Fifty150

Slide out the battery, with the ground wire attached. No point in trying to reach into that space with a wrench. The OEM battery was BXT-96R. My VIN recommended replacement is BXT-40R. The local auto parts store shows different options. Although the battery which came in the van was not an option. Then put it all back together.

The entire air intake has to be removed. Not hard. Just more work. Disconnect everything attached to the intake hose. Remove the cover. Remove the filter. Have a new filter handy. Remove the base of the air box. Disconnect the ground wire at the ground post. It's a 13mm. Disconnect the positive terminal. Remove the battery hold down securement device. 10mm wrench. No easy short cut to lifting up and disengaging the panel in front of the battery.

It could be mechanical. You may have to actually take apart the tailgate and the liftgate, inspect the wiring harnesses, and so forth. Not every issue can be diagnosed with a scan tool.

My X thought that trucks were like t-shirt sizes. Xtra Large.

The full version of FORScan with the full features is Windows with the Extended License. A wired connection is more stable. You do not want a wireless connection to disconnect while you are making changes to the car's computer.

At the dealership level, the techs use Ford IDS. You can try Forscan for the diagnostic. I don't know much about using Forscan for diagnostics, other than reading trouble codes and reading operating parameters. I know that Forscan is capable of much more. I just don't know how to use it to do more. I am using Forscan with Android on a tablet, which has limited functions. I believe that you need a PC with Windows to access the full potential. I am using this device. Although many others will work. Try a web search first. There may already be tutorials to fix your backup camera issue.

The camera operates through the car's computer. The car's computer sends a signal for the camera to turn on, then receives the data, processes the data, and sends the image to your display screen. It's not like an aftermarket camera which would be easy to troubleshoot. Maybe it's the actual physical camera unit which is not working, and sending back an upside down image. Maybe not. I have a feeling that you will need a diagnostic with a computer. The interior panel of the liftgate comes off with trim tools. I use a tool like this: This is what my liftgate looks like under the panel.

Those are just trim levels. Different trim levels come with different options. All cars have trim levels. It's not like clothing, where you're getting an "extra large tall". Usually, you can look at the sales brochures which outline the extra bells and whistles. Leather seats. Chrome wheels. Different tires. Upgraded stereo. Fog lights. Floor mats. Different engine and transmission packages. Tow package. Things like that.

Those "back up beepers" are usually a simple circuit tapped into the reverse lamp. Some people ground them to the chassis. Some people ground them back to the reverse lamp ground wire. Either way, you now have a circuit which can be used to activate a backup camera, a flashing strobe to really warn people that you're backing up, or even set up extra reverse lamps in case you're backing up to hitch up trailers at night.

What an adventure.

Usually tapped into the reverse lamp signal wire.

It sounds like you have to do an electronic diagnostic. There is a sensor sending a signal which is not correct. The computer is receiving a signal that the van is overheating, so it acts accordingly, by stopping the operation so that you don't blow the engine. When you unplug the power connector, you're temporarily resetting items in computer's memory. Then the cycle repeats. That same faulty sensor signal is being read by the computer, and the computer shuts down the van's operation. You need to find that sensor, inspect it, and inspect the wiring connection harness for the sensor.

You're a fleet mechanic, so you probably know more than the average car owner. As most of us here are simply car owners. It's an interesting set of circumstances. Is the van actually overheating? Or are you just getting a dashboard display which says it's overheating? I wish you luck. If a new alternator stops the van from overheating, then please report back.

Just unplug your GPS, and put it in your pocket. Leaving it in the van is just an invitation for someone to break the autoglass to steal it.

For every make & model of car, there are always people who swear that you should only use original equipment from the manufacturer. I guess those people don't believe in performance parts, or upgrades. You can buy better tires, brakes, suspension........ even wiper blades. That's how loud mufflers get on Hondas. There's nothing wrong with good aftermarket parts. What you want to stay away from would be a Wal*Mart thermostat or O'Reilly's water pump. What we're talking about is a strip of rubber which you stick on. You can buy rubber weather seals and they will be be fine. Makes me suspect that the doors are out of alignment. Or there's a problem with the door latches. Either way, if the door isn't seated correctly, the weather seal is defeated.

Any damage to the doors? Are the doors in alignment? Are you opposed to buying generic rubber weather seals?

It's under warranty. Let the dealer fix it.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10137070-9999.pdf MC-10137070-9999.pdf

In my mind, there was sabotage, piracy, ransom..........

Not a real fix...... But here are some ideas.

Years later............. I replaced the trim piece lights with lamps of a different design. These are stamped "DOT". I don't know if it will actually make a difference.

I was hoping for a juicy tale or espionage.

Not that I can remember.

What happened?