Grande Punto Fitting Reverse Parking Sensors

Hello all.
After getting a lot of help on this forum on how to fit parking sensor (my original post), i decided to write a guide after doing mine. Unfortunatly my digital camera packed up so i had to use my iphone camera which is not very good at all. So i appologise for the quality of the photos

This guide shows how to fit an 4 sensor with LED display type of kit. I picked one up from ebay for £25 with postage. The kit was of the sort shown here


Step 1 Prep:

For this job you will need

• A parking sensor kit (obviously)
• a wireless electric drill
• a screwdriver
• stardrive bit
• phillips bit
• wire strippers
• stanley knife
• hole saw bit (usually provided with kit)
• Jack ( axel stands would be useful)
• wheel brace
• 1-3 hours of time

Step 2. Removing the bumper:
I was told you dont have to do this, but for the best access and to use the marks fiat provide, i advise it.

Firstly remove the carpet in the boot. Then remove the plastic cover just above the bumper inside the boot. There is 1 stardrive torque screw on the top and 2 phillips screw inside the boot. Once out, dont be shy, give it a big tug and all the clips should come free:


Now remove the 2 top screws under the boot lid, shown below. These are stardrive torque screws.


Next remove the 4 screws at the bottom of the bumper on the underside of the car. 2 are stardrive torque screws and 2 are phillips:


Next step is to remove the 4 screws in each wheel arch. I was told this could be done without removing the wheels but i couldnt get to them, maybe you can ( if you dont have 17"s then give it a go with it jacked up before removing the wheels) but here goes. Jack up the car:


Then get that wheel off and remove the 4 screws. Start from the bottom and work your way up. The bottom 3 are phillips at the top one is a stardrive torque screw.For the top one you will have to bend the plastic a bit to get to it, its well hidden up there. (When putting this back later put the top screw back first) Also you may find it difficult on a few of these screw as mine were solid with mud!


If you have axel stands get them under now and remove the other wheel and do that side. I didnt have axel stands so i had to put the wheel back on to do the otherside. What a ball ache!

Once you have removed all 14 screws (count them and don't lose them, try to remember where they go) persuade the bumper off, it should come easily BUT be careful, make sure you put towels down to rest it on so you dont hurt your paint and you will have wires to remove before you can put it down. 2 people are good here but i managed it on my own. Once free you will see 2 number plate lights that just twist out, as well as the reverse light on the left and fog on the right (if in UK). All of them twist out.

Now put it down carefully on somethjing soft (i used the boot carpet)

The bumper is off so go to the next page!

Ok so the bumper should be off?!?

Its drilling time

Step 3, Drilling the holes:

If you have a workbench use it, and put the bumper on so you can see the inside(use towels again):


Once like this you should be able to see the 4 marks that fiat have kindly put there, They are cicles like the one shown here. (difficult to see sorry)


Using a small drill bit drill a pilot hole in the centre of all 4 circles. The reason for this is you should not drill the main holes from this side as the heat from drilling may warp the plastic (so vemco advises me). Once drilled, trun the bumper over and drill the main holes:



Now the holes are drilled feed the wire of your sensors through and pop the sensors themselves in and they should look nice like this:



Step 4. Wiring and finishing up.

At this point make sure you label your wires so you know which one is which when you get the bumper back on. I did mine from left to right like L1, L2, R2 R1, but do it however you want.


Next set the bumper down on the floor by the car. Now to get the 4 wires in the car. There is a rubber gromet on the back of the car and you will see the fog and revers lights going in there (photo didnt come out, sorry) Stab it with a stanley knife and feed the 4 wires in. Once in the boot, feed them under the carpet on the left into the cubby hole. This is used for the optional extras fuse box, i dont have one so its empty.


Ok next is to get the wire from the reverse lamp. I strongly advise making the connection in the car, not outside. You can do it in the cubby hole mentioned above, i did it where shown below for easy access.
Get a stanley knife and cut back the black tape surrounding the wires. You need the Thick black wire(-) and the black and white wire(+) out of the bunch. The other wires are number plate and fog lamps. Strip them back and attatch the wire from your kit to the correct wires. Solder them if you want or just wrap in electrical tape.



At this point i put the bumper back on the car without doing the screws and then pulled the rest of the exess wire into the car.
Now connect all 4 sensors, the power and your display to the controll box and stuff it all in the cubby hole.


Then decide where you want to put the display if you have one. I chose here on the boot lid by the rear wiper (cos its backwards in the mirror i inverted the order the sensors were pluggled in):


Now get in the car, turn on the ignition put in reverse (without starting engine) and test it. It worked first time. Good stuff.

Now put your car back together! (sorry im bored now but im sure you can work it out from here)

Hope it helps.
Comments welcome
(sorry for the spelling i was rushing)

Tommy