Cruise Control Fail While Towing

[JamuJoe]

While towing, cruise control on my R1T consistently shuts down after 10 minutes or so, with the message “Radar sensors blocked” appearing on my drivers screen. The sensors are clean - I’ve cleaned them with the same result many times. I raised this issue when I brought the truck to a service center for windshield replacement, but the tech found nothing amiss and could not replicate the issue. The truck was not towing during this service. I’m wondering if this isn’t a towing software related issue. Has anyone else experienced this?

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[Joe Hoffman]

Did you have trailer lights plugged in AND detected by your Rivian? In other words did your truck go into towing mode automatically with appropriate changes in dash display?

if not, I’m wondering if the rear sensor got confused constantly staring at something so close.

I had to drive w a U-Haul without it plugged in and got some wierd complaints from my Rivian, but not the one you described.

 

[Riviot]

I had to drive w a U-Haul without it plugged in and got some wierd complaints from my Rivian, but not the one you described.

There's a Rear Accessory button you can enable to stop it from beeping. I use it when I don't plug in my bike rack lights, it shuts up.

 

[SwampNut]

The manual says that it will disable adaptive, which is what uses the RADAR. So are you saying that you get adaptive while towing? I hate the idea that I can't use self driving or even adaptive while towing, so I was going to build an isolated trailer adapter to fool the truck. But does it still actually work?

 

[rhumbliner]

so I was going to build an isolated trailer adapter to fool the truck.

How would this work?

 

[SwampNut]

I would use magnetic induction coils to detect when the lights go on and use that to activate the lights. The car would never know that a trailer is connected.

 

[JamuJoe]

Did you have trailer lights plugged in AND detected by your Rivian? In other words did your truck go into towing mode automatically with appropriate changes in dash display?

if not, I’m wondering if the rear sensor got confused constantly staring at something so close.

I had to drive w a U-Haul without it plugged in and got some wierd complaints from my Rivian, but not the one you described.

Yes, the trailer is plugged in and detected. Manual (not enhanced or driver assist), cruise control should function while towing, which it does for short periods before “blocked radar sensors” cancel it.

 

[av8or]

I have had this happen when towing, but mine was more sporadic and random. I think it has something to do with a poor connection in the 7 pin plug. I’ve been spraying electrical cleaner in the 7 pin and the trailer cord about everything other time I tow and it hasn’t happened since. Also a nice side effect is that the trailer breaks are much more consistent.
Give it a try and let us all know if it helps.

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