Parking Sensors

[Scottie]

I have been having a problem with my fatory fitted rear parking sensors. They developed a problem last winter (2009/10) during the cold wet weather.

Symptoms as follows:

Long beep from unit on dash.......constant

visual readings from radio unit...........nearside nothing, offside full on

It was taken to dealer 3 times for repair. Nothing wrong with sensors if they were swapped in their position. Thought to be a wiring fault. Cable replaced.

Since March 2010 all was well until 22/10/2010 during very heavy rain. Went through deep puddles and when at end of short journey...............bingo....................same fault as earlier in year.

Dried out car in wind and sun and within 24 hours the problem had rectified itself so I presume it is a water ingress issue somewhere in circuits.

Question to members: Does anyone have a schematic diagram of the full parking sensor layout? Or the exact locations of the cable runs and connectors and the location of the control box?

Thanks

[moley]

I assume the problem only occurs when you select Reverse?

I fitted a set of parking sensors to the Wife's Fabia recently and although it was not a Skoda kit the system looks very similar. Somewhere in or under the trim panels in the boot will be the main box which will have a live feed from the revesing light cable, an earth lead, the 4 cables from the sensors, a lead for the speaker and I guess a lead going to the HU for the display.

From the problem you describe it sounds like the water is either affecting the sensors or water is getting into the main box. Is there any signs of water in the boot floor / spare wheel bay?

[onyertod]

Hi Scottie,

Sorry cant help you but maybe you can help me.

My rear parking sensors dont make any sound.. The graphic appears on the radio screen but no audible warning.

Where does the warning sound come from??

BTW - Where are you from in Scotland?

(I grew up in Hamilton)

Thanks

Max

Edited 26 October, 2010 by onyertod

[Scottie]

Hi Scottie,

Sorry cant help you but maybe you can help me.

My rear parking sensors dont make any sound.. The graphic appears on the radio screen but no audible warning.

Where does the warning sound come from??

BTW - Where are you from in Scotland?

(I grew up in Hamilton)

Thanks

Max

Hi there Max

Dont know which year your car is (mine is 2007) but audible sound comes from nearside door pillar, maybe small speaker on rear door. Note if the sensors dont pick up anything there is only one short bleep when you put it in reverse to show its working.

Is there ever any sound even when you are right up close to something behind you and the two scrolling lines are fully showing on the display?

There may be some differences in the unit specs depending on country and year of manufacture. Mine is brand name 'Dance'. If your roomie is still under warranty I suggest you use your dealer to try to fix it.......................if it needs fixed!

BTW Central Scotland near Stirling.......................and yes its raining!

Scottie

[moley]

This is the guide I used to help me fit a kit to the Wife's Fabia Blueline, I would imagine the Roomster will be similar with the speaker in the 'B' Pillar.

http://www.fabia-vrs.com/technical-info/park-distance-control-retrofit/

[onyertod]

Many thanks for the info.

My car is also a 2007 with a Dance audio unit.

Never hear as much as a peep out of the reverse sensors so I will get the dealer to look at it.

cheers,

Max

[Scottie]

This is the guide I used to help me fit a kit to the Wife's Fabia Blueline, I would imagine the Roomster will be similar with the speaker in the 'B' Pillar.

http://www.fabia-vrs.com/technical-info/park-distance-control-retrofit/

Thanks for the link. I'll use the info to investigate location and connectors on installed unit. When i find them I'll treat them all to a good dry and then application of 'damp start plaster' spray.

Incidentally when I was in the dealers in Jan - March 2010 they had several Skodas of different models in for the same or similar problems so I expect to see more posts on this issue this winter.

Cheers

Scottie

[aubrey]

Interesting, I have exactly the same problem on my '57 plate Roomster. It has had this problem since new. Works in dry but has this offside jammed on full on Dance unit with a contant tone.

Although the offside is jammed on and there is a constant tone, the nearside still works on the dance unit with an increasing bar as I reverse towards a wall.

Told Skoda Forest Gate of the problem at each years service, 1st year was a checked everything all OK, 2nd year was told checked all OK but applied a software update to the parking sensor control unit.

My wife just took it in again before the warranty runs out and agin checked all OK, can't see any problem.

I have to say it has been working every time I have taken it in and Skoda do beleive me it is doing this, they just can't fix it. They have done a fault code read and found nothing - I could of told them that as I have vag-com.

I thought the jammed on offside on the Dance was a clue and my next course of action was going to be to swap the offfside and nearside sensors over to see if the fault moved. But you say that you have had all your sensors changed and no difference. Hum - That has put me off trying that now.

I'll be watching this thread to see if any others reply but it seems this is not an isolated problem, I wonder why Skoda did not say this is a known issue ?

Edited 27 October, 2010 by aubrey

[Scottie]

Interesting, I have exactly the same problem on my '57 plate Roomster. It has had this problem since new. Works in dry but has this offside jammed on full on Dance unit with a contant tone.

Although the offside is jammed on and there is a constant tone, the nearside still works on the dance unit with an increasing bar as I reverse towards a wall.

Told Skoda Forest Gate of the problem at each years service, 1st year was a checked everything all OK, 2nd year was told checked all OK but applied a software update to the parking sensor control unit.

My wife just took it in again before the warranty runs out and agin checked all OK, can't see any problem.

I have to say it has been working every time I have taken it in and Skoda do beleive me it is doing this, they just can't fix it. They have done a fault code read and found nothing - I could of told them that as I have vag-com.

I thought the jammed on offside on the Dance was a clue and my next course of action was going to be to swap the offfside and nearside sensors over to see if the fault moved. But you say that you have had all your sensors changed and no difference. Hum - That has put me off trying that now.

I'll be watching this thread to see if any others reply but it seems this is not an isolated problem, I wonder why Skoda did not say this is a known issue ?

Hi Aubrey

Thank goodness for other Skoda users of this site. I was beginning to think that it was just myself that was having this problem with my Roomie..............and thanks to the build quality its been my only one so far.

When I have completed the task I will post up an update on what to do etc etc.

My dealer was very puzzled by the fault too.....................on 4 separate occasions! The sensors were swapped and some changed, part of the wiring loom changed and checked on their diagnostic machine. Last visit was April and the system worked perfectly through the summer.

It was a sheer accident that I was able to part diagnose the problem. Sensors worked at start of 10 mile journey. Very heavy rain with standing puddles on road edge. One was impossible to avoid and a lot of water thrown up. At end of journey 10 minutes later the nearside sensors came up blank on display, offside working as normal, long continuous sound from speaker in nearside pillar. Drove home, parked up, rain went off, sunny drying wind. Next morniing sensors worked as normal.

I have further tested my theory of water ingress into a connector by running the car as normal in reasonably wet conditions but avoiding roadside puddles. 4 days of rain on and off and sensors still working ok.

Thus it seems that the splash through the deep puddle caused the problem.

As the car had so many visits (under warranty) for the same problem earlier in the year I asked my dealer to note the issue and that there was the possibility of a continuing intermittant problem which may appear after warrany expired. Having said that it would SEEM sensible to take it back now and have them look at it again BUT I have a lack of confidence in their ability to trace and solve the problem so I will do it myself when time and weather permit.

Best regards

Scottie

[Scottie]

Hi Aubrey

Thank goodness for other Skoda users of this site. I was beginning to think that it was just myself that was having this problem with my Roomie..............and thanks to the build quality its been my only one so far.

When I have completed the task I will post up an update on what to do etc etc.

My dealer was very puzzled by the fault too.....................on 4 separate occasions! The sensors were swapped and some changed, part of the wiring loom changed and checked on their diagnostic machine. Last visit was April and the system worked perfectly through the summer.

It was a sheer accident that I was able to part diagnose the problem. Sensors worked at start of 10 mile journey. Very heavy rain with standing puddles on road edge. One was impossible to avoid and a lot of water thrown up. At end of journey 10 minutes later the nearside sensors came up blank on display, offside working as normal, long continuous sound from speaker in nearside pillar. Drove home, parked up, rain went off, sunny drying wind. Next morniing sensors worked as normal.

I have further tested my theory of water ingress into a connector by running the car as normal in reasonably wet conditions but avoiding roadside puddles. 4 days of rain on and off and sensors still working ok.

Thus it seems that the splash through the deep puddle caused the problem.

As the car had so many visits (under warranty) for the same problem earlier in the year I asked my dealer to note the issue and that there was the possibility of a continuing intermittant problem which may appear after warrany expired. Having said that it would SEEM sensible to take it back now and have them look at it again BUT I have a lack of confidence in their ability to trace and solve the problem so I will do it myself when time and weather permit.

Best regards

Scottie

Hello all Roomies

SOLUTION FOUND

I was correct it was a water ingress problem to the nearside sensor unit connector.

There are 4 separate sensors as typical with VAG and Audi models. Apparently my problem of intermittant failures is common with this type of sensor.

The offending sensor is the one nearest to the kerb. On ispection, which is possible by laying on your back and looking under bumper. this particular sensor has open access not only visually but phsically too. The four pin connector is on the top of the sensor to the offside. The problem is caused by water spray from the nearside rear tyre which can penetrate the connector thus interfering with the operation. I am told by an expert this is the most common fault in this sensor type.

SOLUTION

Wait until sensors have had a chance to dry out and the system is working normally.

Work on a dry day where the car has had an overnight chance to dry out.

Use a softish, small and dry paintbrush to brush off road dirt and grit............watch your eyes and wear safety specs or goggles.

When clean spray the connector with and ignition sealant similar to Holts 'damp start'. If the spray does not reach the connector use an artists paint brush with a long handle to apply the damp start.

Allow an hour for this to dry and repeat process.

I you want absolute security apply general purpose silicon sealant to the connector where the wires emerge.

Job done.

This repair on my Roomie has been working for 4 weeks now through the wettest weather.

Regards to all

Scottie

[g6zru]

If it is possible to unplug the connector you could thread a suitable size of heat shrink sleeving onto the cable, refit the connector, slide the sleeving over the connector, apply heat from a hairdryer. Sleeve shrinks to a tight fit that should keep any thing out!

Fred

l

[Scottie]

If it is possible to unplug the connector you could thread a suitable size of heat shrink sleeving onto the cable, refit the connector, slide the sleeving over the connector, apply heat from a hairdryer. Sleeve shrinks to a tight fit that should keep any thing out!

Fred

l

Hi Fred

Good suggestion but I recon it would involve removing bumper as lead to this sensor is very short and even if sensor is unclipped I don't think there would be enough working room.

My solution is holding even in this awful weather.

Regards

Scottie

[g6zru]

There's always something that stops simple things working. :(

Fred

[farandaway]

Very interesting thread. I've had both 'outside' sensors replaced but still had a problem with the offside one.

Yes agreed it's a water ingress problem and am grateful for the 'fix' as suggested.

I don't understand why Skoda dealers don't read these forums and become aware of the problems and their potential diagnosis then they would be better able to serve their customers by appearing more knowledgeable.

[pmdc199]

How easy is it to replace a sensor or will that not cure the problem? Mine is the front right on a 2010 Octavia. Driving me nuts lol