Hi - new user of the forum and very impressed!

Just bought an Abarth 2.4 on a 51 plate (Jan 02 which I think is when they first came out), and I think it's a great car. Had a BMW before and the Abarth feels so much more comfortable and relaxing to drive.

Anyway, my question is that the Abarth has the 4 rear parking sensors (colour coded - the car is Metallic grey and so are the sensors strangely but I heard that that is standard on the Abarth), but I can't seem to get the system to work. There is no buzzing sund when I reverse near to an object and there is nothing displayed on the small screen on the dash that the system has been activated or is working - its as though there are no sensors at all.

I had a brief discussion with my local Fiat dealer about it today and he said that the sensors could just be dummy ones?! Weird, why have them at all if they are dummy ones? It's strange cos I thought the sensors were standard on Abarth models.

Does anyone know whether I actually do not have parking sensors on the car, or whether I do and that it just needs to be activated by the Fiat garage's computers (which could be a problem as I bought the car 2nd hand but it didn't come with any special CODE which I think I may need).

Thanks much for any assistance on this!

I think I'm right in saying that the rear parking sensors came as part of the 'Comfort Package' option? This included rear parking sensors, Auto Lights and Rain-sensitive wipers. My guess is if you haven't got those, you haven't got the parking sensors which could explain why you just have dummys to fill the holes?
Can these options be retro-fitted?

Thanks. The car has definitely got the automatic headlight function though as I can access the light sensitivity menu, and I have the function for auto headlights on the left stalk by the steering wheel. I also think I have the auto windscreen wipers too. It's just odd that the PDC does not seem to be there.

To get the CODE card is easy; go into the local dealership parts department, and order one - only costs a few quid.

A few people have retrofitted sensors, I am certain - let me look

Have a look at these threads, may give some pointers:

https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=48085&highlight=stilo+parking+sensor

https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=33307

It was chromegrey who retrofitted his.

I always thought they were standard on the Abarth, I know I have them but didn't pay for any comfort pack. Surely if they are dummy ones then they would have no wires going into the back of the sensor which could be determined by jacking the back end up and looking up through the rear bumper, they should have a plug thing on the back about an inch long.

Ta. Had the idea in mind of retrofitting them. Guess may have to do that if there isn't actually any sensors there. Got a bit concerned about the CODE situation - the manual made it seem that if you lost it then your car will explode. If it's just a phonecall away then excellent.

Ah - ok will do that. As my car is a 51 plate (Jan 02) and therefore one of the first Abarths to come out I thought that maybe it didn't come as standard. Will have a look behind the bumber and see what I find.

Have you got the setup button where audio and trip buttons are ? is the instrument panel button buzzer ticked,

I think it is. Will check. I get the beeping whenever I go into reverse as well so I guess it must be ticked.

Parking sensors were standard on the Abarth. Sounds like the system may be faulty or turned off. Maybe you can get to the rear of the bumper and check for wiring. Possible it has been in a rear end accident and the sensors weren't replaced and the system switched off.

As for the code, I think the manual mentions it but the car doesn't actually come with a code. I remember the dealer saying something to that tune when I bought my old Abarth.

Ok the reverse sensor ecu is behind the osr lamp, open the access hatch and check its there, that will tell you if they are supposed to be there. If the vehicle has a towbar some designs of towbar stick out enough to activate the sensors so customers can have them deactivated by dealers via examiner. The buzzer is in the rear of the car and may have been disconnected, there is no volume adjustment, so dont worry about checking the dash panel. There is a multiplug behind the osr wheel arch for the sensor wiring, I have never had a problem with these and if these were a fault then the buzzer would operate continuously when in reverse. The ecu is switched on via CAN lines and it has to have the reverse signal sent on these lines, it may be worth a check to see if the reverse lights work!!! No reverse lights, means no signal.

Finally this system can be checked easily via your dealer using examiner.

Ah - ok - that sounds right. The reverse light does indeed not come on (i noticed that the other day). I will check the wiring but I guess then it does appear I have park distance but no signal is being passed to the sensors via the reverse light. Should be a straightforward job. Thanks v much!

Just had Fiat look at the car. It seems that someone had cut the cable to the reverse light. Guess they didn't like the beeping of the park distance control so decided to cut the cable to it! Weird, anyway they've repaired it and, as it happens, managed to scratch the bumper in the process (4-5 inches I've been told). They're repairing that as I type, but bit annoyed about that.

Abarth2106 said:

Just had Fiat look at the car. It seems that someone had cut the cable to the reverse light. Guess they didn't like the beeping of the park distance control so decided to cut the cable to it! Weird, anyway they've repaired it and, as it happens, managed to scratch the bumper in the process (4-5 inches I've been told). They're repairing that as I type, but bit annoyed about that.

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Been there done that, almost every time my car goes in a garage it comes out worse for wear, then I get told it's something that happens and I should expect it

I now take my car to a tuning garage for most stuff that's not warranty based. They love my car almost as much as I do and they are so careful

Ok its regrettable that they have damaged the car but they have informed you and are repairing it as well. That to be honest is pretty good I think, they could of said the scratch was there before or anything. Provided the repair is good then thats all that matters. On a similar matter, we had a customer go nuts with us a few weeks back because of damage on his car when he had come to collect it. He was giving it hell in the showroom, even though we had checked the vehicle in with the damage (AA had brought the car in). Well it was all ok when it was dropped off our loud customer said! UNTIL we showed him the AA's damage check on the report sheet proving the damage was there before we even got the car. Mr Gobby got very quiet after that. Yes damage does occur sometimes in garages, however careful you are accidents happen, its how its dealt with that matters.