Technical Reversing Sensors

[poggy]

The 500 Lounge I bought my mum doesn't have reversing sensors and as it is arriving next week from the factory (bought for stock) there was no option to spec them unless I did a factory order. They quoted a long leadtime for a factory order. I know Fiat sell a kit for £156.00 but does anybody know if this is colour coded or not.

What's the cost of having a decent colour coded after market set fitted.

 

[Mollie]

At our garage, we charge £299 (incl. VAT). That's to supply, colour-code and fit, to most popular makes.

 

[poggy]

Thanks, I guess that is probably the going rate then. I will ask the dealer as you are a bit far from us.

 

[Steed]

Thanks, I guess that is probably the going rate then. I will ask the dealer as you are a bit far from us.

We bought a stock car with no sensors but managed to get them + fitted for free as part of a deal. Hard work but worth it. We have elecroclash grey and the colour matching is spot on.

What's with the big font Mollie? Just asking...

 

[Mollie]

Sorry, just want to be heard! (Also, my eyesight isn't what it was)

 

[Chris123]

Attach balloons to your bumpers. When they pop you know it's time to stop

 

[poggy]

I forgot to update this, I bought a reversing sensor kit and measured the sensor gaps on the factory fitted version in the showroom. The day we collected the car I fitted it in the evening before delivering it to my mum. The bumper doesn't have much behind so it was easy to fit and there is a grommet for the cables in the spare wheel well.

The total job took about 1.5 hours and it works perfectly. The same kit is fitted by loads of companies on the web for £250-£299.00. I bought the kit off the web for £24.99 with a 3 year warranty.

Been on the car for 3 weeks and isn't affected by rain etc, it is a 4 sensor version as well and comes with the drill bit for the bumper. I had a pre-coloured version, but as I didn't have a code I ordered plain white and was going to match it later. To be honest though it looks OK as it is so didn't do the colour match in the end.

 

[Chunter]

pictures and maybe a link to the manufacturer or ebay plz poggy,colour me interested.

 

[poggy]

Just took a photo, which to be honest is not the best as it is raining and it got dirty when I took it for a spin. This is with the standard white colour they come with and not colour coded, which I may get round to, but my mother isn't bothered.

The Ebay seller is http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Parking-Rever...Q5fVehiclesQ5fCarPartsQ5fSMQQsalenotsupported.

They are cheaper now as postage is free.

 

[crabman]

Just took a photo, which to be honest is not the best as it is raining and it got dirty when I took it for a spin. This is with the standard white colour they come with and not colour coded, which I may get round to, but my mother isn't bothered.

The Ebay seller is http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Parking-Reversing-Sensors-4-Sensor-Kit-Audio-Buzzer-UK_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZQ7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a30QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em14Q2el1262QQhashZitem5632e3c0caQQitemZ370220974282QQptZUKQ5fCarsPartsQ5fVehiclesQ5fCarPartsQ5fSMQQsalenotsupported.

They are cheaper now as postage is free.

These look really good, and could be useful... much better value than the option... but how is this intergrated into the CAN system, or is it just seperate?

crabman

 

[nottsfiat07]

These look really good, and could be useful... much better value than the option... but how is this intergrated into the CAN system, or is it just seperate?

crabman

:yeahthat: More info on how it is wired into the car would be really useful!

 

[poggy]

It's really a self contained unit with the only connection being to the revesing light power supply and an earth. There is no affect on the CAN bus (fortunately). The sensors have plugs on, so you just plug into the control module and stick this behind the trim in the boot. The speaker for the sounder just sticks behind the rear seats.

It really is easy to cut the holes in the bumper once you mark them on masking tape using the tool provided. You can use the chrome strip as a reference and the door lock as the centre point.

 

[nottsfiat07]

It's really a self contained unit with the only connection being to the revesing light power supply and an earth. There is no affect on the CAN bus (fortunately). The sensors have plugs on, so you just plug into the control module and stick this behind the trim in the boot. The speaker for the sounder just sticks behind the rear seats.

It really is easy to cut the holes in the bumper once you mark them on masking tape using the tool provided. You can use the chrome strip as a reference and the door lock as the centre point.

I think this is really cool... oddly I've just read an unrelated thread that said about connecting something to the reversing light power lead on a Stilo and a light went on in my head! Darn it, I wasn't going to spend any money on my car this month, but I'm tempted now....

 

[Lloyd71]

I'm tempted too, the fat bum on the 500 has got me into trouble on more than one occasion now due to the low down barriers that car parks seem to have behind every space these days :bang:

EDIT: This might be a stupid question but how does it know when you're reversing? Or does the sensor just automatically engage within a particular distance?

 

[udtrev]

I think this is really cool... oddly I've just read an unrelated thread that said about connecting something to the reversing light power lead on a Stilo and a light went on in my head! Darn it, I wasn't going to spend any money on my car this month, but I'm tempted now....

Are you meaning where MEP has installed the strip type reversing sensor ?

I've just ordered a set for my panda .


Trev

 

[poggy]

At £17.99 it is a good price. You only need a few cable ties and a way to link into the reversing light power. I put the control box on the passenger side behind the carpet trim stuck to the metal frame.

I soldered into the power feed to the rear light as I have found this is much more reliable than any other scotch lock blocks.

 

[smartie25577]

It's really a self contained unit with the only connection being to the revesing light power supply and an earth. There is no affect on the CAN bus (fortunately). The sensors have plugs on, so you just plug into the control module and stick this behind the trim in the boot. The speaker for the sounder just sticks behind the rear seats.

It really is easy to cut the holes in the bumper once you mark them on masking tape using the tool provided. You can use the chrome strip as a reference and the door lock as the centre point.

Did you have to take the bumper off? Also, does it come with a template?

 

[poggy]

No the bumper didn't have to come off. I literally did it within 90 minutes of collecting the car from the dealer. If you look behind the bumper there are some supports, but where you fit the sensors there is no backing. You literally cut the holes, push the sensors into place and feed the cables through the grommet in the spare wheel well in the boot. Plug the four sensors into the control box (they are labelled to say which is which), connect the power and your done. To keep it neat use cables ties and where the 4 sensor cables some into the boot wind insulation tape around it to form a loom upto the control unit.

There is no template, but I took the measurements off the showroom car with factory one's. I can easily sketch the key measurement to you on a drawing.

I have the expensive factory one's on my Land Rover and these are just as accurate at picking up obstructions.

 

[poggy]

EDIT: This might be a stupid question but how does it know when you're reversing? Or does the sensor just automatically engage within a particular distance?

It's powered from the reversing light feed, so is only active when your in reverse. When you select reverse you get one beep to tell you it is working and then it beeps as you approach an obstruction.

 

[Alex_gregory_uk]

I used this same kit on my old white grande punto sporting and the sensors were a very close match colour wise. I also took the bumper off the punto and found there were four circular marks on the inside of the bumper for where the sensors should go. Made like really easy. It really is an easy job to fit this kit and worth every penny.