Why the parking sensors don't work
Why the parking sensors don't work
Anonim

With the help of parking sensors, novice drivers will not harm anyone at the time of parking or in other situations. This is a very useful option in the city. But sometimes it happens that at the most crucial moment the parking sensors do not work. A novice driver may panic if he has not mastered parking skills.

Design and functionality of parking radars

So, these systems work on the basis of signals at ultrasonic frequencies. When the signal from the parking sensors bumps into various obstacles, it is immediately picked up by the receiving element. The main function of this system is the timely detection of various obstacles to the movement in front and behind the car, as well as alerting the driver about these obstacles.

park assist not working
park assist not working

Most experienced drivers are sure that there is no benefit from this option - it is considered nothing more than a woman's trinket. But on the road, a variety of situations can happen. For example, this device is indispensable if the rear lights suddenly stop working in the dark.days. In addition, the parking radar does not allow the driver to be distracted from driving and take excessive risks. Structurally, different types of parking sensors may differ from each other. Now there are three types of these systems.

The first type of parking systems has the most complex device. It is a control unit, sensors, as well as connecting wires. The second type of device is also equipped with sensors. But there are no more wires here, these are wireless solutions. The third design option is different in that a special tape is used instead of sensors.

Typical malfunctions of parking radars

If the parking sensors do not work, then the breakdown and its cause do not depend on the car model. It may not even be a car - warehouse electric cars and carts are often equipped with such devices. Let's consider several typical reasons due to which these systems can fail.

Manufacturing defects

So, the first and main cause of malfunctions is a factory defect.

Why is the parking aid not working?
Why is the parking aid not working?

Unfortunately, this is not uncommon at all. Most of the devices on the market today are made in China. Defective equipment may work for many years, or it may not even work for one day. If the reason is really related to a manufacturing defect, then the manufacturer will replace it under warranty.

Connection wires

This is also a common reason for parking sensors not working. The wires that connect the sensors to the control unit may fail. If aSince the element is tape, it is worth checking how the tape is securely fixed on the surface of the bumper. If the fastening of it or the sensor is unreliable, then the sensor will hang in the air. In this case, his data will be inaccurate.

mercedes parking sensors not working
mercedes parking sensors not working

Among the reasons for the failure of the wires, one can single out the melting of the insulating winding. Also, wiring problems happen if the wires loosen and get on a hot muffler. Along with this, cord breaks are also possible.

Control unit

This is very rare, but sometimes the parking sensors do not work due to malfunctions associated with the control unit. Often, most of these nodes are equipped with their own diagnostic system. In the event of a malfunction, the driver will immediately know about it.

The module may fail due to the penetration of moisture into it. If water gets on the printed circuit board, a short circuit will occur. This malfunction can be diagnosed by traces of water, s alt or other substances on the microcircuits. Eliminating the short is quite simple - you need to replace the contacts or clean them.

Membrane

In this case, the sound source in the control unit fails. The radar can work normally, but it is not able to emit a warning sound with a broken membrane.

Damage due to dirty sensors

This is a particularly nasty malfunction. Water and dirt can easily get on the parking sensors or on the metal tape that is on the back of the bumper. One small stone is enough to bring the element out ofbuilding. If the rear parking sensors do not work, then this may well mean that the sensors are out of order. With infrequent mud impacts, nothing threatens the sensors. But if these elements are regularly clogged with dirt, they can fail.

Reno

We have looked at typical faults, and if the system does not work, then only for one of these reasons. If the parking sensors do not work on Renault, this may be due to the failure of the sensors. So, if at least one of them does not work, the regular parking radar will not work either. On early models, the system is made simpler - the parking sensors will work if at least one sensor is working.

audi parking sensors not working
audi parking sensors not working

If it was possible to identify failed sensors, but regular ones cannot be found on sale, you can use similar models from Land Rover. It is also recommended to clean the contacts from oxides, this should help solve the problem. Pulling regular sensors out of the seats is quite difficult.

Opel Astra

If the Opel Astra parking sensors do not work, then this may be due to wiring and contacts, as well as to the device's sensors themselves. Experts recommend in this case to check the fuses in the trunk and see if the sensors chirp. If original sensors are installed, then their number must match the standard one. It would also be useful to check the wiring. Often, these actions help restore the correct operation of the device.

Mercedes and Audi

Due to the complexity of these vehicles, parking systemsare also quite complex. If the parking sensors on the Mercedes do not work, then the reasons may be in the sensors. It is quite easy to diagnose the system.

parking sensors not working
parking sensors not working

To do this, turn on the ignition, and set the automatic transmission lever to the neutral position. This activates the parking system at both the front and rear of the vehicle. As you know, malfunctions are related to sensors or wiring. In these cars, sensors fail more often. When the ignition is on, you need to get out of the car and check each of the sensors in turn. Mercedes owners recommend checking each sensor in turn with a wet finger. It is enough to lightly touch the sensor - you can feel a slight beat and clicks. If beats are felt, then the sensor is in order. It is important that it is advisable to carry out such diagnostics when the corresponding lights are on in the cabin.

Why doesn't the parking sensors work? If you managed to find a non-working sensor, then the problem is either in the wiring or in the sensor itself. If the latter does not work, then it must be replaced. There are both original and non-original parts for sale. It is important to purchase the sensor with the case.

If the parking sensors on the Audi do not work, then the diagnostic method is similar here. You can also try to read ECU errors - the parking sensors unit is read using the on-board computer.

Renault park assist not working
Renault park assist not working

Some sensors may give incorrect information if they are not horizontal. If the system is constantly beeping, this also indicatesmalfunction of any sensor.

Chevrolet Cruz

It often happens that the parking sensors on the Chevrolet Cruze do not work. In this case, experts recommend checking the fuses in the mounting block - No. 1, 4, 5. You need to check if there is voltage on them. To do this, use a multimeter or voltmeter. Next, they check the display connector, and then diagnose the system with a scanner. Also, the problem may be related to the display. Then the sensors are tested.

Frequent faults and troubleshooting

So, let's look at a few situations when the parking sensors do not work. The reasons may be in the sensors or in the wiring. If the driver engages reverse gear, and the parking device does not show signs of life, then most often the control unit is not installed correctly or there are problems with the wiring. Restoring the integrity of the wiring helps to correct the situation.

opel astra parking sensors not working
opel astra parking sensors not working

If the device does not correctly determine the distance to the obstacle, the sensors may have been contaminated - cleaning will help solve the problem. If the device works, but there is no obstacle, then most likely the device is set to too high sensitivity or one of the sensors is dirty. If the device does not detect interference, then the sensitivity is excessively low. Sensors may be dirty. To solve the problem, increase the sensitivity of the device, reconfigure the system, clean or reinstall the sensors. If the parking sensors stop working, it is best to immediately start diagnosing and restoring the operation of the device. This will help to avoiddifficult situations on the road.

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