Do all your reversing sensors actually work.

[Magee]

Just had the misfortune of backing my AU XR8 into a solid steel pole at a undercover car park. There was no warning from my Ebay reversing sensor kit which I know does work at it goes off every time at the dip when I reversing out of my driveway.

My first thought was that as I was turning while reversing and the far side sensor may not pick up presence of the pole as it was to the side of the car. When I got home I checked the 4 sensors heads individually and found 3 okay but the far left one was not working at all.

Very disappointed that the kit I have fitted to prevent this let me down when really needed it. I checked our other family cars and and all sensors work fine.

Current kit will be ditched and I have already ordered a name brand one. Will still check it regularly though.

Just a suggestion for people to check that all their sensor are working to avoid the same problem. Pic of damage and poles are attached.

[whitelion65]

Bugger!
Looks like one that could just blend into the background!!

[danzvtil]

Sensors don't always give you a reading on posts and poles, they are better for solid objects/kerbs etc, the instructions on any kit I've ever owned has had such a disclaimer.
Is it possible the sensor was damaged by the impact?

[Mercury Bullet]

I had a front sensor on my FGX fail.

Every time the parking system armed itself the car would scream at me until it was fixed.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Magee

Just had the misfortune of backing my AU XR8 into a solid steel pole at a undercover car park. Pic of damage and poles are attached.

Umm, the pole is in the middle of the parking space, yet your damage is just on the side...............please explain

[mike_nofx]

I could be wrong, but to me I wouldn’t think a parking sensor would pick up something that far to the side of the car? It looks to be out of the zone a sensor should pick up.

[Magee]

Hi Gasolane,

The way the collision occurred was that I was parked in the north east corner of an undercover carpark with my car facing east. The photo with the pole is of the diagonally opposite disable parking spot which faces north.

What I should have done is reversed straight back 2 car lengths and then driven forward and turned right. What I did was go straight back about 1 car length then turned the wheel to the left which brought the rear of my car turning into the disabled parking spot and clipping the pole.

The bumper is coming off to make repairs and I will set up an experiment with bumper on a trolley with a 12 volt battery to active the sensors. The kids basket hoop will be the pole and with the good sensor on the opposite side I will see if it will trigger by using the same angel approach.

[solarite_guy]

Just a side note regarding your rear bumper cover. There is a good chance the cover eyelet nearest the dent in the quarter could have ripped. I that is the case, it is really not good to try a repair. The bumper cover should be replaced, if in fact this is the case.

Depending on your insurance coverage you may wind up with an aftermarket product. If so, insist on the use of an adhesion promoter such a Bulldog. Otherwise, the first time something gives your bumper cover a good whack, a large portion of the paint could flake off.

[Vesper Martini]

I zoomed in on the bumper pic and it looks like the sensor may not be fitted correctly, you should have the outer ones on the corner, so it picks up objects to the side.

[Magee]

Hello Bevsta,

I am now thinking my EBAY sourced kit was designed for a narrow body vehicle and is not suitable for a Falcon. The sensor position were based on the 1 page instruction manual which recommended 300 - 400mm between sensors. I used 500 mm between the 2 centre ones and 400 mm from the centre to outside ones to get what I thought was best fit and a good match to the factory fit on our G6E.

The new Steel Mate brand kit has arrived with its 26 page instruction manual and allows for greater than 450 mm per sensor. This will allow me to push the outer ones further to the sides.

Reading through the manual it also has a auto test of all 4 sensor heads every time you go into reverse with one beep for all okay and 3 beeps for you have problem.

I wish I had of bought this kit first.

[LTDHO]

How didn't you see the pillar in your mirror?

[Magee]

Hi LTD,

Interesting question. The post was painted bright yellow for obvious reasons but to tell you the truth I was actually looking out my rear vision mirror for cars coming up behind me as I reversed out. If I had alternated between the rear vision and passenger side mirror I may have seen it.

But just to add another point which made it a perfect storm for hitting the pole. It was bright warm sunny day and I was parked undercover. When I got in my car, I started it up and ran the air con with my tinted windows up to cool the car while I sent a text my wife on when I will be back home. Once I put on my prescription sunglass my initial vision was like what it would be at dusk. Therefore even if I had looked in the passenger side mirror the pole would not be so bright due my sun glasses and tinted windows.

[whitelion65]

Originally Posted by Magee

Hi LTD,

Interesting question. The post was painted bright yellow for obvious reasons
....
Therefore even if I had looked in the passenger side mirror the pole would not be so bright due my sun glasses and tinted windows.

That's what I was alluding to in my first reply. Pretty easy to see when you're taking a photo of it, but combine sunlight/shade, traffic movements etc, can be an easy mistake to make!

[au350hp]

All four sensors in my AUXR work perfectly. The three mirrors & the frontwindscreen.