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.
Rear Parking Assist Operation
When an object is within the measuring range of the sensor, the ultrasonic pulse is reflected and is received by the sending or a neighboring sensor. The sensor converts this signal into a voltage signal and sends this signal to the parking assist control module. The parking assist control module evaluates the received sensor signals. As soon as an object is within the measuring range, the parking assist control module sends a message to the radio in order to give out the acoustic distance signal. If an object is detected within 2.5 m (8 ft) away from the rear bumper, there will be an audible beep out of the speakers. As the vehicle gets closer to an object, the time between the beeps becomes shorter. If the vehicle stops and there is an object within 2.5 m (8 ft) away from the rear bumper the beeping will stop after 5 s. When the distance between the object and the vehicle starts to decrease again the beeping will start again. From a distance less than 30 cm (9.84 in), the sound becomes continuous.
The rear parking assist system can detect objects greater than 7.6 cm (3 in) wide and 25.4 cm (10 in) tall. The system cannot detect objects below the bumper, underneath the vehicle.
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.
The parking assist control module carries out a self test and monitors the sensors for electrical and mechanical faults. Monitored is the power supply of each sensor and the sensor signals, which need to alter when the vehicle moves. If this is not the case, the sensor is acoustically blocked or faulty. Mud, ice and snow may cause obstruction of the function of the sensors. Besides that the parking assist control module checks whether the correct type of sensor is installed. If any of these tests fails, a DTC with corresponding symptom is set, the parking assist is deactivated and the parking assist control module will send a serial data message to display the SERVICE PARK ASSIST message on the driver information center.
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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.