Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Object Detection Description and Operation: Notes
The ultrasonic parking assist system is designed to identify and notify the driver of an object in the vehicle's path when reversing at speeds of less than 8 km/h (5 MPH). The distance and location of the object is determined by 4 object sensors located in the rear bumper. The parking assist system will notify the driver using an audible beep signal through the radio.
The parking assist system is made up of the following components:
- Parking assist control module
- Rear object alarm sensors
- Parking assist switch
- Parking assist switch indicator
Parking Assist Control Module
The parking assist control module provides an 8 V reference and a low reference to the four object alarm sensors. The parking assist control module receives individual signals from each of the four sensors and determines the location and distance of an object based on these inputs. When an object is detected, the parking assist control module will send a data message via CAN-Bus to the radio requesting an audible alert.
Rear Object Alarm Sensors
The object alarm sensors are located in the rear bumper of the vehicle. The sensors are used to determine the distance between an object and the bumper. Each sensor emits an ultrasonic frequency which is reflected off any object located behind the vehicle. These reflections are received by the sensors. The time difference between the emission of the frequency and when the reflection is received is known as sensor echo time, it is used to determine the distance to the object. The sensors report this information to the parking assist control module.
Parking Assist Switch
The parking assist can be activated and deactivated by pressing the parking assist switch. By engaging the reverse gear the parking assist can also be activated. By subsequently pressing the parking assist switch the parking assist can be disabled again.
Parking Assist Switch Indicator
The indicator in the parking assist switch shows the status of the parking assist. If the lamp is ON, the parking assist is activated.
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.