781852 21-Sep-2021 19:39

I've had a TCM and 2x clutch replacements in my Focus. The TCM quite often fails while driving (mine did) which can be pretty dangerous.

The TCM replacement is covered under the Ford warranty - here in NZ anything transmission related was extended to a 7yr Ford warranty but the simple fact is Ford can't change you even if you're now beyond that due to the extent of the issue and the fact they wouldn't even have a leg to stand on if you took them to the disputes tribunal!

sbiddle

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#2781853 21-Sep-2021 19:40

ezbee:

Its seems bizarre to NOT allow a car to start for this type of malfunction.

Trust me. Not being able to drive a car that's got a TCM failure is a bonus, not a negative!

shk292

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#2781868 21-Sep-2021 20:38

This would be a bummer if you'd stopped on a boat ramp with a rising tide...

Jvipers2

215 posts

Master Geek

#2781958 21-Sep-2021 23:39

decibel:
We will see if New Zealanders are the poor relation to Americans as to whether Ford extends that longer warranty to us.

Kiwis always lose out…take Kia for example, 7 years in UK and OZ but only 5 here…so wouldn’t surprise me if the longer warranty doesn’t apply here…

Behodar

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#2781991 22-Sep-2021 07:50

sbiddle:

ezbee:Its seems bizarre to NOT allow a car to start for this type of malfunction.

Trust me. Not being able to drive a car that's got a TCM failure is a bonus, not a negative!

In that case the error message should say that a critical component has failed, not that it's a problem with the cup holder!

Bung

6479 posts

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#2782002 22-Sep-2021 08:22

In the case of Ford's TCM problem apparently the error message can be a bit random the clue is that it happens during starting.

frankv

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#2782021 22-Sep-2021 09:17

Randomised error messages... I wonder why Microsoft doesn't do that?

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