Wrong Windshield Alert: SureTrack Real Fix

by Abigail Lucero

Real Fixes from SureTrack® provides expert-based knowledge captured from millions of documented repairs and community discussions. Read on to see how SureTrack can help you fix tricky issues that are not easily diagnosed with OEM information alone. SureTrack is available at no additional cost within ProDemand.

This fix illustrates the power of the SureTrack community to quickly help a fellow tech solve a problem. SureTrack community member, Olivierm, had a 2019 Ford F-150 in the shop with an unexpected alert. They posed the question to the community, and with the help of Oshowy.A.G., they were able to resolve the issue quickly.

The following Community Fix summarizes the interaction between members of the community that led to the solution.

Vehicle
2019 Ford F-150 XLT, 3.5L Eng VIN 4 Eng CP 994

Title
Heater for Windshield Mounted Sensor

Complaint
Pre-collision alert occasionally appears with no obstacle.

Diagnostic Steps Performed/Parts Replaced
The customer recently purchased the vehicle, it recently had the windshield replaced by the shop that sold the truck. I removed the cover of the IPMA module (above the rearview mirror) and found the 2 red wires weren’t connected. After talking to a shop that replaces windshields, it seems on some cheap windshields, they do not connect those wires. Those 2 wires’ purpose is to connect directly to the heater grid on the windshield, like a defroster setup on a back window. If these wires are not connected, the module will always see the fault present.

Cause
When taking a closer look at the windshield, there is no “window” for the camera to see anything. The wrong windshield was installed on the truck.

Correction
Replaced the windshield with the correct one that included the defroster.

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Timing Makes all the Difference: SureTrack Real Fix

About the Author Abagail Lucero 

Abagail Lucero is the Product Marketing Manager for ProDemand. She joined the company in 2011 as a member of the SocialCRM shop marketing team and has served in many roles at Mitchell1, lastly as Security and Compliance Supervisor. Abagail holds a Bachelor of Science degree from California University of Pennsylvania.