Cheers - just ordered a set, we'll see how I get on. They're actually for the wife's volvo 850 estate so hopefully she'll be happy - it's a black plastic bumper so the standard black set should look good enough. If installation is easy I might just try getting a set for the front as well - perhaps could wire up to the front foglights....
Rich
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Hello Rich
Glad you picked up the message in time for that lot - anyway they always have some for sale. My car is dark metallic blue and I could not be bothered to paint the sensors as they are so close in colour to the paint. Before drilling do check what is behind the bumper as there may be some re-inforcing or packing. Also try to have them as evenly spaced as possible to make them look professionally fitted. If there is a slight angle off the vertical on the bumper then the wedged shaped washers should take out most of the problem. One little tip check each sensor is numbered and then connected in the same order as if you have a problem it is then easier to know which sensor is which. When routing the cable try and find an existing hole through the bodywork as this will keep the area rust free. I found that the beeber was quite loud so it is mounted inside a quarter panel, also nothing can catch it. I am sure your wife will be very pleased with them.
If you mount some on the front bumper you must be able to switch them off as if you are in slow moving traffic they could keep being set off - very annoying. You could use the front fog lights or a separate switch on the dashboard (use a matching Volvo switch).
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I also bought a set (of 4 sensors kit) for the Landcruiser and have a small query regarding placement - do they all need to be in the same horizontal plane* i.e. the same height from the ground?
The Landcruiser rear bumper is an elongated U shape with the lights integrated into it at each end of the "lower" bar. When the middle sensors are in lower bar, the only place to put the outer sensors is in the vertical bars of the U due to the lights. This would mean that the outer sensors are about 2 inches higher than the inner ones.
Would this be a problem?
* Obviously they need to be in same vertical plane with the rear of the car and preferably, equally spaced out.
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Hello Chad.R
It should not be a problem as you are using the sensors to find the closest object to any of the sensors.
If for example there was a post in the ground close to the near side then you want the rearestsensor to let you know it is there. It does not matter that the other sensors do not detect it. The control box does this for you.
The only time it might make a differece is with a kerb or horizontal bar, but to be honest 2" difference in height is not going to be a problem as you will probably stop reversing before you have the continuous sound, this is only sounded when you are within 4".
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AD, thanks for that - waiting for the rain to stop to get things prep'ed and started.
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well to cut a long story short I've now fitted the sensors to my wife's car.
Took about 3hrs all in.
Very disappointed. They just go off all the time, as in little chirps now and then when you reverse. Yes when you get to a wall they then get more frequent and then continuous, so they do help but the constant beeping / chirping when general reversing is just too annoying. After a day the wife made me disconnect them....
Having said that the kit does look high quality and they do fit well into the bumper and look good, it's just the actual way they work... :(
Oh well only £25 wasted not too bad
Rich
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Rich - it sounds like they're picking up the ground. Did they come with any washers so you can point them up a bit more? The stock ones in my grandad's Accord are excellent.
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I agree with David Horn, the sensors must be picking up the road.
The sensors should only bleep when reverse is selected and when any object comes within their range.
Are they directed slightly downward? They must be vertical. The washers with my set were wedge shaped and could be used to correct a slight directional problem. You could always think of an alternative method of correction suitable to your bumper.
If the sensors are vertical, then I would contact the vendor for advice and/or replacement.
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I agree with David Horn, the sensors must be picking up the road. The sensors should only bleep when reverse is selected and when any object comes within their range. Are they directed slightly downward? They must be vertical. The washers with my set were wedge shaped and could be used to correct a slight directional problem. You could always think of an alternative method of correction suitable to your bumper. If the sensors are vertical, then I would contact the vendor for advice and/or replacement.
Yep I may yet have another go at it - they came with washers but they were so small that it wouldn't have made much difference. Sensors were pretty much vertical - I'm willing to point them upwards if this will help but in order to do that I have to remove the sensors, bore out more of a hole in the foam behind the bumper fascia then refit, and right now I can't face the extra work.... Maybe one day!
Rich
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Well today it stopped raining after several weeks of torrential dowmpour! ;-)
I've finally managed to fit the sensors to the LC and am very pleased with the results - works a treat.
Many thanks to the Artful Dodger and others.
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