Parking Sensors

[skipgen]

In the middle of West Texas earlier this week, my Parking Sensors decided to spontaneously go offline. Every once in a while they'll come back on but mostly I'll get the annoying beeping with the "!" front center of the car pictogram in the cluster below 10mph or so. There's no apparent damage anywhere - I did smack a tumbleweed but that's a different story...!

Thoughts?

 

[carguy75]

Try cleaning the sensors and checking the wiring harness under the bumper covers for any loose connections.

 

[skipgen]

Try cleaning the sensors and checking the wiring harness under the bumper covers for any loose connections.

Cleaned them but it was just a rag & some water...

 

[Suburbazine]

Reach inside the left hand side of the front bumper (in front of tire), crank open the electrical connection, check for dirt/water/corrosion and then reconnect.

 

[skipgen]

Reach inside the left hand side of the front bumper (in front of tire), crank open the electrical connection, check for dirt/water/corrosion and then reconnect.

Sounds good - I'll give it a shot. Driver's side?

 

[Suburbazine]

Sounds good - I'll give it a shot. Driver's side?

Yes. It's approximately under the low beam bulb above the fog light.

 

[skipgen]

Yes. It's approximately under the low beam bulb above the fog light.

Thank you sir! Do you have to take anything apart to access it?

 

[MarcusTheMan]

I've Seen A Few People Talk About Faulty Sensors But I Haven't Gotten Around To Replacing Mine Yet. Everybody Says The Bumper Is A Pain To Get Off But I Haven't Seen Anyone Actually Explain How To Get The Front End Apart.

Thank you sir! Do you have to take anything apart to access it?

 

[skipgen]

Ye

I've Seen A Few People Talk About Faulty Sensors But I Haven't Gotten Around To Replacing Mine Yet. Everybody Says The Bumper Is A Pain To Get Off But I Haven't Seen Anyone Actually Explain How To Get The Front End Apart.

Yeah - probably need a lift at least, which I don't have access to.

 

[Suburbazine]

Thank you sir! Do you have to take anything apart to access it?

Not much actually, you can pop out the plastic rivets and one bolt along the fender lip, peel back the liner and reach into the bumper. If you turn the tire all the way right you might not even need to take it off.

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[skipgen]

Not much actually, you can pop out the plastic rivets and one bolt along the fender lip, peel back the liner and reach into the bumper. If you turn the tire all the way right you might not even need to take it off.

I finally got around to checking out the connector after trying to clean the sensors... Seems like I'm not the first one to be in there. I found this connector zip tied to the frame directly under the headlight - is this it?

 

[Andyj]

I doubt the zip tie is from the factory. Probably a repair.

 

[Suburbazine]

I finally got around to checking out the connector after trying to clean the sensors... Seems like I'm not the first one to be in there. I found this connector zip tied to the frame directly under the headlight - is this it?View attachment 37609

That's it.

 

[skipgen]

I doubt the zip tie is from the factory. Probably a repair.

I doubted it as well - probably whoever was in there fat fingered it & broke off a mounting clip.

 

[skipgen]

That's it.

Thanks - probably finally vibrated loose due to that prior "professional" repair. Just started raining here will check it out later.

 

[Suburbazine]

Thanks - probably finally vibrated loose due to that prior "professional" repair. Just started raining here will check it out later.

If you're in there, take a look at the T6061 aluminum front bumper and see if it's been severely bent. Many times shade tree shops won't replace it after a collision. The easiest way to check is to see if the foam front bumper pad has a big gap to the bumper bar.

 

[skipgen]

If you're in there, take a look at the T6061 aluminum front bumper and see if it's been severely bent. Many times shade tree shops won't replace it after a collision. The easiest way to check is to see if the foam front bumper pad has a big gap to the bumper bar.

There weren't any mention of collisions on the Carfax. I think it was more of a lazy repair.

 

[skipgen]

Well... This connector looks like it's been through some stuff (attached). I hit the insides with some WD-40 and blasted it with some compressed air... and reassembled. Short story - front & passenger side light up in the cluster momentarily, then I get the "!" and the warning chime. Driver side front does not seem to function... Guess that one is possibly FUBAR.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

[Suburbazine]

That damage indicates the car was almost certainly in a front collision of some sort. Or a gorilla just peeled off the bumper cover.

Hit the connectors with CRC Letric-Clean, bit you may need to pull off the bumper cover and check for harness damage or poorly seated sensor connectors.

The cover is held on by 4 bolts up top IIRC and the one main screw in both fender liners.

 

[skipgen]

That damage indicates the car was almost certainly in a front collision of some sort. Or a gorilla just peeled off the bumper cover.

Hit the connectors with CRC Letric-Clean, bit you may need to pull off the bumper cover and check for harness damage or poorly seated sensor connectors.

The cover is held on by 4 bolts up top IIRC and the one main screw in both fender liners.

Thanks for the info. I'll post back when I tear back into it. Supposed to rain here in Houston for the rest of the week!