Parking Aid: Introduction

The parking aid provides an audible warning to the driver when any obstacles are in the path of the vehicle during a forward (if front sensors fitted) or reversing maneuver. The purpose of the system is to assist the driver when parking or maneuvering in restricted space. It is not designed as a crash avoidance system or a replacement for visual interpretation by the driver.

All vehicles are fitted with rear parking aid sensors. Higher specification vehicles may be fitted with both front and rear sensors.

The system comprises 4 ultrasonic sensors in the rear bumper, 4 ultrasonic sensors in the front bumper (if fitted), a control module, a fascia mounted control switch, a rear sounder unit and a front sounder unit (integral with the instrument cluster).

If an obstacle is sensed by the rear parking aid sensors, the rear sounder unit will emit a tone. If an obstacle is sensed by the front parking aid sensors (if fitted), the front sounder unit will emit a tone.

The PDC audio tone pitch is different between the front and rear, the rear tone is a higher pitch than the front.

The parking aid system operates using ultrasonic signals which are transmitted by the sensors. The reflected echo from this output is received by the sensors and used by the control module to calculate the distance from an object.

The parking aid system operates using ultrasonic signals which are transmitted by the sensors. The reflected echo from this output is received by the sensors and used by the control module to calculate the distance from an object.

The fascia mounted control switch allows the driver to activate/deactivate the parking aid system if operation is required or not required.