Rear Parking Sensors

[richardch]

Hello Loren,

One small question before my wife takes out the rear of the garage on the basis of the parking sensors are not working,

They started going intermittent, working some days others not for about 2 months and now don't work at all, any ideas ?

[Loren]

The most common problem is dirty sensors. They don't sense properly when they are covered with dirt, ice or snow.

[richardch]

The most common problem is dirty sensors. They don't sense properly when they are covered with dirt, ice or snow.

Now been to the car wash Loren and still no joy, anything else I can test ?

[Richard Hamilton]

Are your reversing lights working OK? PDC uses the reverse lights to sense reverse gear is engaged.

Otherwise, if it was intermittent and now permanent, I'd start looking for a bad connection. The sensors connect at the same plug and socket as the licence plate lights, which might be a good starting point.

The PDC control module does have a connection to the diagnostic plug, so you might be able to get some faults read with a PST2.

HTH

[boli 996]

Now been to the car wash Loren and still no joy, anything else I can test ?

Have You checked the cable connection behind the bumper?

If You have removed the bumber it's very easy to forgott to connect the cables

[Orient Express]

The rear parking sensors have their own PST2 diagnostic block. If there is a bad transducer, there will be a fault code that will tell you which one. The transducers are individually replaceable. You just have to take off the bumper cover, which is about a dozen screws to do.

One quick way to find out if a sensor is not working is to turn the car on, but not with the engine running, put the car in reverse. Does the car beep? If it does then all of the sensors are OK. If not then there are problems with one or more sensors.

Next, stand next to the rear left or right side of the car, but not behind it. Get a broom or long stick, and tape a piece of cardboard or paper to it. Next lower the cardboard over each transducer. The car will not beep when you cover the bad one.