Parking sensor logic

[Traktor]

Hello everyone,

First time poster here.

I just got a 2012 A8 3.0 TDI as a holiday car and I'm trying to sort it out to my preferences.

Does anybody know if there's a way to change the working logic of the parking sensors?
I nearly crashed into my garage wall the first night I got the car because I thought the front parking sensors would turn on by themselves, like they do in my Touareg, but they don't, you have to turn them on manually.

Is there a way to modify that?

Thanks.

[steamship]

If I'm reading it correctly, you are expecting the front sensors to come on automatically because you are manoeuvring slowly i.e. parking in the garage.

You really need one of the D4 owners to help you with this one, but it might depend on the spec of the car, and whether that option is installed, and if it's enabled. My only suggestion is to go into the Car settings in the MMI, and see if their is a Parking option available, and if so, what options are in it.

Since you're new, why not pop along to the Introductions page and tell us more about yourself and the car. Photos of the car are a bonus.

[Traktor]

Originally Posted by steamship

If I'm reading it correctly, you are expecting the front sensors to come on automatically because you are manoeuvring slowly i.e. parking in the garage.

You really need one of the D4 owners to help you with this one, but it might depend on the spec of the car, and whether that option is installed, and if it's enabled. My only suggestion is to go into the Car settings in the MMI, and see if their is a Parking option available, and if so, what options are in it.

Since you're new, why not pop along to the Introductions page and tell us more about yourself and the car. Photos of the car are a bonus.

The option is only On/Off.

I want the parking sensors to come on automatically when I'm approaching something.
I have a VW of the same vintage and it does that, so it must only be a matter of programming.

[steamship]

Originally Posted by Traktor

I have a VW of the same vintage and it does that, so it must only be a matter of programming.

Since there's nothing in the MMI, then yes, you'll have to resort to using something like VCDS to code it, if it's possible.

I've come across a few posts where this topic of enabling the front sensors at low speed is discussed. However, since they don't specifically mention the A8 and I have no way of checking the coding, the following information should only be used for informational purposes, and not a definitive guide. I'd also suggest that if the options on the A8 are not exactly the same as the following instructions, do not start changing things just for the sake of it. With the D4 A8, you get into Long Coding, and there is a lot more options you can change/ screw up. With that in mind, here's the only coding I can find on the subject:

Enable Automatic PDC Front
[09 – Central Elect.] [Coding - 07]
Select Long Coding Helper
Select Byte 37
Check Bit 1
Exit Long Coding Helper
Click Do It

NOTE: Some of the posts I saw referenced the PDC (Park Distance Control) having it's own module, '10', so see if you have that available as well in your Gateway List.

What's not shown in any of the posts is a visual representation of the coding screens, so caution is needed when relying solely on 'Select Byte 37'. The Long Coding screens should show each Byte with a corresponding description, so that should confirm what exactly that Byte references, before attempting to change it.