I'm considering fitting front parking sensors because of some very near misses in my extremely tight garage. They will have to be non-standard and manually switched. Has anyone done this; if so, any major problems?

I did this to my MKI (the kit was front and rear)

Piece of cake to fit, the only issues i had was in heavy rain when they would occasional get triggered by the rain.

But if you are fitting them on a switch i can't see any issues.

Can these be retrofitted to the elegance that has rear sensors, and can they be activated in vagcom? I take it there is a separate switch on the L&K for the front sensors????? Any idea on costs? Becca, please help again!!!

Mike

Mine has factory fitted rear sensors but I hadn't considered fitting OE front sensors as I assumed it would not be possible and/or cost a great deal. I don't know whether they could be activated in vagcom or whether OE sensors have a front on/off switch. IIRC, on some cars, OE front sensors are deactivated when the forward speed exceeds about 5mph.

Also, I understand that dealers do not retrofit original Skoda rear sensors - these have to fitted when the car is built.

Front OE sensors are switched, you should be able to retro fit and enable in vag-com. To do this you will need to get the wiring diagram for the appropriate ecu connector, and enable them in vag-com. This will also give you the additional display on the oem stream headunit. I beleive one of our russian bretheren fitted them to his vRS.

Switched is the way to go, auto off would bug me especially in queueing traffic.

TBH though, do you really need them. I dont have them on mine and in 2 years have not come across a situation where I would need them.

TBH though, do you really need them. I dont have them on mine and in 2 years have not come across a situation where I would need them.

Agreed - I generally find that, because my head is pointing forwards when I drive, I can do without them...!

Seriously, if you only want them for your tight garage, why not get the car into position, then put a mark on the wall to line up with your mirror or some other easy point of reference - save you a lot of time and money if that's the only situation that you would need them (and I imagine it would be)

Just MHO.

Front OE sensors are switched, you should be able to retro fit and enable in vag-com. .

Front sensors were on the shopping list when I bought mine. I changed my mind when the salesman pointed out that they start every time you get near something, then you have to push a button to stop them. Couldn't cope with the idea of that in traffic!!

Agreed - I generally find that, because my head is pointing forwards when I drive, I can do without them...!

Seriously, if you only want them for your tight garage, why not get the car into position, then put a mark on the wall to line up with your mirror or some other easy point of reference - save you a lot of time and money if that's the only situation that you would need them (and I imagine it would be)

Just MHO.

Or what about the old "tie a tennis ball to the garage roof by a piece of string so it touches your windscreen trick" - I remember me mates Grandad doing that to his beloved Austin Princess - Genius.

IMHO the front parking sensors are nearly useless :thumbdwn:.

The continuous tone is coming at a distance about 10-12".

Then you could not know what is the real margin, and it is easy to deal with distances above 10" without the sensors.

Or what about the old "tie a tennis ball to the garage roof by a piece of string so it touches your windscreen trick" - I remember me mates Grandad doing that to his beloved Austin Princess - Genius.

Yep - I've done that in mine (using a golf practice ball/air ball). Put the car exactly where I wanted it with the help of an assistant and then got a piece of string and tied to the roof/ball so the ball just touches the windscreen in front of the driver about half way up the screen.

2 min job, and cost nothing. Works perfectly every time.

To go OEM you'd need the front sensors, wiring and the combined front/rear PDC controller.

Thanks for all the tennis ball hints etc. but my problem is an angular approach to the garage; it's ok when the car is actually in the garage. The problem really requires front corner sensors as when locking over I come within a few inches of the door posts. However, if sensors emit a continuous tone when the car is about a foot from an obstruction, then they would be no good. Back to the drawing board!

Reverse in? The tail wags the dog, and all that...?

Reverse in? The tail wags the dog, and all that...?

I do! You really need a diagram to understand my garage approach!

They were fitted on my L&K from the factory. I find them very useful especially when manoeuvring into tight parking spaces found in some car parks. There are two ways of activating them, first by selecting reverse when the front and rear sensors come on with the related image on the radio, secondly with a switch on the dash that activates front and rear and the image on the radio.

Both sensors de-activate after either pressing the switch, moving forward and exceeding about 5 m.p.h. or switching off the ignition They do not switch on automatically when moving close to other objects.

Mac

Hi BertJ

You can get sensors that you fit to the garage, but I've no idea how adjustable they are in terms of distance, and if they are battery powered it would be a pain to have to get out and switch them on - but cheaper than a repair to a scrape. Will try and find the details if there is any interest.

Hi BertJ

You can get sensors that you fit to the garage, but I've no idea how adjustable they are in terms of distance, and if they are battery powered it would be a pain to have to get out and switch them on - but cheaper than a repair to a scrape. Will try and find the details if there is any interest.

Thanks for that, I've seen those sensors but my problem is coming at the garage opening from an angle, so they wouldn't help.

Had mine fitted by the stealer, they can be switched off, but reactivate as soon as the ignition is switched off. They work well, but can come on in heavy spray, if this is a problem, then just switch them off. Be aware that the sensors are black, and if you want them sprayed, make sure the masking rings are in place, as paint in the grooves will cause the sensors to malfunction. I personally just used touch up paint, looks fine unless you get really close! They work independently of the rear sensors, and do not have the same facilities as the factory fitted options.

I thought the OE ones would be the same as the Audi system where the fronts come on with the rears when you put it into reverse and then turn off again either by a switch or by going above 5mph or whatever. If they just start beeping every time you get near an object, that's just a joke!

Infact Mac1961 says that's how they do work So 4stroke4 I presume yours is some kind of aftermarket/dealer fit item, as opposed to OEM?

I thought the OE ones would be the same as the Audi system where the fronts come on with the rears when you put it into reverse and then turn off again either by a switch or by going above 5mph or whatever. If they just start beeping every time you get near an object, that's just a joke!

Infact Mac1961 says that's how they do work So 4stroke4 I presume yours is some kind of aftermarket/dealer fit item, as opposed to OEM?

That's correct, the OEM version only activates in the two ways I mentioned, and DO NOT activate under any other circumstances.

Mac

Next door uses on old shaving mirror attached just inside the garage so she can watch the passenger side front bumper as it passes the garage door post.