Reverse Backup Sensor Systems

The only assistance that a vehicle previously offered a driver trying to back into a parking space were the rear and side view mirrors. Today, several vehicle models are equipped with a type of parking assist system that not only helps when parking, but when backing up for any reason. Some parking assist systems also help drivers when moving forward. Parking assist systems are often standard on station wagons and SUVs and are usually optional on sedans.

There are basically two types of systems: one is an array of sensors on the bumper that trigger an audible “beep” when you get too close to an object and the other is an actual video camera that sends pictures to the navigation screen in the center console.

There is a third type, but it’s not yet available outside of Japan. Toyota Japan offers an option on the Prius gasoline/electric hybrid called Intelligent Parking Assist that directs the car to park itself. The driver identifies the exact spot using a navigation screen, touches a “set” button, and the car backs into the spot without any human assistance.

Since the location of the more common bumper sensor arrays puts them in harm’s way in many collision scenarios, it is helpful to know how to troubleshoot and replace these sensors. This article will discuss parking assist systems, and any repairs that can be done to them.

Bumper Sensors

The sensors in bumper sensor systems are visible by the circular sensor face in the bumper cover like on the rear of the 2005 Cadillac XLR. One of several models that have a similar sensor array in the front bumper is the 2005 Lexus ES sedan. There may be up to four sensors in each bumper, which are connected via a wiring harness to a dedicated control module that communicates to the main body computer. The sensors are either all ultrasonic, or a combination of ultrasonic and radar. The system does not have to be active at all times. There is typically a switch in the instrument panel to turn this system ON and OFF, with a text message or LED lamp indicating the system status.

In the case of the rear parking assist system, which is the most common, the system will only sense when the reverse gear is selected. The beeping noise, indicating the bumper is getting close to an object, usually comes from a dedicated rear speaker. The sound may intensify as the vehicle gets nearer to an object, and turn to a constant tone when the object is extremely close, about 30 cm (12 inches).

What can go wrong with these systems? A misaligned or loose fitting bumper or bumper cover can affect system operation. The sensor mountings are separate parts that are inserted in holes in the bumper. This mounting can also loosen or get misaligned. Visual inspection may reveal a loose or out-of-position sensor. Ford Motor Company has a procedure for checking the alignment of the sensor array on the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. There is a test for proper sensor height and another test for ensuring the sensors detect an object in five specific distances from the bumper.

The sensors can get dirty or iced over, which can interrupt the signal communication. Ford recommends washing the bumper and sensors with high-pressure water to determine if this is the problem. There may also be a problem with the finish on the faces of the sensors. Some sensors are not painted, but others require a finish on whatever is visible on the bumper cover.

For the finished bumper sensors on the 2005 Cadillac XLR, General Motors cautions to not exceed 6 mils of coating thickness on the face of the sensors. Along with that caution, there is a recommendation to not refinish previously finished sensors, since excess build-up will cause the sensor to be inoperative. There are also no recommendations for methods of removing excessive finish on the face of the sensors.

If visual inspection doesn’t show a problem, a diagnostic check may. Electronic faults will usually trigger a fault code, which can be identified, and diagnosed using a scan tool and following the troubleshooting flowchart procedures in the service information. The diagnosis may lead to a fault, such as a cut or pinched wire, which can be repaired. The diagnosis may also indicate a control module or sensor malfunction, which usually requires replacement of one or the other, or both. If the testing shows a problem with only one sensor, one sensor can usually be replaced. It’s typically not necessary to replace all of the sensors.

Rear Camera

Parking assist systems with an on-board camera not only sense behind the vehicle, but show on the navigation screen what is hidden in the lower back blind spot. The camera eye looks down from a protected position; such as under the liftgate handle like on the 2005 Infiniti QX56. A rear camera system is only practical on vans, SUVs, or trucks where there is a large blind spot behind the vehicle. These types of systems go beyond parking assist. They could also be classified as collision avoidance or a pedestrian safety device.

Again, like all electronic systems, the on-board camera systems can be diagnosed using flowcharts.

Conclusion

Parking assist systems are becoming a common option or even standard equipment on more vehicles every model year. The sensors for the bumper sensor type of system are in a vulnerable location and will require inspection and testing after collisions affecting that part of the vehicle. Try a visual inspection first. If a visual inspection shows sensor damage, replacement is the only option. If there is no visible damage and the system does not work, the sensors may be obstructed, or the sensors or bumper may be out of position.

This article first appeared in the I-CAR Advantage Online, which is published and distributed free of charge. I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, is a not-for-profit international training organization that researches and develops quality technical education programs related to collision repair. To learn more about I-CAR, and to subscribe to the free publication, visit http://www.i-car.com.

After losing her daughter, West Boca mom on mission to make safety sensors standard

A year after little Veronica lost her life when a neighbor backed out of his driveway, her mom is lobbying hard for safety sensors.

By Patty Pensa
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted March 26 2006

West Boca—The morning was still, quiet, perfect for a stroll. And, boy, did 2-year-old Veronica Rosenfeld love to stroll.

Then it happened, quickly, without warning.

“Out of nowhere, he backed out,” said her mom, Arden Rosenfeld. “The next thing I saw was my child under the car.”

It was a year ago Monday when the Rosenfelds’ 73-year-old neighbor pulled his Lincoln Town Car out of his driveway, striking Veronica, who was only five feet ahead of her mom, never out of view. She died at the hospital.

Rosenfeld sits still on a couch in her spacious home west of Boca Raton. Her voice is steady as she retells the worst day of her life, the story broken by quick, heavy sighs.

Instead of being consumed by her tragedy, Rosenfeld stands at the forefront of a movement to make backup sensors or cameras as common as seatbelts. Advocates say the need for such devices has grown with the super-sizing of SUVs and trucks.

Nationwide, more than 100 children died last year after being hit by vehicles as they backed up. Legislation in Congress aims to prevent these accidents by requiring devices that alert drivers when someone is behind their vehicles.

Cameras and sensors already are offered on some new models, but it would be up to the U.S. Department of Transportation to decide what should be the norm.

“I can’t imagine why anyone would stop this,” Rosenfeld said.

On March 9, a day after what would have been Veronica’s third birthday, Rosenfeld traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby alongside the founder and president of Kids and Cars, a nonprofit group based in Kansas.

The group gained momentum last year when President Bush signed a law directing the Transportation Department to start collecting data on these accidents. The department also was told to study backup safety technology.

“Those were significant strides forward,” said Janette Fennell, Kids and Cars president. “But that was just laying the groundwork.”

While the fate of the latest legislation is uncertain, advocates are encouraged by its bipartisan support. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, and Sen. John Sununu, R-New Hampshire, are co-sponsors. If passed, it would give automakers three years to make the safety devices standard.

In John DeSimone’s household they already are. DeSimone, of Parkland, added sensors to the family vehicles four years ago. DeSimone has a Ford F150 pickup truck, and his wife just got the Infiniti QX56 SUV with a rearview camera.

“I’m a safety nut when it comes to my kids,” said DeSimone, whose daughters are 10 and 11. “I think certainly every truck and SUV should have it.”

It’s also DeSimone’s business to install backup sensors and cameras, though they’re not that popular. Yet.

DeSimone, a partner in Ideal Automotive and Truck Accessories in Fort Lauderdale, and others in the business expect the trend for backup systems to grow. For now, iPod and satellite radio systems are the most common installations for Interactive Electronics, a mobile business west of Boca Raton.

“They should definitely come on cars automatically,” said Tom Nesbit, who owns Interactive Electronics. “It’s not like it’s that expensive.”

Adding backup sensors costs a few hundred dollars. Retrofitting a car for a camera system is more expensive, from several hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars.

Fennell, of Kids and Cars, said there could be other options: bigger back windows, bigger mirrors or brakes that automatically stop the car.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents nine automakers, opposes the legislation. Eron Shosteck, director of safety communications for the trade association, said backup sensors are reliable only with inanimate objects such as curbs and light poles. Cameras, he said, are expensive.

“The technology is available to consumers who want it,” he said. “Many consumers do not want to be compelled to pay for technology they don’t need.”

If mass produced, the devices would drop in price, advocates say. U.S. Rep Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Weston, is backing the bill.

“I can’t imagine what would be more important than trying to avoid entirely preventable accidents,” she said.

For Rosenfeld, nothing would have been more important. The memory of wiping blood from her daughter’s face cuts deep. There is no way to let go. She was a running, jumping, squealing little girl. Blonde hair bouncy, blue eyes bright. Upstairs, in Veronica’s room, a pink blanket bearing her name rests on a rocking chair. The sheets in her crib are the same as on the last day she slept there.

They were never washed.

“I have a hole in my heart,” Rosenfeld said. “My life was Veronica. She was my world. When she was gone, what was I going to do? I don’t want my daughter’s life to be for nothing.”

Patty Pensa can be reached at ppensa@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6609.

I needed some cash and to the atm I went. As I pulled into the bank where I do business I jumped into the atm only lane and sat in line behind a lady in a small car. After a few minutes I realized that she had gone through the transaction process quite a few times. Frustrated, she snatched her card from the machine and sped off. Feeling bad for her, thinking that she didn’t have enough to cover the withdrawal, I pull up in my new Chevy Z71 4×4. I pull out my card, enter my pin, and an error message jumps out at me. Thinking I did something wrong I complete the process again. ERROR. OK enough is enough and by this time I am getting frustrated myself! Instead of speeding off like the lady before me, I decide to just back up and go through the drive in teller line. Great idea, 5-8 minutes and I’m out of here. The bank sits at somewhat of a slope that leaves you”nose down”. I throw it into reverse and start to back up…......BAM In all the goings on I did not notice the Chrysler New Yorker that pulled quietly behind me and tucked behind the view of my tailgate. Being the owner of a auto collision repair facility I knew the extent of the damage. Three years later, I’m in a hurry and I am hungry so I whip into Dairy Queen for a quick burger. I try to be health conscious and as I get up to the ordering window I change my mind and decide on something less fattening. Again, I throw it into reverse and BAM!! Brand new Hyundai Elantra. At this point I am ready to drive a small car myself. About the same time my wife purchased a Ford Expedition and she has an option on the vehicle that senses and warns you about objects behind you. What a great idea. I had to have one. But no one sold an aftermarket accessory that would accommodate my needs. In steps my friend Jared, and he tells me of a product he’s been researching, an aftermarket reverse/parking assistance warning system. And that is how Eyes Behind You got its start.

The parking sensor works by installing the sensors on the vehicle’s rear bumber. The sensors are powered by splicing into the reverse brake lights. When the vehicle is put into reverse, the system turns on.

The sensors detect objects that are in the path of the reversing vehicle. If an object is detected, the driver is warned by either an audible beeping or both an audible beeping and a visual dispaly.

Welcome to Eyes Behind You. We are a distributor of high quality commercial and fleet backup parking sensor systems. We are based in Elgin Texas but service all over the country.

Investing in a backup parking sensor system can be a big decision. Take your time choosing the best option for you and feel free to call us at any time with questions or concerns.

thanks,
Chris Haywood
Eyes Behind You