Anyone fitted parking sensors?

PeteW

Hi,

We've just bought the wife a second-hand Grand Scenic which is just a touch bigger than the Renault Clio she was previously driving - and she used to smack that into everything...

So, looking at getting some after-market parking sensors to reduce the chance of her mashing it into everything. Anyone done this before?

Google reveals there are a million companies/ebayers selling them at a variety of prices. Most of them seem too cheap, so I'm wondering knows of any good brands/models?

One with an LCD screen as well as the beeper would be good. They also mostly seem to start beeping at 1.5 metres and reach maximum beepiness at about 30cm, whereas I'd want those figures to both be lower if possible. I suppose one of the most important things is that the instructions are clear and easy to follow, not it some badly translated Chinese!

Anyone have any tips for fitting them?

Cheers

Pete

forgotmyname

If you need instructions get someone else to fit them.

The hardest bit is finding the right spot to fit them, Space behind the bumper for the wires?

Drilling the holes level, It will look terrible if they are wonky.

After that its running the wires into the car, One wire to earth and one to the reverse light switch.

If you need something closer than 30cm consider parking camera's instead.

Gloomendoom

The electromagnetic sensors work down to about 200mm. The problem is that they can't discriminate where the obstruction is... right, left, or dead astern.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

http://www.keen4parts.co.uk/night-vision-bumper-camera-with-reverse-sensors.html

pricey but but if she hits the rear with one of them installed she got no excuse.

hardest part is installing the sensors into the bumpers as most manufactered fitted ones come with brackets fre fitted to bumper and you have to drill holes (oh no drilling! not my forte lol)

all th rest is hooking it upto either a reverse switch, or the the reversl light wires on the harness for the rear lights.

Hintza

Just make sure you keep her away from skips though if you do fit them.....:rotfl:

blue_haddock

The other option is rather than spend cash on some electronic aid how about paying for some more driving lessons, specifically concentrating on parking.

If she manages to have accidents whilst parking a clio she is a hazard to other road users.

pwllbwdr

I've fitted some of the 4-sensor ebay kits to three different cars. Some modern cars have very poor rearward visibility from the drivers seat.

How easy it is depends on how easily you can get the bumper off. Usually a combination of screws, brackets and sometimes plastic clips, which can break. If you can find an online guide to bumper removal for your car, you will find it much easier.

Drilling is easy - all of the cars I have done have had markings on the inside for the locations of the sensors - they look like gun cross-hairs with a circle around them. Drill a small hole from inside to out, and then use the drill which comes with the sensors to drill the proper hole back from the outside using the pilot hole to centre the pilot of the hole drill.

All of the installs I have done have just been with the loudspeaker/sounder - so I haven't run wires to the front of the car as you can hear them perfectly well with the speaker in the boot.

There may be kits you can fit without removing the bumper, but I haven't tried them.

rodenal

Thought about a camera? I've got one on the back of the civic (which is nigh on impossible to judge where its big fat !!! ends) and it makes life a whole lot easier. They're tiny too so don't stick out on the rear.

Dead easy to install and you'll find one that comes with a screen easily enough. Mine goes directly to the video in of my nav unit. All you need to do is run the cable through the car, fix the camera to your given point then give it power and earth from the rear lights (power from reverse light so it isn't always on). Once it's set up you just need to adjust the tilt to the distance you want the last on screen indicator to be. I've got mine set for about 30cm like most reversing sensors but there's nothing to stop you having it closer.

gardner1

OP do you honestly think it will make a difference just buy her a pile of junk to drive because parking sensors will make no difference she will still hit things

ROY47

"Grand Scenic which is just a touch bigger than the Renault Clio she was previously driving - and she used to smack that into everything... " :eek: :eek:

it's more than a touch bigger

more driving / parking lessons needed me thinks !

Buy some damn good matresses and strap them to the front and rear of the car cos she's going to hit everything !

and have a big wallet ready to pay insurance bills from all the claims your going to get from parking crashes

Ich_2

There are versions on the market that fit onto the rear number plate saving a lot of wiring and drilling