Latest mod - rear parking sensors

I have now used the punch tool kindly passed on from Kleynie so I'm happy to post on to anyone that needs it to cut the 17mm holes for their rear parking sensors. It has been used to fit a Cobra ParkMaster unit https://cobracartech.co.uk/rear-par...ster-r0394-4-parking-sensors-flush-mount.html . The guy who cut mine said the punch gave a very clean cut without burring.

In the spirit of this thread, any recipient should be willing to pass it on and keep this thread updated with it's whereabouts.
 
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Today I wired up my rear parking sensors. Rather than splicing into the rear light electric wire, I soldered the wire inside the rear light cluster. Not terribly attractive soldering as I've only got a 25w iron and it quickly looses heat outside, especially when the item one is soldering to has some mass.

Soldered connections m.jpg Control Box installed m.jpg

Have yet to hide the wire to the bleeper as I've yet to find out how to remove the panels. I'm thinking of placing it in the panels to the side of the rear seat. Instructions say it should not go too near the control unit. Suggestions welcome.

Thankfully I no need to customise the unit as it looks almost impossible. One has to switch on the ignition and then engage reverse and then disconnect and reconnect the wire to the bleeper within 2 seconds. Well the connector was impossible to get out. An email to Cobra quickly got a response with a video showing one to squeeze the connector but that didn't work. In the end I used a small screwdriver in the connection slot to force it out. I then removed the latching lug. It still gives a little click on engaging but does come out with a small tug. However, how one gets from the drivers seat to the back and disconnect within 2 seconds seems impossible!
 
I've now positioned the bleeper which has to be away from the control box. I decided to place it behind the panel to the right of the rear seat.

This guide shows you how to remove the panels https://www.a2oc.net/community/index.php?attachments/6cd-changer-fitting-guide-pdf.22137/ but I found I didn't need to remove the panels completely, just the top of the panel.

First remove the Torx screw inside the offside parcel shelf socket.

Remove the screw inside the parcel shelf socket m.jpg

Then pull back the tailgate seal next to the offside rear light cluster and then pull the panel very hard.

Pull the panel out by the rear light housing m.jpg

Then pull very hard the panel by the rear offside door seat and once loose then pull up the door seal a bit (the panel has a small clip that engages with the door seal)

Pull the panel out by the passenger door m.jpg

In the above photo you can see the main metal clip and it's white housing that holds the panel to the body (not the small clip attached to the door seal). Later I lost the metal clip!

Now I could feed the bleeper up from the light cluster toward the rear quarter light and past the seat belt.

Feeding the speaker behind the panel 1 m.jpg

My first idea was to put it behind the panel by the rear passenger seat:

1st location for buzzer m.jpg

However the self adhesive Velcro I bought on ebay was useless (old stock?), so I abandoned that and for the moment will put it on the quarter light where it is hidden by an A2 Club sticker.

Feeding the speaker behind the panel 2 m.jpg

When putting back the panels I had problems. When replacing the panel by the passenger door I was trying to position the metal clip to line up with the slot in the body and the metal clip fell out and fell down inside the panel to the floor level (see red circle in the photo below). By pulling away the panel below it, I was able to get my hand and forearm down and retrieve it. Phew!

Dropped clip m.jpg

Then when replacing the panel by the rear lights I noticed the metal clip was retained in the slot in the body. I took ages to remove it. Eventually I managed to get very long thin nose pliers up behind the clip (shown it red below) and lever the clip up and out. Before reusing it I squeezed it a bit so it wouldn't engage so strongly.

Clip stuck in place m.jpg

Finally I used a stick glue gun to cover the soldered wires in case they come loose. (see photo in previous post).

Ignore the image below, it already included above.
 

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First failure. Backed up in the dark in front of these shops and the sensors failed to note the metal rails in front of the shop. (photo from Streetview)

shop.jpg


Luckily I saw them.
 
I had a second failure and ended up damaging the bumper again. I had a stiff neck so rather than turn round I thought I would rely on the sensors. Big mistake. It did not sense the corner of a wall and I just touched it. So it had to be painted again.

I tested the sensors by walking back and forth behind the A2 and they would not always sense at the corners. I sent a video to the manufacturers (Vodaphone Automotive). They wanted photos of the installation and then came back saying the sensors were not exactly vertical - they were at about 5 o'clock). Garage who fitted them said they were perfectly OK in their mind. Caught between a rock and a hard place.

As the small print says, they should not be relied on, so begs the question why fit them if they can't be relied on! They are useful for estimating the distance. I find the tailgate window distorts the distance and end up with a too big a distance. With the sensors I can now back up to 1ft away when they bleep continuously.
 
I had a second failure and ended up damaging the bumper again. I had a stiff neck so rather than turn round I thought I would rely on the sensors. Big mistake. It did not sense the corner of a wall and I just touched it. So it had to be painted again.

I tested the sensors by walking back and forth behind the A2 and they would not always sense at the corners. I sent a video to the manufacturers (Vodaphone Automotive). They wanted photos of the installation and then came back saying the sensors were not exactly vertical - they were at about 5 o'clock). Garage who fitted them said they were perfectly OK in their mind. Caught between a rock and a hard place.

As the small print says, they should not be relied on, so begs the question why fit them if they can't be relied on! They are useful for estimating the distance. I find the tailgate window distorts the distance and end up with a too big a distance. With the sensors I can now back up to 1ft away when they bleep continuously.
Strange, mine work fine. Vodafone may be right though, if they are at the wrong angle, they will not always function as they should. I would firstly adjust the angle and then use them for a while and see if they're any better. Mine are in at the right angle and I do rely on them quite a lot, I even find that they're a tad too sensitive sometimes, which isn't always a bad thing.
 
i'm looking at buying some rear parking sensors. my tdi90 came with aftermarket sensor and led display that look like this Dolphin system.


they seem to work well, and although it looks a bit tacky the display is really useful.

just wondering if anyone can recommend any others. i'm looking for something simple to fit and matt black to go with colour storm black strip. i don't want to spend more than £50 ideally. cheers nod.
 
The ones we fitted come as black and are not too much more money, but they look one hundred times better.
 
I'm thinking of installing the Vodafone / cobra tech pdc rear parking sensors 17mm. Is the 17mm punch tool still available to borrow?
 
I'm thinking of installing the Vodafone / cobra tech pdc rear parking sensors 17mm. Is the 17mm punch tool still available to borrow?

I'll have a factory PDC bumper coming up for sale in a week or so if you would rather stick to OEM.
 
It will be advertised in the marketplace within the next week.

Could I have second dibs on this please if fhl doesn't have it, obviously depending on the price and condition?

Could it also come as a complete rear pdc kit or is that not possible?

Oh, forgot to ask the colour and if there are any scratches/damage to the lower unpainted black plastic?

Cheers
 
Could I have second dibs on this please if fhl doesn't have it, obviously depending on the price and condition?

Could it also come as a complete rear pdc kit or is that not possible?

Oh, forgot to ask the colour and if there are any scratches/damage to the lower unpainted black plastic?

Cheers

Sorry, perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned anything. I will advertise it in the marketplace when its removed and it will be available to the first person to reserve it then. Its a whole kit and is ebony black pearl.
 
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