Reverse Sensor Installation,,,

After a looooooooooooooooooooooong disappearence, I am up again this time for some reverse sensor installation. It's done on 2011 September on Waja...

This car body is kinda long. Reversing the car might cost you some skills and experience in distance estimation. I am actually quite fine without the sensors since I had been driving this car since I got my license. Just that for tight space parking, reverse sensors will help me to maneuver better. Less reversing and going front repeatedly...

Do take note that reverse sensors from Proton, just the sensors themsolves cost RM75 per SIDE, not per set.. And the reverse sensor control module is RM200+... All sold separately. And on stock cars the reverse sensors should be there, but somehow when this car is bought over, it lost miracally...

That's why I had opted for aftermarket reverse sensors. Although I know it will perform somehow least better in the case of "special object" sensing, such as poles or soft/wave absorbent material, but at least I have a final audible warning before I crash into something considered as "normal object", such as cars and walls, which will probably cost me more.lol. Cause "normal objects" is easily ignored when we focus more on parking our car with presence of "special object", get me? Lol...

Some shop in Setapak is selling the same model that I am having with installation at RM120. Do take note of cut throat shop around. I also have surveyed price on few accessories shop for reverse sensor installation. Brother's will cost you RM50... The cheapest that I can get is RM30, some accessories shops in Aman Suria. However, I still opted for DIY installation as the installation fee is considered expensive for a RM39.90 product. Lol...

So this project will require a car, and reverse sensors of course...

Tools will be a drill and a drill bit...

The car before installation... Take note of the bumper...

My cordless drill...

 

The drill bit. As stated in the picture it's 20.2mm in diameter. You may want to get a slightly bigger diameter one... I'll explain it below during the installation process...

The reverse sensor...

I got it from Brothers at RM39.90... 3 Months warranty...

It comes with user manual, 2 sensors, an annoying, cheapo-sounded and LOUD buzzer, 2 patch of stickers, dunno what's it for... And also 2 rubber grommets for the sensors.

So open the car's boot first... Try to remove some/all items in your bootspace. This is to ensure that you will have enough space and easier access to work. Then, look around inside.

In this case, I will be routing the reverse sensor wire through the gap on the tail lights to the boot...

So, I quickly identified the tail lamp cover and removed it...

There is 3 screws to be removed before you can remove the plastic cover, and this is what you'll get.

Repeat this step on another side of the tail lamp cover.

Now, look inside your Right/Driver side boot area.

Identify this 2 pinclips that holds your insulation (cloth), and remove it by pressing the centre of the clip with a screwdriver, then pull the clip out by the sides.

In case broken the clips, you can easily purchase the clips from Brothers or other accessories shops at around RM0.50 to RM2 each. Some types are bigger and some types are smaller, it's better to bring the broken clips to the spare parts shop and request for the similar sized one.

 Now, remove the insulation (cloth) and that's what you will see...

That's the reverse sensor control module...

If you are unsure whether your car has a reverse sensor module without removing this insulation, you can just shift your gear to reverse gear, and you should be hearing a short "beep" sound. This "beep" sound indicates the reverse sensor module is powered up. If your car doesn't have this beep when shifting to reverse gear, luck may not be on you, the car might had been crashed before until the module is gone, or your mechanic may had just took it off without your knowledge. You have just lost a RM200 module.

In this case, I chose to retain my stock reverse sensor module. This is due to stock reverse sensor module are generally better on it's build quality. And the buzzer itself might be a higher quality buzzer, the beep is more class then those cheapo RM2 buzzer. And most importantly, I won't have to touch the power or buzzer wires. The wiring will be a mess if I need to get my new reverse sensor module in as their wiring is totally different.

Another reason I chose to use stock module is because the stock module reads my reverse sensors reading as accurately as shown in the user guide, with 0.3 metres registering as continuous beep and 2 metres for first beep. I had tested the sensors with Proton stock module by temporarily mounting it on my bumper like the picture below, then, by using a wooden plank and perpendicular to a measuring tape, bring the plank nearer to the sensors and check whether the distances and beeps tele with the new reverse sensor user manual.

It is always not advisable to use a different module rather than the supplied ones, as it might be incompatible and may result in giving false reading/false estimation/fatal error/short-circuit/accident...

 Now get your tools prepared...

No play play, the edges are sharp enough to cut you...

Now, select desired locations to install your sensors. You can go according to the manual to split the bumper into sections.

I splitted my bumper into few sections and found the spot. I also had surveyed stock Waja's reverse sensors position for the past few days before installation, which is somewhere below the edge of tail lights, and finalize my reverse sensor positioning. Then, let the machine do the work...

 

Continuous drilling did not take more than a minute for this original bumper, which is a lot thicker than imitation bumper. But smoothening the jagged edges does take sometime with a file.

I plugged the reverse sensor in and find a hole through bumper and through the light space.. In the bumper, don't let the wires hanging around as it may touch the exhaust or dragged on by something on road, causing the wires to break.. Then, run the wire all the way to the control module... Repeat for another side...

Fix the tail lamp back in. The wires will be pinched by the edges of the tail lamp, making the wires stationary... You won't want the wires to fly around while cruising at high speeds though.

Ohya, fix this back too if you want your lights on... (You MUST fix it back)

Noticed that extra length of wires is tied up and stick to the car chassis itself. I used a wire tape to do the job... Remember to secure it properly... This will make sure the wires not knocking the car body and causes noise everywhere while car is cruising.

And you're done! The sensor position itself does look like stock Proton's position. Compare the position with other waja, bet this is a good stock position. (Ignore the additional curve on the right sensor, got it from a Kenari at traffic light, Y U NO brake on red light?)

Though the curve in bumper affects the sensor positioning, which is facing a bit down, it still does it job well... Easier parking for long car!

Currently i'm considering to place reverse sensor in my iswara front bumper to assist me in parking... Since it's only like RM30 for one set of reverse sensor form Brother's. I think it will help in parking and front vehicle distance estimation to follow the front car close enough without bumping it, like conti cars, lol.