Parktronics have long been good helpers for inexperienced drivers. The essence of their action is that they warn the driver about the remaining distance to the car from behind during parking. This is a very handy device that will help drivers who cannot “feel the dimensions” of their car. Today we will learn how to install, remove and replace a parking sensor.
How to install parking sensors
First of all, you need to purchase the appropriate kit. It consists of the sensors themselves, wiring, parking sensors control unit, display-signaling device and drill. The drill is needed to drill holes in the rear bumper, inside which the sensors will be mounted.
Video - How to check the parking sensor with a multimeter
How to remove and replace the parking sensor?
Removal and replacement of the sensor is performed in the event of a malfunction, which manifests itself as the lack of reaction of the signaling device when approaching the sensor.
To replace the sensor, you must purchase a new serviceable element of the same company and manufacturer. The main problem is that the main supplier of such devices is the United States, therefore, you will probably have to order such a sensor overseas.
Now crawl under the bumper of the car and disconnect the terminals with wires from the old sensor.
If the sensor comes with the wiring, then these terminals must be disconnected from the unit already under the luggage compartment trim. After that, the sensor itself is removed, and a serviceable one is installed in its place. In some cases, such as on Lada priora, you will probably have to remove the rear bumper, otherwise access to the sensor will be a little difficult.
This is how the parking sensor is removed and replaced. As you can see, this is not difficult at all.
Parktronic as a means of parking - diagnostics, repair, the principle of action.
In many modern vehicle designs that have a wedge-shaped shape and, as a result, a low coefficient aerodynamic drag, rear visibility is significantly limited, making it difficult or even impossible to recognize obstacles behind the car. Effective help the driver, when parking the car, is provided with auxiliary means in the form of ultrasonic sensors (called parktronic). They control an area of \u200b\u200bapproximately 20 to 180 cm behind or in front of the vehicle. Obstacles detected by the sensors are alerted to the driver by optical or audible means.
System - the composition of the main blocks.
The system includes the following components: ECU, driver warning element and ultrasonic sensors.
Vehicles equipped with rear underbody protection usually have four ultrasonic sensors on the rear bumper.
To protect the front of the vehicle, 4 ultrasonic sensors are additionally mounted on the front bumper.
The system is activated automatically when reverse gear is engaged or, if there are front protection sensors, when the vehicle speed drops below a threshold of approximately 15 km / h. Thanks to the self-test function of the system, all its components are constantly monitored during operation.
Ultrasonic sensor
Acting on the same principle as used when measuring depth with an echo sounder. The transducers transmit ultrasonic pulses with a frequency of approximately 40 kHz and determine the time elapsed from the moment the sounding signal is sent to the moment when the echo reflected from the obstacle is received. The vehicle's distance to the nearest obstacle is calculated from the propagation time of the first echo to the moment of reception.
Warning elements
Obstacle critical warning elements usually include a combination of audio and optical signals. Currently, both light-emitting diode (LED) and liquid crystal (LCD) optical signals are used.
Protective zone
Determined by the number of sensors and their emissivity.
Experiments have shown that four sensors are sufficient to protect the rear of the vehicle and 4 to 6 sensors to protect the front. The sensors are mounted on the bumper to provide a fixed distance to the ground.
The mounting angle and distance between the sensors are determined for each specific car model. These parameters are taken into account in the algorithms for calculating the ECU. Today this system is used on 150 types of new vehicle, however, cars of earlier releases can also be upgraded for it.
I bought a parking sensor on Ibee, a seller from China. The parcel went on as usual, for about a month (for Russia, this is quite normal). I received the parcel intact, everything was packed in two pimpled packages. In one there is a cutter, a controller, a screen, a power wire, in the second the sensors themselves. Suspicions were caused by a package with sensors, three pieces were put together, and one was lying differently than the rest, which raised doubts.
I decided to connect and check the whole thing. Took a universal power supply with adjustable voltage at the output, set 12 volts, powered the controller and connected the screen. Which made a disgusting squeak, showed the inscription E1, blinked and the place of the numbers appeared dashes -- , like all the rules. I connect one sensor from the main bundle of three pieces, it works, the screen beeps disgustingly intermittently (the period of the squeak changes depending on the distance) and shows the distance. I checked the sensor on all four channels, all channels are working, a stone has fallen from my soul, the device is working! It remains to check the rest of the sensors in the same way.
As a result, it turned out that exactly the one sensor that aroused suspicion was not working. When connected, a constant squeak is heard and the screen shows 00 , the sensor does not react in any way to external influences. I tried to fix it with the use of brute physical force and some kind of mother, there is no effect (I beat him as best he could). Hmm, but I remember in my childhood this method helped me when, while watching cartoons, the TV began to freak out.
I wrote to the seller and the epic began:
- Me: Today I received a package and one sensor was not working.
- Chinese: Send me a photo of the broken sensor to my mail.
- Me: The thing is, the sensor looks perfect. It's just that when I connect it, the screen beeps constantly and shows zeros, while the sensor does not react to obstacles in any way.
- Chinese: I see, let's do this, you pay me $ 5 extra and I'll send you the same one.
- Me: No, I have already paid once for the goods and, moreover, I also paid extra separately for the track number. So I'm not going to pay anything. It's not my problem that the sensor is defective. Let's do this, you will send me a new correctly working sensor with a package with a track number. Or return the entire amount paid by me.
- Chinese man: Damn, let me give you $ 10 and that's it.
- Me: You see, I paid for a new working product, while I also paid extra for the track number. This means that you had to send me a new, fully functional product, which in turn means that all elements must be in good working order. Otherwise, you must fix the jambs at your own expense, because I already paid extra for the track number, then you must send a replacement with the track number. I don't need your money, send me a new working sensor! And besides, it’s probably cheaper to send a new sensor as I ask, than to return me the full amount or at least $ 10, what do you think?
- Chinese: Okay, let me send you a new sensor, but without a track.
- Me: No, that won't work! Either a new sensor of the color I require with a track number, or return the full amount!
- Chinese: Okay, I'll send you a new sensor today. I will tell you the track number later. Only you do not open a complaint about Ibee, I will do everything in the bestI promise!
I had to push for a full refund to get a replacement from the seller. After the conversation, I sat and thought what to do next. The Chinese are cunning and cunning people, they can send a sensor, but without a track, and then say that they forgot about the track number and you never know if he really sent the sensor or is a breach. He can also send a sensor, but again broken and / or of the wrong color. Or in general it can give some thread the left track number, they say, sent it. According to PayPal rules, from the moment of payment I have 45 days to make a claim, I have 8 days left. Now he may be playing for time to pass the deadline, or honestly fulfill his obligations. Living in a country where everyone wants to deceive each other, I habitually think immediately about the bad outcome of the case, but common sense and conscience say otherwise. Here is such a dilemma.
I apologize to the public, I did not take a photo of the event below, which I regretted later.
In the evening I was visited by an interesting thought, I think I still throw out the sensor, let me open it, at least I will find out how it works. So I sat in a chair, brought in a set of screwdrivers for small screws / bolts and began to examine the sensor, looking for where to start the autopsy.
Everything turned out to be very simple, and so, I will try to describe it in as much detail as possible. Opening is required from the side of the cable entry into the sensor, indicated by an arrow in the figure. There is a round cover that covers the inside of the sensor, it is attached to four small clips. Carefully pry off the cover at each end to remove it. Although I think that it will not work carefully, because inside everything is filled with sealant and the lid sits very tightly. After removing the cover, you need to push on the opposite side of the sensor (the part that just emits ultra sound signal ) to remove the glass. So before us there was a monolithic painted element that does not have any gaps and only on one side, where the cable enters, is filled with sealant. It is logical to assume that only from that edge can one get to the bottom of the truth, in the literal sense of the word. Not finding anything at home that could dissolve the silicone sealant, I began to gently poke at it with a small flat-head screwdriver. I started from the edges, carefully, with difficulty, separating the sealant in small pieces, I got to the first obstacle, it was a very thin copper wire with insulation in the form of varnish going from the edge to the center towards the main cable. Continuing excavations, I came across an identical wire from the opposite edge, the wires are very thin and fragile, be careful. After that, I already started digging in the central part along the main cable. The base of the cable turned out to be a small piece of textolite about 5x3 mm in size, to which a metal shield and a central core of the main cable and small thin wires going to the edges and into the "glass" were soldered. There is nothing on the PCB, and it only serves to connect the main cable and small wires. Excavations have also shown that the glass is metal from the inside. Digging deeper, I found that one of the wires going deep along the edges was soldered to the edge of the glass with one end, the other end was soldered on the PCB to the screen of the main wire. The second wire went deeper. Further excavations stopped at the bottom, where cork turned out to be, the most natural cork made of cork, along the edge of which the remaining wires go deep into the depths. Having brazenly ripped open and removed the cork, which turned out to be two millimeters thick, I found a disc made of synthetic non-woven material. This was the only part that was easily removed without deformation, under which I found a metal bottom with a metal disk glued to it, to which the remaining small wire was soldered. There was nothing else in the sensor! Having replaced the disc made of synthetic non-woven material, I went to the kitchen for a wine cork, with which I cut off a cork disc of two millimeters, trimmed it to the size of the sensor and replaced the cork I had blatantly opened. Then, just in case, I soldered the wires on the PCB, inserted the glass into the plastic in place and filled everything with automotive silicone sealant with a small margin, which leaked through the holes when the lid with clips was returned to its place. Without waiting for the sealant to polymerize, I connected it to the parking sensors expecting to see zeros on the screen and hear a nasty continuous squeak, to my surprise the screen showed the distance and squeaked at intervals as it should be for the indicated distance. Thus, I repaired a faulty parking sensor, which I was very pleased with. :) What exactly led to a positive result, I cannot say, it is either poor-quality soldering of wires, or a poor-quality cork tablet at the bottom of the sensor (which apparently acts as soundproofing the receiver from the transmitter).
As it was getting late, I went to bed. In the morning, I wrote to the Chinese not to rush to send the sensor, to which he replied that the sensor had already been sent. About the fact that the sensor was repaired, I did not tell him anything. And now I have a more complicated dilemma, but it has one question, what to do with the Chinese? On the one hand, after reworking with a file, the resulting product eventually became fully functional. On the other hand, I spent my time and effort on repairing, besides, it is not known how the seller will behave in the future, whether he will be honest.
| Installation of parking sensors | Domestic cars | Imported cars |
|---|---|---|
| Installation of parking sensors for 4 sensors | 1 800 p | - |
| Installation of parking sensors for 6 sensors | 2 300 p | 3,000 p |
| Installation of parking sensors for 8 sensors | 2 800 p | 3500 p |
Parking sensors are very delicate devices. The cause of their breakdowns can be both slight negligence and an absurd accident. Many drivers will take the very fact of a malfunction calmly and may not rush to repair it. But this only concerns experienced car enthusiastsfeeling the dimensions of their car. But for motorists, beginners or accustomed to prompts parking radar, its breakage will create a lot of inconvenience. You can regain confidence during difficult maneuvers by repairing the parking sensors.
How do the problems appear?
It's pretty simple. A working parking sensor emits warning signals only if it is too close to an obstacle. Defective - beeps at any time, for as long as you like, or does not react to an obstacle up to the characteristic crunch of the bumper. Often on cars with standard parking sensors on dashboard an indicator is placed indicating a malfunction of the radar, its signal should become an indication for diagnostics of the device.The main malfunctions and methods of repairing parking sensors
If we talk about standard sensors, then both the front and rear have a common module and membrane. The following breakdowns are more related to just such systems. If the installation of parking sensors was carried out independently, then there may be differences, but, in general, in any system, both breakdown and repair relate to its individual components.- The most common and insidious trouble is the breakdown of the membrane, which is the very source of the sound. That is, in fact, the system is in good working order, but the sound signal of the sensors is not heard. In this case, replacing the membrane will help out, it is quite inexpensive, but the work is painstaking and you cannot do without a master.
- Also, the sensors themselves, mounted in the bumper, are often damaged. They can be harmed by external influences - a stone flying off the road, moisture caught under the rim, for example, when hitting a snowdrift. In small quantities, water is not terrible, but, gradually accumulating, it leads to breakdown. The solution will be the installation of new parking sensors.
- The module breaks down much less often, while failures have almost nothing to do with damage to its case. It becomes unusable when the same moisture gets inside, but it is not so easy to get access to the module, therefore it can be filled with water only intentionally. There will be traces of moisture or salt on the microcircuit of a faulty device, it is changed without hesitation.
- The last trouble is the short circuit of the wiring. The masters first of all check the strength of the terminals and the absence of moisture on the contacts. If everything is in order, then the reason is the melting of the winding on the sensor wires. This happens when the plastic clamps securing the wiring to the bottom loosen and the wires fall onto the hot mufflers. Here, after examining the system, experts will decide whether to change the wiring partially or completely.
During the operation of almost any device in the car, various breakdowns occur, the parking sensors are no exception. As a rule, parking sensors do not work for three reasons: wiring failure, there is a problem in electronic unit control or the presence of mechanical damage to the parking sensors.
Self-repair of parking sensors
Today, repairing parking sensors with your own hands is not. something complicated, provided that a simple condition is met - the repairing sensor must understand and know exactly what needs to be done. In the absence of such self-confidence, it is better to seek help from a specialist. This applies primarily to the repair of the electronic circuit of the control unit itself. When installing the parking sensors yourself, there are practically no problems with laying and connecting wires.
The most common troubles are with parking sensors. Parktronic often beeps constantly. Usually, the parking sensor turns on when it is off reverse gear... When the car is moving forward, the sensor is constantly turned on, and it beeps. In this case, there are two main reasons: the first is a simple closure with electronic circuit, the second reason is a foreign body on the sensor: road mud, ice or the body of a dead insect.
Modern parking sensors are a very delicate product and the most common reason the constant firing of the circuit is just water. In the cold season, especially after washing the car. When the sensor dries up, the unpleasant squeak disappears completely. If this does not happen, be sure to diagnose the sensor.
Sometimes, when the car is moving backwards, the parking sensors do not show the existing obstacle, which really exists. More precisely, how to determine which sensor is not working. In this case, the diagnostics of the sensors is very simple: the car owner covers the sensors with his hand one by one, and the assistant visually observes the readings indicator light in the car salon.
Very often the reason for the constant squeak of the parking sensors is an error in adjusting the sensitivity of the sensor. Who is able to independently adjust the sensitivity of the sensor, since there is a trimming resistor in the parktronic control circuit.
Parking sensor change
The most common reason for parking sensors not working mechanical damage the surface of the sensor mirror with a pebble, which accidentally falls into the sensor mirror. In this case, there are two options: the first is to contact the service center, where the cost of the new parking sensor will be announced (including delivery and premiums). The second option is to buy the necessary sensor yourself, of the same size and corresponding operating parameters, and then install it in its regular place. There is a high probability that the replacement sensor will be of a different color. The new sensor just needs to be painted in the desired color, you can do it yourself. Before painting a new sensor, it is desirable to degrease and then paint it in the color of the car.
