Technical panda parking sensors

[mtsw]

I’ve just recently bought a panda 100hp 2007 model,
And need some advice on installing some parking sensors I bought on EBay.
Before you say, parking sensors on a panda what next,
I should explain,
We live on a very busy main road, so need all the help to park quickly in very tight gaps.
After asking our local fiat dealer about it affecting the warranty (14months left)
He explained it would be ok, but went on about wiring it up might affect the” Can"?
In the past I have installed parking sensors in our 2 previous cars with no problem.
Simple job wiring up to the reverse light.
Now I’m assuming the “can” is some kind of Fiat monitoring system.
So if anyone out there can give some advice (apart from buy bigger mirrors), it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[babbo umbro]

It would probably be easier to move house! Parking sensors for the Panda are Fiat part number 46002794 - 118.84 inc VAT - so that means that the "wiring" to instal them is part of the setup and I'd have thought you'd be better to fit the Fiat part than anything else. As far as I can make out the electrics are driven off a bus system and you'd need to consult one of the experts, but I suspect one of them will chime in. By the way, the bigger turning circle of the 100HP could prove to be a pain if you're indulging in tight parking manoeuvres.

 

[Geddes]

I've just fitted a set (Quanan 1840 £39 off eBay) to a 2003 Vectra without problems.
Normally they are powered from the reversing lights but quite a few modern cars have bulb-failure detection which passes a current through the bulbs even when off. This can interfere with the parking sensors, or the parking sensors can interfere with the bulb failure warning. Or it might just work anyway.

On my Vectra the sensors are wired directly to the reversing lights and it works fine even though there's a bulb-failure system.

Anyhow, even if your sensors won't work directly off the reversing lights the fix is to run them via a relay powered from a live feed and just switched by the light circuit. Places selling the sensor kits will generally be selling the relays as well.

Before installing your sensors just wire them up to the reversing lights and check that they work when you engage reverse. Then check that they don't come on when not in reverse. If they come on when the reversing lights are off, you'll be needing a relay.

 

[Andy Monty]

fitted a set to my Grande punto which uses a CAN network and not had a problem...

earth to chassis live feed from reversing light + wire

 

[ThisBitterPill]

Just remember that the 100hp has about 6" after the rear window and you'll be fine!

I can't believe you'd ever need them on such a small car!

 

[mtsw]

fitted a set to my Grande punto which uses a CAN network and not had a problem...

earth to chassis live feed from reversing light + wire

Thanks Andy .

 

[mtsw]

I've just fitted a set (Quanan 1840 £39 off eBay) to a 2003 Vectra without problems.
Normally they are powered from the reversing lights but quite a few modern cars have bulb-failure detection which passes a current through the bulbs even when off. This can interfere with the parking sensors, or the parking sensors can interfere with the bulb failure warning. Or it might just work anyway.

On my Vectra the sensors are wired directly to the reversing lights and it works fine even though there's a bulb-failure system.

Anyhow, even if your sensors won't work directly off the reversing lights the fix is to run them via a relay powered from a live feed and just switched by the light circuit. Places selling the sensor kits will generally be selling the relays as well.

Before installing your sensors just wire them up to the reversing lights and check that they work when you engage reverse. Then check that they don't come on when not in reverse. If they come on when the reversing lights are off, you'll be needing a relay.

Thank you all for help

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Just remember that the 100hp has about 6" after the rear window and you'll be fine!

I can't believe you'd ever need them on such a small car!

Whats the size of the car got to do with the price of fish? Could say small cars don't need power steering, but people wanted it and the market has now developed into fitting it as standard.

I've fitted parking sensors to my cars as an aid. Can still park without them but you never know when that low wall or pillar might be there.

 

[Ingvarr]

Can still park without them but you never know when that low wall or pillar might be there.

You may as well know that they commonly miss pillars though.

 

[ThisBitterPill]

Whats the size of the car got to do with the price of fish? Could say small cars don't need power steering, but people wanted it and the market has now developed into fitting it as standard.

I've fitted parking sensors to my cars as an aid. Can still park without them but you never know when that low wall or pillar might be there.

I'm sure they are of use to some people....But they were clearly developed for vehicles with poor rear visibility and most small cars have no real need for them....Same goes for power steering tbh.

Plus I'd be wary of relying on the sensors if, like Ingvarr says, they miss pillars!

Call me old fashioned but I prefer to trust my eyes and my mirrors!