DIY parking sensors repair

Parktronic or parking radar is a small device that not only makes parking a car easier. It also provides road safety by signaling when an obstacle or other vehicle is too close. And if the parking sensors are broken in the car or the parking sensors simply do not work, then for inexperienced drivers, as well as those who are used to its constant prompts, this can become a real problem.

It is quite simple to determine that the parking sensors have stopped working. If the car has a parking radar installed from the factory, then there is an indicator on the dashboard that will indicate that it is broken. But if you installed the acoustic parking system yourself, then in order to identify a breakdown, you should observe its work. He will either be constantly silent until you hit something, or he will constantly give signals about non-existent obstacles. But to recognize what exactly went out of order is already a little more difficult.

Parktronic malfunctions are often associated with the failure of one of its elements. An acoustic parking system consists of several important components.

1. The control unit is its main part, which is responsible for the operation of the entire system.

It is this element that fails quite often. How to check the functionality of the electronic control unit? You must first disconnect it. Then the ohmmeter terminals should be attached to the conclusions. If the ohmmeter shows nothing, then the cause of the malfunction lies precisely in the electronic control unit. If you are not an electrician and do not have sufficient experience with such mechanisms, it is better not to do parking sensors with your own hands. It is worth contacting specialists here.

Incorrect adjustment of the control unit can also be one of the reasons why the parking radar does not work. If the control unit is configured for high sensitivity, the parking radar will react even to non-existent obstacles. Or the opposite situation, he does not notice the existing obstacles. This may indicate that the sensitivity is too low. And in fact, and in another case, it is necessary to reconfigure the parking radar.

1. Indication devices: a monitor (data on the presence of obstacles and the distance to them are transmitted to it) and a sound warning system (it emits warning signals). These elements fail less often, since they work in the most gentle conditions, inside the car.
2. Sensors or metallized plates are transmission devices that detect the presence of obstacles nearby. In a car, there can be from 2, 4, 6 or even 8. Most often 4 or 6 are installed. If 4, then all of them are installed on the rear bumper. If 6 is installed, then 4 of them are on the rear, and 2 on the front bumper. The latter option allows you to control not only the space behind the car, but also in front. The principle of operation of the transfer device is very simple. It sends ultrasonic signals that, when hitting an obstacle, return back. The system reads the round trip time of the signal, thus calculating the distance to the obstacle.

The parktronic monitor fails less often than other elements, as it is located inside the car

Sensors most often fail, because they are the ones most affected by the external environment. They are installed on the bumper of the car, and, accordingly, they can get dirt, snow or water.

How to determine that the parktronic sensor is not working? Simple enough. Start the car and touch the sensor with your finger. A serviceable one always vibrates slightly, and if touched, it should emit a crack.If this was not found, then the reason is precisely in it.

But before you go to a car repair shop, you can try to repair the parking sensor with your own hands. The first thing to do is to clean it, dry it. If, after these manipulations, the system did not work, then the cause of the breakdown may lie in the membrane. In order to identify a malfunction of the membrane, the sensor should be opened. If it is faulty, it must be replaced. However, it is not recommended to change the membrane with your own hands; it is better to entrust this to an auto mechanic.