Reverse Sensor Issue

[ahodges]

Has anyone had issues with their reverse sensing not working as well as it used to? I have a friend that says it used to sense things on the side and directly behind the truck sooner than it does now. Now it just beeps a couple times once you are already very close to an object then the tone comes on solid at the normal distance away but just doesn't give as much advance notice.

Thoughts? It's been to a dealer 2 or 3 times already and they say there isn't anything wrong with it..

 

[DavidEBSmith]

You could check that the sensors in the bumper are pointed in the correct direction.

I suppose if the outer surface of the sensors got covered with a film of dirt or wax or something, it could cut down on the range. The sensors are ultrasonic - essentially small speakers - so if they get muffled, it could cut down on the output and thus the range. Or, if the equivalent of the speaker diaphragm got torn or ruptured, it would cut down on the sound.

I do know that if a sensor gets broken (as happened when by wife ignored the backup warning and backed into another car :-o ) or fails entirely you get a fault message on the dash.

You could test them by having someone wave a stick or something in front of the sensors and see if any of them have reduced range. (Please be careful not to back over the person doing this!)

The sensors are real easy to replace and are available for $20-$30 each on eBay.

 

[ahodges]

Thanks for the great info! I didn't know that they are similar to how a speaker acts, never gave it any thought.

 

[Dono]

Bump from the dead.
I have what I think is a bad sensor. I purchased 4 off eBay as they were cheap.

How do the sensors come out of the bumper? I don't want to break anything unnecessarily and cause myself un-needed pain.

 

[ahodges]

I don't know on this Don. My friend that had the explorer sold it a year ago and I never did work on it for him.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

Bump from the dead.
I have what I think is a bad sensor. I purchased 4 off eBay as they were cheap.

How do the sensors come out of the bumper? I don't want to break anything unnecessarily and cause myself un-needed pain.

have any pictures don? they (i would think) would be barbed fittings

 

[Dono]

Ok, this turned out to be very easy (would have been killer easy if it wasn't for my hitch and air box being in the way.
I was extremely worried about road grime seizing the little suckers to the bumper. Not so.

Plastic. 2 clips and it popped back.
There was another thread on here that said to put your truck in reverse (safely) without the motor running and listen for clicking at each sensor. The one that does not click is the problem sensor.

Bang on. One wasn't clicking. Some Gumby maneuvering with a couple of small flat blade screwdrivers and I was done.

Best thing is, it actually worked.

It took more time to shake the sand and road crap out of my hair and try to wash my gritty eye's out. The road grime washed off my hands and arms super easy. lol.

I have 3 spare sensors, not that I'll ever be able to find them again if I ever need one.

 

[Mr_RedBeard1986]

Hi Dono,

How did you get to them? I have been told that I need to take the rear bumper off because the hitch being in the way.

Please can you let me know how you did it as I have the same problem with one of my inner sensors.

 

[Dono]

I was able to reach in from behind the bumper, and reach around the hitch. I guess it would depend on which sensor, and the design of your hitch.

There are 2 clips holding the sensor in place. With 2 small flat blade screwdrivers you can slide the flat part under the clip gently and the sensor pops right out.

 

[Mr_RedBeard1986]

Thanks a ton, will try that tonight.