The Ford F-150 is one of the most popular pickup trucks in American history, however like any automobile its not without its quirks.
In this article we’re going to try and help you get to the bottom of your F-150 beeping problems…
Table of Contents
Here’s the short answer why your Ford F-150 Keeps Beeping:
5 beeps on the Ford F150 is to highlight a problem with the airbag warning lamp and/or the SRS. If the airbag warning lamp is out on the gauge cluster, then the beeps are there to highlight this. If the bulb is not faulty the beeping indicates a problem with the SRS (safety restraint system).
Why is My F-150 Beeping 5 Times?
If you’re experiencing 5 long beeps (approximately 1 second apart) for a number of sets, then this is your truck’s way of telling you somethings not right.
Airbag Warning Lamp Not Working / SRS Fault
The most common reason for the beeps is related to your trucks SRS (safety restraint system), and is often caused by a faulty air bag warning lamp in the gauge cluster.
The gauge cluster refers to the collection of driving instruments behind the wheel and includes things such as speedometer, fuel gauge, warning lights and tachometer.
This issue sometimes confused with a problem with the airbag itself.
When in reality the problem is with the actual airbag warning light; if the lamp doesn’t work the vehicle has no way of alerting you if there is an issue with the airbag.
In this case, 5 beeps indicates to the driver ‘there is a faulty airbag warning lamp’.
A simple way to verify this is to turn your key in the ignition to the ON position and observe the gauge cluster, all lamps should illuminate, including the airbag lamp, and if it doesn’t you will receive an alarm of 5 beeps.
If there is no light for the airbag warning in the dash when you turn the key on, then by replacing the light bulb this should solve your problem.
If changing the bulb or if the bulb was not faulty in the first place, we recommend contacting your local Ford dealership or a qualified technician immediately.
Low Tire Pressure
Another common reason for the F-150 to beep 5 times is due to insufficient tire pressure.
This is detected by the TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system). For most Ford F-150 trucks, Ford advises all four tires be set to 35 psi for the best balance of comfort, traction, fuel economy, and load-bearing capabilities
The F-150 is fitted with a low pressure tire light, and so if it hasn’t turned on there might be an issue with the light itself.
Do not drive your Ford truck until all tires have the correct air pressure.
Please also read our articles: and
Related: 9 Common Ford F-150 Locking Problems & Ford F-150: 8 common problems
What Else Could be Causing the Beeping Noise?
Faulty ignition switch: If you have a faulty ignition switch, the truck will think the key is still left in the ignition which can trigger a beeping sound.
Leave the key in: Try leaving the key in the ignition, open the driver’s door and then turn off your vehicle.
Door chime contact: If the door chime contact next to the ignition cylinder has fallen out of the slot it belongs in, it can be glued back in place.
Fob battery: Make sure your key fob battery has plenty of life left.
Low temperature: Some models have a feature built in whereby when the temperature drops below 39.2°F (4°C ) the car will beep to warn you that there could be ice about and to drive carefully.
Seat belts, door ajar, lights on: These three are often the usual suspects.
Faulty latches: If you’ve got a door latch that’s sticking this will trigger the door ajar alarm, try lubricating with WD-40 if not the latch will need replacing.
Take it to a Ford Dealership: If needed, take the truck to a Ford dealership. Tell them you are NOT paying for a check on what the problem might be. Ask them if they will check it for free. Most Ford Dealerships and other places do quick/initial diagnosis for no money as they plan to make money for the repair of your car.
Check for recalls or TSBs: By entering your car’s VIN number on Ford’s recall page you can determine whether or not there is a recall for your vehicle and if there is you’ll want to get it fixed. Similarly, a quick google search will help you determine whether there is a Technical Service Bulletin for your car, these are less serious but may give a reason why your car is beeping.
Related: How Long Do Ford F-150 Last?
Diagnosing Beeps With a Scanner
Another possible option if you’re hearing a beeping sound is to use an OBD2 diagnostic scanner tool.
These are fairly easy to use, you simply plug them into your car – there’s usually an OBD2 port under the steering wheel.
Once you have the scan codes you can research these online specifically for the Focus.
There are also OBD apps available so you can connect your car straight to your smartphone (either with a cable or Bluetooth) without even needing a scanner.
Important Notice
We recommend that if any of these things happen, even intermittently, have the SRS (safety restraint system) serviced at your dealership or by a qualified technician immediately. Unless serviced, the system may not function properly in the event of a collision.
Related: Ford F-150 Alarm Going Off? (8 Causes & Solutions)
Resources
http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/catalog/owner_guides/03f12og1e.pdf
https://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/
https://enginepatrol.com/ford-focus-beeping/
