Front bumper sensor half blocked does it matter?

Porkchop4464

Dec 20, 2021

Hey Gang!

Someone, please chime in as it is really driving me nuts. I put a Weston Bull Bar on my Bronco today and it looks boss, but I realized when done, after 3 hours of messing with brackets and welding that I am partially blocking the large black sensor in the center of the bumper.

So a few questions I hope folks can answer...
A. What is that sensor for (looks like a smaller blacked-out license plate... dead center in the plastic factory bumper)?
B. Can it be blocked or partially blocked?
C. Looking over the Rough Country Bullbar with the four lights, they too, block this sensor directly with the crossbar (see attached pics).

Now, I can fab additional drop-down brackets to drop the bar 3 inches and more out of the way, however, I really like how it sits on the truck currently.

I went ahead and called Rough Country and asked the rep and he said, and I quote... "Yes, the bar and lights will certainly be in the way of several sensors, and we noted this in the sale ad." I then went on to press him for more info which he had no true response, except to say it generally is what it is.

Lastly, Ford's warn winch model for $3500 also blocks this same sensor, so I just want to know what it is and if it matters? Or... is it possible maybe it can still sense regardless of something being in front or around it?

Can someone please educate me on the front sensors and if they can be blocked and also how to check if they are working/test if you know how?

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Dec 21, 2021

What if any packages did you order? I think it only matters if you got adaptive cruise as the space is for radar tracking how close you are to the car in front of you.

2022 Bronco Black Diamond 2dr 2.3L manual Hot Pepper Red. Reserved 8/7/20. Ordered 1/23/21. Reordered 10/08/21. Scheduled week of January 24th 2022, delivered 2/24/2022

KennyMac

Dec 21, 2021

Sdakotabronco
What if any packages did you order? I think it only matters if you got adaptive cruise as the space is for radar tracking how close you are to the car in front of you.

S Dakota,

Not too sure. I have a base with the base GOATselections. I know it has the trail crawl b/c it is a Sasquatch and they come with the snail crawl.

To be honest, I haven't really reviewed the GOAT options yet, so I am not sure of all the whistles the thing has. I believe I have some type of cruize control as there is something on my steering wheel for it. I also have locking axles and higher rear ratios, but not the detachable link. I just want to know what the black license plate sensor is in the center.

Dec 21, 2021

Okay,

With help from S Dakota, I looked it up and it is the Adaptive cruise control option. So..o I found this info on a random complaint site for F150, which makes me think I am okay, cause I took it out today and drove 20 miles to pick my son up from school after I installed the Bull Bar and I got no such warning as noted below. Of cure, I wonder if it will only happen when I go to try and use the cruise?

From a F150 site"
On my 2019 Platinum with 2500 miles I've had the dreaded Adaptive Cruise Control Sensor Blockage warning on for the past 5 days and can't get it to go away.
- I've cleaned the bumper in front of the sensor.
- I've cleaned the sensor itself.
- I've checked the sensor plug for proper connection and water penetration.
- The sensor is properly mounted in the OEM bumper and does not wiggle or move.
- I've even pulled the bumper cover off and driven down the hwy with it uncovered, to no avail.
This pisses me off because one of the main reasons I got this truck was for the adaptive cruise control.

Sucks to be out of a truck for a few days just so they can order and replace the sensor.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Dec 21, 2021

Yup this is the sensor I am talking about! My bull bar covers about the last 2 inches of it and is a good 8 to 10 inches away from it. Maybe it doesn't matter if it is radar-related?

Dec 21, 2021

Porkchop4464
S Dakota,

Not too sure. I have a base with the base GOATselections. I know it has the trail crawl b/c it is a Sasquatch and they come with the snail crawl.

To be honest, I haven't really reviewed the GOAT options yet, so I am not sure of all the whistles the thing has. I believe I have some type of cruize control as there is something on my steering wheel for it. I also have locking axles and higher rear ratios, but not the detachable link. I just want to know what the black license plate sensor is in the center.

You should be ok then. The base model doesn't have adaptive criuse just normal cruise. I'll look through my 21 owners manual again to be sure (I got the paper copy to learn all I could then found out I was pushed to 22).

2022 Bronco Black Diamond 2dr 2.3L manual Hot Pepper Red. Reserved 8/7/20. Ordered 1/23/21. Reordered 10/08/21. Scheduled week of January 24th 2022, delivered 2/24/2022

Dec 21, 2021

I think all Broncos come with co-pilot360 that uses radar for crash prevention

Rydfree, Porkchop4464

Dec 21, 2021

Cornwelltoolman
I think all Broncos come with co-pilot360 that uses radar for crash prevention

So I guess the big question now is how and if one may do a diagnostic to verify through the computer whether any safety sensors are tripped or obstructed. I wonder if there are any customer self-diagnostic tricks, like turning the key three times and pumping the pedal 4 and tapping your head twice?

Bob

Dec 21, 2021

I can lower the bracket by 2 inches; it is not that much work, but the look currently is the Goldielox just right.

B

Dec 21, 2021

I looked through the owners manual last night, and there might be some crash sensors blocked. I don't have info on how the copilot 360 is configured on the base model, and my internet search didn't pull the info I wanted. I always thought the only sensor in the space that is the issue was for the adaptive cruise.

2022 Bronco Black Diamond 2dr 2.3L manual Hot Pepper Red. Reserved 8/7/20. Ordered 1/23/21. Reordered 10/08/21. Scheduled week of January 24th 2022, delivered 2/24/2022

Dec 21, 2021

#10

Porkchop4464
Yup this is the sensor I am talking about! My bull bar covers about the last 2 inches of it and is a good 8 to 10 inches away from it. Maybe it doesn't matter if it is radar-related?

View attachment 24140

I don't have my Bronco yet but my Ranger uses that sensor for the adaptive cruise and emergency crash braking . If it is blocked then it puts a warning in the dash display . It may be that the bull bar does not block the actual top part that has the sensor . Put a metal license plate or something in front of it to toally block it and see if you get the messages . My bet is it is just barley clearing the sensor part .

2Dr Badlands - MIC - Area51 - 2.7 Auto - MGV - Headliner - High Pkg
Reserved 7/20/20 Delivered 5/6/23
"Ford said, hey we're gonna fulfill all reservations and pre-orders before we build stock units."

Slownstddy, Porkchop4464

Dec 21, 2021

#11

Rydfree
I don't have my Bronco yet but my Ranger uses that sensor for the adaptive cruise and emergency crash braking . If it is blocked then it puts a warning in the dash display . It may be that the bull bar does not block the actual top part that has the sensor . Put a metal license plate or something in front of it to toally block it and see if you get the messages . My bet is it is just barley clearing the sensor part .

Thanks, It is proba for the lane warning and the pedestrian assist. I found this below, so it has to be for one or more of the noted details, as I dont l think that the Sasquatch package adds the adaptive. Still digging to the bottom of this mystery. I have no warnings or flags on the dash and I drove it over 20 miles yesterday through stop and go traffic and over 60 mph.

"Beginning with the base model, standard active driver-assist features include Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Active Lane Control, Blind-Spot Monitors, and Automatic High Beams. Higher trims add Adaptive Cruise Control."

Dec 21, 2021

#12

Porkchop4464
Thanks, It is proba for the lane warning and the pedestrian assist. I found this below, so it has to be for one or more of the noted details, as I dont l think that the Sasquatch package adds the adaptive. Still digging to the bottom of this mystery. I have no warnings or flags on the dash and I drove it over 20 miles yesterday through stop and go traffic and over 60 mph.

"Beginning with the base model, standard active driver-assist features include Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Active Lane Control, Blind-Spot Monitors, and Automatic High Beams. Higher trims add Adaptive Cruise Control."

Not sure about the pedestrian but the camera in the windshield is for auto high beams, lane assist & probably pedestrian also. I think radar is used for emergency braking and adaptive cruise only. The sensor is there even if you don't have adaptive cruise because it uses it for the emergency braking.

Spot under rear taillights have the sensor for blind spot if equipped.

2Dr Badlands - MIC - Area51 - 2.7 Auto - MGV - Headliner - High Pkg
Reserved 7/20/20 Delivered 5/6/23
"Ford said, hey we're gonna fulfill all reservations and pre-orders before we build stock units."

Dec 21, 2021

#13

I put the Rough Country nudge bar and a 20" LED on our OBX. It messed everything up and I had to take it off. :(

2021MY (Hopefully) Two Door Outer Banks, AntiMatter Blue, High, 2.7, Roast, Keyless, Roof Rack, Towing. Live every day.

Deano Bronc, Rydfree

Dec 21, 2021

#14

I think if you don't have any warning lights you are probably good!

Rydfree

Dec 22, 2021

#15

Rydfree
Not sure about the pedestrian but the camera in the windshield is for auto high beams, lane assist & probably pedestrian also. I think radar is used for emergency braking and adaptive cruise only. The sensor is there even if you don't have adaptive cruise because it uses it for the emergency braking.

Spot under rear taillights have the sensor for blind spot if equipped.

Re: The sensor is there even if you don't have adaptive cruise because it uses it for emergency braking.
Several times I sped up to the rear of cars at a light and the truck did nothing. I have also read on several sites that people say the pedestrian safety thing only works about half the time in other Ford and Lincoln products.

Dec 22, 2021

#16

Porkchop4464
Re: The sensor is there even if you don't have adaptive cruise because it uses it for emergency braking.
Several times I sped up to the rear of cars at a light and the truck did nothing. I have also read on several sites that people say the pedestrian safety thing only works about half the time in other Ford and Lincoln products.

Maybe you didn't stay in the throttle long enough? No way to know for sure until you actually hit something at speed. We used to play bumper tag around town, but that was pre-radar, pre-air bags, and pre-OnStar.

Kidding. It's frustrating not being able to get accurate info on how each sensor actually works.

7/14/20 Res, took delivery 4/7/22!!
A51 2 door Badlands, 2.7L, Sasquatch, Lux, MGV, MIC, Roof Rails, Tow

Porkchop4464

Dec 22, 2021

#17

KennyMac
Maybe you didn't stay in the throttle long enough? No way to know for sure until you actually hit something at speed. We used to play bumper tag around town, but that was pre-radar, pre-air bags, and pre-OnStar.

Kidding. It's frustrating not being able to get accurate info on how each sensor actually works.

Kenny! We used to do that with our work trucks in the morning as well. Yeah, def can't do that today. But the Pedestrian and vehicle warning system is supposed to ring a buzzer and show a light when you get close. I even set it too sensitive on the computer and it did nothing. Thing is, It never did since I got it two weeks ago even b4 the bull bar so I really don't know if it is obstructed or just sucks as far as it working and warning.

Bob

KennyMac

Dec 22, 2021

#18

Cornwelltoolman
I think if you don't have any warning lights you are probably good!

Sounds good to my mind and logic. Again, I could lower it, but I really like the current look. I bought a 2 inch and didn't like how thin it looked. This is also why I didn't buy the RC bump bar because it was too thin. I bought a Weston 3 inch bar and it looks so gnarly, but if I go three inches lower it won't look as good.

My second issue currently, however, is I bought a set of 6-inch Hella white-capped fogs, and the Weston Bar is just too narrow to squeeze them in or go on top; so I now have to figure a way to fab brackets between the grill and bumper rubber seam, as they just won't look correct on the Weston 3 inch. I will take pictures and post them tomorrow.

Bob

KennyMac

Dec 22, 2021

#19

So... this is the first one I bought, also from Weston. You will see that it sticks out farther, is skinnier, and is not as tough.

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