Reverse parking sensors

[Alpine]

Hi, we recently fitted up some reverse parking sensors to our car. It's the first time we've had experience with one of these devices in a car so I am after some advice as to how they are supposed to work.

I think the sensors are facing a bit to much toward the ground level because when I parked with the rear facing a slightly higher kerb edge, the sensors were beeping like crazy even tho I was miles away from the kerb. Is this normal behavior?

I thought the sensors should only beep if I am really near something, eg less than a meter. Farther than a meter, should it beep at all or is it normal for these things to keep beeping at a steady pace even though there is nothing behind the car and just increase its tempo as I close in on an object?

[euromandeluxe]

hey, what sort of rear park sensors have you installed? the ones where you need small holes in the rear bumper, or one of those no-holes ones? did you DIY the install?

i've got the holes type ones in my euro's rear bumper. there's 4 - the middle 2 face more or less straight behind (and NOT downward) while the outer 2 point rearward and slightly towards the left / right (not downward either).

I only get beeping if i'm within 1.6m of an object. any closer than that, and they start beeping more frequently. the frequency increases the closer i get, and apparently when i'm within 30cm, there's a constant sound in the cabin.

never gotten that close though, never really trusted the things that much :P

and yes, i sometimes do get beeping telling me that i'm close to a kerb. the kerb usually has to be pretty high though.

hope that helps

[Alpine]

Hi euromandeluxe, thanks for your reply. Here is a picture of what they look like.

Yes, we DIY'ed the install ourselves - couldn't justify spending $800 or whatever ridiculous price it was to get it done thru Honda so we bought an aftermarket kit and put it in ourselves!


I only get beeping if i'm within 1.6m of an object.

So farther than 1.6m it doesn't beep at all even if you're in reverse?


http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/2779/accordrepaired006small.jpg

[euromandeluxe]

Hi euromandeluxe, thanks for your reply. Here is a picture of what they look like.
Yes, we DIY'ed the install ourselves - couldn't justify spending $800 or whatever ridiculous price it was to get it done thru Honda so we bought an aftermarket kit and put it in ourselves!

So farther than 1.6m it doesn't beep at all even if you're in reverse?

that's a lot of money for a simple install :O

that's correct, if i'm in reverse and further than 1.6m, there's a single beep when i engage the reverse gear, then no noise at all.

your sensors look like they're installed in the correct orientation etc.

you can test each sensor to see whether they're playing up or not. park so the rear of the car is well away from anything. then, engage reverse and ask a friend to slowly approach each reverse sensor with something flat like a piece of cardboard. it helps if you approach the outer sensors more laterally. if there's clearly abnormalities in beeping then something's gone wrong with the install. it's not a definite diagnosis though, because the sensors have overlapping 'sensing' areas.

when you engage reverse, does the system make any beeps? if it does, how many? check the user's manual, because usually, if there's a problem with any of the sensors, the system can detect it and will tell you with a certain number of beeps when you engage reverse. this will vary from system to system however.

what sensor kit did you isntall?

[Alpine]

Just one of these aftermarket generic type kits off ebay.

It does beep initially when I engage reverse gear, then seems to stop and once I start moving in reverse the beeping resumes before eventually becoming a solid tone when I am very close to something behind me.


http://www.t-dimension.com/pic/car/cs/qz4000b/4.jpg

[kcokla]

Just one of these aftermarket generic type kits off ebay.

It does beep initially when I engage reverse gear, then seems to stop and once I start moving in reverse the beeping resumes before eventually becoming a solid tone when I am very close to something behind me.


http://www.t-dimension.com/pic/car/cs/qz4000b/4.jpg

i dontk now much about these things, but you could of simply bought a bad kit (sorry to say).
seeing as you said its a generic type off ebay, i wouldnt be suprised.

[euromandeluxe]

http://www.t-dimension.com/pic/car/cs/qz4000b/4.jpg

Were the ones you bought colourmatched or black?

As kcokla said, they may just be dodgy. However beeping for kerbs isn't too abnormal. Sometimes my sensors (installed by the dealer) randomly beep at nothing too.

Seems like a waste of money, but IMO unless there's a reverse camera, I wouldn't trust beeping reverse sensors to guide me.

[Alpine]

Well, in that case it sounds like it's operating the way it should just fine. :) I'll just enjoy the fruits of my labor (installing it) and enjoy its benefits.

Alot of people diss ebay kits and other stuff but really, even the name brands are all made in China as well and are pretty much the same, except they cost 10 times as much. I picked this particular kit from ebay because a mate bought three of the same kits to fit to his cars and a year later they are all still working perfectly. So there is nothing wrong with them whatsoever. :)

Oh by the way, yes they came black in color - we color coded them to match the Accord. Turned out quite well actually. I think it looks neat installed on the Accord. I've seen other sensors (even name brands or OEM options, eg Ford) that are ridiculously huge and stick out alot, but these are small and sit flush with the bumper. Quite tidy.

$30 for this kit from ebay vs $800 for Honda OEM - I'd know which one I'd choose. Another mate who owns a Peugeot said his OEM kit cost him $1000!!!

[euromandeluxe]

y came black in color - we color coded them to match the Accord. Turned out quite well actually. I think it looks neat installed on the Accord. I've seen other sensors (even name brands or OEM options, eg Ford) that are ridiculously huge and stick out alot, but these are small and sit flush with the bumper. Quite tidy.


They look good. Nice work :thumbsup::thumbsup:

i know that if you have a lot of dust on the sensor, it can cause it to beep randomly, and can reduce its accuracy. if you painted the sensor, perhaps its possible that the layer of paint is 'confusing' the system and causing it to been inappropriately?

might not be the case though. a lot are advertised as 'paintable' (and even OEM ones are painted anyway).

maybe its working fine! and cheap too :)

[Alpine]

Well from what you've described it does sound like it's working the way it's supposed to. I just wanted clarification from other owners coz I had never been in a car with reverse sensors before so didn't know how they were supposed to beep or when they beep, etc. Thanks again for your responses. Just wanted some comparison to others.

[tylermorris]

Hi, I appreciate your efforts for Reverse parking sensors. The looks of Hyundai prompts me to buy a new one for me too. Seeing the looks and features, Hyundai shall be the consumer choice for coming years. i bought a Hyundai before and that's why i trust Hyundai the most. My Hyundai has the new feature which i prefer the most.
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Parking Sensors (http://www.backup-sensor.com)

[Theo Lang]

Hi Alpine,
I have been thinking about installing myself. How easy is it. I am a fairly good handyman. Does it need a lot of electrical knowledge , are the instructions clear?

Second thought - I have seen instruction video since. I think I will leave it to the experts - taking off the rear bumper of my lovely Accord? no way Jose!! It is worth the money to pay .