How to fix power running boards - 2008 Ford Explorer 2WD

Question edited for clarity.

Question moved to model category.



Spray with 'Jigaloo anti-seal squeal' noise spray. Spray the door seal, the lock, the running board gaps and fixings. It is a remarkable dry silicone spray.

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get your car fix right now

Try a salvage yard if nothing else get a use board for a lot less money.

check the daytime running light module.it will cause that problem. under left side of dash.gray box with 28 and z in the number.the solders on the circuit board inside are broken.resolder and its fixed....p.s. i do not reply. thanks

Ok I believe your talking about a scan-tool related problem. You plugged it in and read an error message.
This message came up because of a connection or power related issue. Make sure the ignition is in the run position (with the engine running or not running). Check the plug on the scan-tool, check for bent or damaged pins. Check the OBD2 port for broken wires or maybe a pin that got pushed out of the terminal block. Check the fuses, see if any of them are blown. I hope this helps.

More than likely you accidentally disabled the feature if you have already checked the fuses and they are good.
Your owners manual tells you how to re-enable the power deploying running boards .
I'll paste a copy of the directions for you :
***********copy***********

Enable/disable:
To enable/disable the power running board feature, refer to the Message
center in this chapter.
• When this feature is disabled <OFF>, the running boards will move to
the stowed position regardless of the position of the doors.
• When this feature is enabled <AUTO>, the running boards will move
back to the correct positions based off of the door positions.

(Message Center )

Setup menu
Press this control for the following
displays:
• Reset to English (if in another
language)
• System Check
• Oil Life
• Units (English/Metric)
• Autolamp Delay (if equipped)
• Easy/Entry Exit
• Air Suspension (if equipped)
• Autolock (if equipped)
• Power Liftgate (if equipped)
• Power Deployable Running Boards (if equipped)
• Compass Zone (if equipped)
• Compass Calibration (if equipped)
• Language


Power Deployable Running Boards (if equipped)
This feature automatically deploys the side running boards for easy
entry/exit from the vehicle or for cleaning.
1. To disable/enable the power
running board feature with the
vehicle in P (Park), select this
function from the SETUP control for
the current display mode.
2. Press the RESET control to select the running boards setting as
follows:
• AUTO: the running boards will automatically deploy when a door is
opened and automatically retract when the door is closed,
• OUT: the running boards will remain deployed regardless of the doors
being open/closed. This setting can be used when washing the vehicle, or
accessing the roof rack. The running boards will stow and enter AUTO
mode when the vehicle speed exceeds 5 mph ( kph),
• OFF: the running boards will remain IN regardless of the doors being
open/closed.

Let me know how this turns out.



Benjamin

If the running boards are out before start your vehicle, open door,go to your fuse box and pull the fuse. The back of the panel will tell you what each fuse is for and location. This'll keep them from retracting.

no easy fix those things make me angry and are not cheap to repair

This is not really solving the problem, but my dealer told me that they could unplug the harness to keep the running boards in the down postion. The running boards have to be in the down position to make this happen.

i have seen many times the deale just reprogram the gem and it starts to work again