Just as a follow up. I figured out how to pull the silver edging strips off the Edge and remove the front faceplate from the radio/climate controls. I did order a replacement piece I found on Ebay in Quebec that was selling for $105 shipped. Far less than what they wanted at Ford.
But as it was going to take 3 days to make it out to me, I decided to get adventurous and take a look at the one that the Ford Dealer has flagged in the diagnostic as failed. After unbolting it from the car, I checked to make sure that the plug was seated well. Tried unplugging it and re-plugging it back in. That made no difference. So I pulled the whole unit out of the car and thought why not look what is going on inside. The rear of the faceplate has 6 torx 15 screws (but I think I used a torx 20 driver). Once those are removed, the plastic backing is held in place by the two locator pins. These I couldn't figure out how to remove, but if you trim the plastic on the top end around the pin, you can ease the plastic backing off around the pin body. This exposes the PCB board. This didn't want to come off as it seemed that there was something else that was holding it in place after the screws are removed.
To the bottom of the board there is a small white ribbon cable that connects the pcb to the button assembly. If you use your nail you can slide the binding post forward and release the cable. After you have taken the cable off, I used 99% ISOPropal alcohol to clean the contact ends and then rubbed them with a pink eraser to remove any oxidization from the lead ends. Then re-inserted the lead cable back in and locked the binding posts back into position. I then re-installed the faceplate back into the Edge and the problem has gone away. I think the error might have been caused by this ribbon cable oxidizing and generating noise to the system.
I now have a spare faceplate. I will try and take some photos and post them here when I get a chance over the weekend.
Well, it turns out that WeatherTech is just 15 minutes down the street from where I live.. How convenient. so a simple phone call and they had a set of liners waiting for me to pick up from the showroom. They fit like a charm and I am sure that the spills and salt stains are not going to be a bit more a thing from the past.
