However, if you’re curious, we will discuss some of the potential causes and steps you may take if you so desire. It is not our recommendation to follow these steps, especially without the help of a professional.

The best place to start to identify the issue and potential fix is to get a OBD2 code reader and look up the potential causes/fixes to the error message.

How to Diagnose a Power Steering Assist Fault Message?

If you have the “Steering Assist Fault Message” show up on the screen of your Ford F-150, as mentioned before it is best to bring it to a dealership or mechanic to be inspected.

However, if you are interested in diagnosing the problem at home, the next thing to do is to get an OBD2 scanner.

This scanner will be able to read a code from your car providing you with information as to what the exact issue is that’s causing the error message.

The OBDLink MX+ scanner is a great choice.

OBDLink MX+ OBD2 Scanner

Amazon Affiliate Link

Check Price

Once you get this information, you can then look up the code on AutoCodes.com

Some of the potential codes you may get are:

• C102D: High Friction Inside Power Steering
• B1D23: Power Steering Overheat Sensor
• C1897: Steering VAPS Circuit Loop Failure
• U0126: Lost Communication with Steering Angle Sensor Module
• C1B00: Steering Angle Sensor
• C200B: Steering Shaft Torque Sensor 1
• U0131: Lost Communication with Power Steering Control Module
• U0420: Invalid Data Received from Power Steering Control Module

You can read more about them on AutoCodes.com which will give information such as possible causes, symptoms and potential fixes.

Most of the codes listed above are more challenging to fix, so if you see this code and don’t have significant experience with auto repair, you should take it to a repair shop.

Possible Causes for Power Steering Assist Fault

There are many things that could cause this error to occur on your Ford F150. In the newer F150 trucks, there is an electronic power steering assist system rather than the standard hydraulic system. This means there are more electrical components that can fail.

Most of the problems and fixes are quite complicated and pricey, but there are a couple that are easier to identify.

Poor Wheel Alignment

The first is that poor car alignment could cause a power steering to fail. A way to identify this is to check your car alignment at a repair store (which you should get frequently anyways).

Loose Connection To Power Steering

Another possible cause is that a connection is loose in the power steering wiring. To identify this problem and potentially fix it, you can lift the hood of your F150 and locate the power steering cable, unplug it and plug it back in. This was the fix for the guy in the video below.

Any of the wiring involved in the power steering system can be damaged by any means. There could be animals that chew on the wires or even wear and tear. In the video below, one mechanic identifies a potential problem on F150s where the wire actually rubs against the skid plate. Damages like these can cause any of the sensor system errors in this article, and could potentially lead to bigger problems.

Bad Rack and Pinion

One of the most common solutions to the Power Steering Assist Fault is a bad rack and pinion. This is the entire gear system of the power steering. It is a very expensive part to fix, but may be necessary in some cases. This is also known as a faulty steering gear. These are the base components of the power steering system.

Faulty Power Steering Control Module, Harness, or Connection

The power steering control module is the unit that provides motor torque connecting the steering column to the gear. This is what is responsible for the power steering, rather than the prior hydraulic fluid.

Faulty Steering Angle Sensor Module, Harness, or Connection

The steering wheel position sensor plays an important role in determining the amount of power coming from the steering system. This sensor monitors the angle of steering input which transfers to the power steering system through electronics.

There is a position sensor for the steering shaft (also known as steering column) which is a main component of the steering system that monitors the placement of the steering shaft. Inside the Steering Column is the Power Steering Control Module that determines how much steering assist is required. The sensor in the column provides information for the output for the assist.

Faulty Steering Column

Other than the sensor specifically having fault, the entire column may be identified as being faulty. The column, Power Steering Control Module, motor and sensor are services as a complete unit so when one component is damaged or broken, the entire piece will need to be replaced.

Faulty Intermediate Steering Shaft

The intermediate steering shaft is the shaft that connects the gear box to the steering wheel. This part can rust and become sticky. The part costs less than $100 so it is a relatively cheap fix compared to the entire rack and pinion which usually cost $1,200 for parts.

You can see a good example of this fix in the video below.

Faulty Steering Shaft Torque Sensor, Harness, or Connection

The steering shaft torque sensor sits on the steering pinion which is one of the most critical components of the power steering. This sensor measures the amount of torque (essentially turning power) to the wheel and translates that through the electronic control unit to apply the necessary motor power.

Possible Fixes to Ford F150 Power Steering Assist FaulT

First steps you can do to try and alleviate the problem is to:

1. Restart the vehicle
2. Unplug and replug the power steering cable
3. Inspect all power steering cables
4. Check the intermediate steering shaft

And then after all of those steps are done you will need to resort to the code reader.

OBDLink MX+ OBD2 Scanner

Amazon Affiliate Link

Check Price

Based on the code provided, you will likely just need to inspect and replace the part that is damaged.

So why does this keep happening? How can you fix it?

In this article we will discuss in detail some potential causes for this problem.

After reviewing forums and watching videos, there are three most likely causes to the alarm randomly going off in the F-150. These causes are that the interior alarm system is activating, there are faulty door ajar or hood latch sensors, or a known false activation of the Anti-Theft alarm system in the F-150.

What is the Anti-Theft Alarm System in the Ford F-150?

Built into the F-150 is a passive anti-theft system. This system is activated when the engine is off and the car is locked.

It is composed of :

• interior sensors that detect movement inside the vehicle
• inclination sensors that determine if the vehicle is being lifted
• perimeter sensors that detect unauthorized vehicle entry

So the alarm that is sounding from a vehicle is any one of the triggers above.

It can be triggered by:

• door, tailgate, or hood opening
• power is activated with incorrect key
• movement is detected inside the vehicle
• movement detected that the truck is raised
• the battery is disconnected
• a trailer is disconnected

If you notice that your alarm goes off, you want to check these few things before investigating that there is a problem. Make sure there is no evidence of these triggers setting off the alarm.

Then the next thing you can do it buy and download a scanner tool and software to pull the alarm trigger history.

Using the OBDLink MX+ OBD2 Scanner, you can pull the alarm trigger history on your iPhone, Android, or Windows computer.

OBDLink MX+ OBD2 Scanner

Amazon Affiliate Link

Check Price

And if you want to connect to Windows with this software: https://forscan.org/

This resource will help you identify exactly what caused the alarm to sound. If you bring your car to dealer, they will likely perform this for you as well to help identify the cause.

After you have identified these aren’t the case, then you can look through the next possibilities.

Interior Alarm Sensing

In the Ford F-150 there is both an interior and exterior alarm system. The interior alarm system is located in the overhead box.

The interior system detects motion or interference inside the vehicle. This can be particularly problematic when you have a dog inside the car.

The system as well may have sensitive sensors for the interior causing minor disturbances to trigger the alarm.

How to fix Sensitive Interior Alarm Sensing?

If you are in need of a quick fix, this is a good first option.

This strategy involves deactivating the interior sensors so that only the exterior anti-theft sensors are active.

This can be done with the following steps:

1. Navigate to the dashboard menu
2. Scroll to “Settings”
3. Scroll down to “Advanced Settings”
4. Select “Vehicle”
5. Select “Alarms”
6. Select “Perimeter Sensing”

See the video below for a visual walkthrough of these steps on the dash.

Now you have set your F-150 to only detect exterior triggers to the alarm. This is the primary mode of alarm protection for break-ins to vehicles.

Another solution here is that you can just leave your car unlocked. The alarm that is going off is only activated when the car has been locked. Though this isn’t recommended, it is a potential solution, especially if your car is kept in a safe and secure location.

False Activation of Anti-Theft Software

There is a known issue, particularly in the 2021 Ford F-150 regarding a false activation of the anti-theft software. This issue is due to the Body Control Module (BCM) detecting vibrations that are non-threatening.

This could be the reason for your truck alarm going off randomly. This is a product wide issue that causes increased sensitivity in the sensors from the software to trigger the alarms to sound.

How to fix False Anti-Theft Software?

Unfortunately this solution involves brining your F-150 to the dealer. This issue is a known issue that was released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announcing a Special Service Message claiming a possible issue in the software of the BCM.

This problem was fixed by many F-150 owners by updating the BCM. This can only be done by the dealer. So you may want to bring your vehicle for servicing, mentioning this SSM and determining if this is the cause.

See the SSM announcement from NHTSA here: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2021/MC-10188006-0001.pdf

Faulty Door/Hood/Tailgate Sensors

As mentioned earlier in this article, the alarm will sound when the door, hood or tailgate is opened when the car is locked.

This means the alarm may trigger if the sensor on these parts is faulty. It may sense any of these doors are open when in reality they aren’t.

You may first want to investigate these parts to identify whether there is actually a problem with the latch or the electronics.

The video below goes through full troubleshooting to identify the problem from either the latch or the wiring.

One of the long term issues of this problem is that it will cause the exterior lights to stay on even after locking the car which can eventually lead to the battery draining.

How to fix a faulty door, tailgate, hood latch?

If after all the steps are followed above and you have identified that one of the latches is faulty, you must replace it.

You can either bring it to a mechanic/dealer or perform the fix yourself. The next video here show you how to change the actual latch in the hood.

Though this next solution is a bit amateur, it still may possibly fix the problem, at least it did for this guy.

The solution here is just to shut the door harder. I guess this could potentially be a fix, but it’s not necessary a permanent solution.

Conclusion

If your Ford F150 alarm is randomly going off, you can bring it right to a dealership as they will be able to investigate the problem, but if you want to do it yourself these are the recommendations.

You will first need to determine why the alarm is prematurely going off with a scanner such as the one below.

OBDLink MX+ OBD2 Scanner

Amazon Affiliate Link

Check Price

Once you have the particular problem, you can either:

1. Deactivate interior sensors
2. Fix a broken latch
3. update the BCM software

These fixes aren’t guaranteed to solve the problem, but they are the most likely causes and solutions.

You should always consult a professional before making any major changes to your vehicle.

This can be more expensive depending on the specific damage and tire involved.

How is a tire patched?

When you pay $20 for the service to get a tire patched, you are paying for a plug-patch repair.

This process involves removing the tire from the rim, inserting the plug-patch from the inside and sealing the outside. See the video below for the exact process.

Can your tire be repaired?

Before you go paying for a tire repair service, you need to decide if your tire has the ability to be repaired and patched.

Though the decision on whether tires can be repaired is situational, there are guidelines that will help you determine the best path forward.

Though the decision on whether tires can be repaired is situational, there are guidelines that will help you determine the best path forward.

Lets first look at when a tire can’t be repaired. A tire is unfixable if:

• the tire was driven while completely flat
• the walls of the tire have thinned out from driving at low pressures
• the hole in the tire is larger than 1/4 in
• the hole is located on the side wall or shoulder of the tire

In all of these situations, the tire needs to be completely replaced and thrown out. There is no way to safely repair these tires.

So let’s look at factors to consider if you want to try to repair the tire.

The first thing to consider is the location of the hole. If the damage is in the main threading, there is a good chance it can be repaired.

Any hole in the side wall or shoulder of the tire can’t be repaired. In order for the tire to be repairable, the hole must be within 1/2 from the edge of the tire tread.

The hole cannot be greater than 1/4 in. in order to be repaired. Anything beyond that is irreparable.

This next part is a bit trickier. As mentioned in the first section above, driving with constant low tire pressure can cause the insides of the tire to wear out. Without removing the tire from the rim, it is nearly impossible to assess this. It is not safe to repair a tire that already has compromised walls.

This video from South Main Auto Repair LLC has a great example of this.

Can a tire be patched for free?

Yes, there are instances where you can get your tired patched for free. These occur for a couple reasons.

The first may be a warranty with the tire supplier. I personally just bought tires at Town Fair Tire and I was able to add a package that would cover damages to the tire for the entire life of the tire. This package was about $75 but all the tires were $800.

So when I purchased this package I was able to get free tire repair services or replacements for any major damage to my tires.

An example is the Tire Maintenance Protection Plan from Sullivan tires. This service offers free tire repair for the life of the tire as well as full and partial replacement if the tire can’t be fixed.

Can you patch a tire yourself?

A tire can be patched by an individual, but the best results come from when the tire can be removed from the rim and thoroughly inspected.

The most common form of tire repair at how is a plug kit type repair. This involves inserting a “string” into the hole. This type of fix is not the most effective. Ideally this type of repair should only be used in emergencies and for temporary fixed.

If you decide you want to repair you tire in this ways, you will need a tire repair plug kit such as the one below.

WYNNsky Heavy Duty Tire Repair Tool Kit

Amazon Affiliate Link

Check Price

And once you have that kit, you can watch the following video to apply the plug.

The basic steps of filling the hole are to:

1. Remove the object causing the hole (if applicable) with tweezers or T probe
2. Even out the whole with the T probe
3. Insert string into the T insert tool forceps
4. Push the T insert tool into the hole
5. Remove the T insert tool while leaving the string
6. Cut excess string (add sealant if desired)
7. Test tire pressure to make sure hole is filled

Performing a plug-patch, which should be done at a tire repair service is a bit more involved.

The video below is great for walking through this process step by step. You will see that some of the tools being used will not likely be ready available for the average person, making this process more difficult.

Conclusion

Getting a tire patched can cost between $0 and $20. The service can be free with the purchase of a tire protection plan from most major tire suppliers and repair centers. There is a possibility the service could be more expensive if there is more complicated damage.

Not all tires can be salvaged, however, and may need to be replaced.

It can be done a little bit cheaper at home if you choose to use a plug kit, but this is less effective and efficient. Replicating the service from a repair center will be more difficult to perform.

It is recommended that you bring a damaged tire to a service to be inspected to evaluate if the tire can be fixed.

The options you will have are to:

1. Change the tire
2. Replace the tire
3. Patch the tire
4. Plug the tire

You may be reading this because you discovered this from low tire pressure, you happened to see it while you were parked, or you have a flat tire.

In all of these cases, the best thing to do right away is to change the tire and put the spare on.

After changing the tire, our recommendation is to take it to a tire center to be evaluated for permanent damage and possible fixes.

In the rest of this article, I will describe the pros and cons of each method as well as general guidelines for repairing a tire from a screw.

Is it safe to drive with a screw in your tire?

Erring on the side of caution, no it is not safe to drive with a screw in your tire. This is due to multiple reasons.

A screw in your tire could be causing a leak. If your tire is constantly loosing air, you could permanently damage the inside of the tire.

The image below shows what can happen if a tire is constantly run at low/lower pressure. The low pressure causes excess rubbing of the inside of the tire which pulls pieces of rubber from the inside. This compromises the integrity of the tire.

Another reason driving with a screw in your tire is dangerous is that as you continue to drive with it, the damaged hole in the tire may increase. Eventually you may get to a point in which the tire cannot be repaired because the hole is too large.

Both of these affects could result in a blow out in your tire. A blow out is when there is a sudden loss of pressure due to a large burst in the wall of the tire. This is extremely dangerous. A blow out can put you, your passengers, and others in danger.

A car tire once blew out in front of me and it spun out of control into the side rail. Fortunately, it didn’t impact anybody, but the rubber from the tire flung back and hit the front bumper of my car.

What to do if you have a screw in your tire?

So you know it’s not safe to drive with a screw in your tire, so what should you do?

First of all, you want to take the wheel off the car and replace it with a spare tire.

It is only then that you want to decide what to do with the tire. The best recommendation we can give is to bring the tire to a professional to get it looked at in more detail. They will be able to make the right decision for your tire.

However, before you give the tire up, you can do some inspection to decide whether or not the tire can be repaired.

When can a tire be repaired?

Though the decision on whether tires can be repaired is situational, there are guidelines that will help you determine the best path forward.

Lets first look at when a tire can’t be repaired. A tire is unfixable if:

• the tire was driven while completely flat
• the walls of the tire have thinned out from driving at low pressures
• the hole in the tire is larger than 1/4 in
• the screw is located on the side wall or shoulder of the tire

In all of these situations, the tire needs to be completely replaced and thrown out. There is no way to safely repair these tires.

So let’s look at factors to consider if you want to try to repair the tire.

The first thing to consider is the location of the screw. If the screw is in the main threading, there is a good chance it can be repaired.

Any screw in the side wall or shoulder of the tire can’t be repaired. In order for the tire to be repairable, the screw must be within 1/2 from the edge of the tire tread.

The screw cannot have created a hole greater than 1/4 in. in order to be repaired. Anything beyond that is irreparable.

This next part is a bit trickier. As mentioned in the first section above, driving with constant low tire pressure can cause the insides of the tire to wear out. Without removing the tire from the rim, it is nearly impossible to assess this. It is not safe to repair a tire that already has compromised walls.

This video from South Main Auto Repair LLC has a great example of this.

To plug or to patch?

Now that you know if a tire can be repaired, there are two main ways to do this. The first is a plug and the other is a patch.

Though a tire center will have the best recommendations, we’ll dive into the differences, and pros/cons of each.

Plugging a Tire

What does it mean to plug a tire?

Plugging a tire involves using a tire repair kit to insert a special “string” into the hole of the tire from the outside.

This type of repair simply fills the hole of the tire. This solution can be used for very short term, emergency fixes, but shouldn’t be used in permanent situations.

Plugs from tire kits have the possibility to fall out and leak. This type of fix does not take into account the interior of the tire.

How to plug a tire?

If you are in a situation, you don’t have a spare, and are in an emergency where you need to move your car a short distance, you may find yourself wanting to plug your tire.

This is the absolute last resort. You should really only do this if you are in a dangerous situation and have no other way to bring your car to the tire shop. This is a temporary fix!

You will need a tire repair plug kit such as the one below.

WYNNsky Heavy Duty Tire Repair Tool Kit

Amazon Affiliate Link

Check Price

Patching a Tire

Patching a tire is what a good tire repair center or mechanic should do to fix a tire. In reality, this is usually a plug-patch combination.

Patching involves fixing the tire from both the inside and the outside. It is a truly filled type of bond. Also in the process of patching, you will be able to inspect the internal damage of the tire, the size of the screw, and the position of the screw.

Patching a tire is a more involved process that isn’t able to be done by most people at home.

Should you fix or replace the tire?

In general, you should try to fix the tire when it can be done. Plug-patching a tire through a professional service is very cheap compared to buying a completely new tire. Getting a tire fixed at a tire center is very reliable and significantly reduces the risk of a blowout or failure of the plug.

There are some cases in which a tire needs to be replaced. This is where warrantees come in handy. When you buy tires you may have warrantees on them to cover these damages specifically and save hundreds of dollars down the line.

Conclusion

So if you have a screw in your tire you should:

1. Change the tire with a spare
2. Inspect the tire to determine if it may be able to be fixed
3. Bring the tire to a tire repair center
4. Get the tire plug-patched

Driving with a screw in your tire, even without a leak in it can cause serious damage. Once you notice a screw or nail in your tire you need to change it immediately so that you reduce the likelihood for long term damage and therefore the need to entirely replace it.

But unfortunately if the nail is in the side of the tire or has caused a hole of more than 1/4 inch, the tire cannot be fixed and will need to be replaced.

You should not take the car anywhere until oil has been added. Likely you will need to follow this up with an oil change, but its possible there is damage to the engine.

Looking for an oil change?

We have some special offers for our readers for oil changes at Valvoline!

Click each offer below to redeem

Is there really no oil in engine when dipstick is dry?

There is still likely excess oil in the oil pan even if a dipstick is run dry. Online Mechanic Tips made a video demonstrating that there is still excess oil even if a dipstick is dry.

In the video, they estimate somewhere between 0.5 – 1 L is left as residual oil.

The dipstick doesn’t usually go all the way to the bottom of the pan. It may only touch the top two or so quarts of oil. So for smaller engines, this may leave as much as 1.5 quarts left in the oil pan, but more for larger engines.

Just because there may be oil in the engine does not mean that your engine is safe. No oil on a dipstick may indicate that there is in fact no oil in the engine.

Either way, the dipstick is telling you that you don’t have enough oil in your engine to function properly.

What happens to my engine if there is no oil on the dipstick?

If there is no oil on the dipstick, there isn’t enough oil in your engine to keep if fully lubricated. This can be very bad!

If there isn’t enough oil in the crankshaft, the oil pump may not be able to pressurize the oil and therefore will not lubricate your engine and cause serious damage and engine seizing very quickly.

It’s also possible that the oil pump may start to pump in air, which causes the oil to foam which has virtually no lubricating properties.

Another frequent symptom of low oil is engine knocking, which is a repetitive sound coming from the engine which gets louder when accelerating. There are other reasons this sound may occur, but in combination with low oil, this is an audible way in which the engine parts are not well lubricated.

Typically before serious damage occurs, the check engine light will turn on and the oil pressure will decrease. But you should not wait until this point to before you do something!

What do to if there is no oil on dipstick?

If there is no oil on your dipstick, the first thing you want to do is ADD MORE OIL!

The dipstick is telling you that there isn’t enough oil in the engine.

Unless you already have your car at the shop and are in the process of an oil change, you are going to want to leave your car where it is, get some motor oil, and add it to your vehicle.

You should start by adding one quart at a time and rechecking the level on the dipstick to make sure it is appropriately filled.

Where should oil be on the dipstick?

Oil on a dipstick should fall in between the two notches or indents at the bottom of the dipstick. There are two images below to show these markings.

The markings on the dipstick here represent the maximum and minimum oil levels for efficient lubrication of your engine.

When you are adding oil to your vehicle, you want to make sure you are measuring and recording the oil level accurately. When filling up your oil tank, follow these steps for the best results.

STEP 1

To make sure you’ve added the proper amount of oil, first add a quart to your engine and let it sit for 2 minutes.

STEP 2

Then wipe off the end of the dipstick with a paper towel.

STEP 3

Then lastly reinsert the dipstick into the vehicle and slowly remove it.

You want the oil to fill up at the dipstick between the two notches or indents at the bottom of the dipstick.

Why is there no oil on my dipstick?

After you have appropriately added oil to your engine, you want to identify why your oil is so low. The two main reasons you engine oil could be low is that you have a gross leak or your engine is consuming oil.

The first thing you should check is the last time you had an oil change. This information will provide you with valuable information that could impact leaking and consumption.

If your car is due for an oil change, then take your vehicle in as soon as possible.

You may be interested in: How long can you go without an oil change – before it’s too late?

If your oil has been in your engine too long, this can cause the gaskets and covers to become hard and then shrink, causing leaks. Regular oil provides necessary additives to keep seals and gaskets strong and in place.

Similarly, if the oil has been used beyond it’s life this will cause the oil to breakdown and evaporate quicker as the additives deplete.

Looking for an oil change?

We have some special offers for our readers for oil changes at Valvoline!

Click each offer below to redeem

If your car doesn’t seem to need an oil change, then there is likely another problem at play.

This could be some other type of leak at a gasket or seal that could come from wear and tear or gross damage. You should check the following parts to check for a leak.

• valve covers
• timing chain covers
• oil pan covers
• oil drain plug
• oil pressure sensor
• oil filter
• crankshaft seals
• head gasket
• positive crankcase ventilation seal

Another cause for oil loss is consumption of the oil in the combustion chamber. This can occur as oil enters the engine through warn out pistol rings, valve stems and seals. As an engine gets older, this issue becomes more common.

Conclusion

So what does low/no oil on a dipstick really mean?

It means that you need more oil! The dipstick is the main indication of how much oil is necessary to keep your engine well lubricated. Though there may be some residual oil still left in the pan, the manufacturer is telling you that it is not enough.

If you have no oil on your dipstick, before you do anything else, you should add oil immediately until you can return the oil level on the dipstick. You should then check your engine for damage.

It is important that you identify why you have no oil on your dipstick as well. This could be because you are in need of an oil change, you have a leak, or you are burning oil faster than anticipated. Either way, it is important to investigate what is causing the issue and fix it as necessary.