Parking sensor problem

[oldnick]

well the sensors on mine are just ornamentation , ie , engage reverse , makes noises , nothing works except the light on the switch flashes

so that means there is a faulty sensor somewhere ? does one u/s fail the whole system ?

no VCDS around here .... maybe when I move to southampton next year there will be some kind soul with one in easy reach !

[The_Laird]

Yes, that's it exactly. One faulty sensor and the whole system fails. Only a VCDS will tell you, unless you can be bothered to replace one sensor at a time until it's fixed.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by oldnick

no VCDS around here

If anyone is desperate I have an ancient laptop that I used to run VAG-COM on (for many years), complete with serial OBD-II lead. Free to a good home!

It's battery is dead so you have to run a long mains lead out to the car, but apart from that it works fine. IBM ThinkPad of some variety, built like the proverbial brick privy so almost indestructible, running Windows ME.

Has various versions of VAG-COM on the disk. One of these was properly registered and most definitely worked, but I deactivated it to upgrade to VCDS-Lite on a Windows 7 laptop.

Also has VCDS-Lite installed but not tested. If anyone is interested I'll plug it in and check that works OK, I expect it will.
As you presumably know the unregistered version of VCDs is still pretty useful.

If you can't be bothered with a mains lead you can probably buy a power adapter that will generate the 16V DC it uses and plug into your car 12v power outlet. I have one for my W7 laptop (Dell 19.5v) and it's quite handy, not least because the laptop then runs in mains power mode so doesn't keep trying to dim the screen or shut things down (and yes, I know I could override that).

Maybe I should stick this in the VCDS section?

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Also has VCDS-Lite installed but not tested.

Now tested, works fine. Looked at the "usual suspects" (no auto-scan as it's unregistered) on my car and found and cleared the usual (largely irrelevant) errors.

One good thing about ME is that it only takes a few seconds to boot.

And the battery isn't quite dead, it will boot and run for a few minutes.

[oldnick]

sounds like a good offer , and would be really handy for me !
expect to be back in the uk before year end so can I take you up on that ?
being a motorhomer I have the 12v power supplies so would certainly have no problems in that direction

had a look on the map for HS2 , doesn't seem to be shown ! where are you ? my daughter is often around denham , does it go in that direction , seem to remember some connection with birmingham !

[HPsauce]

Denham is fairly close to me (less than 10 miles away and I drove by it earlier this afternoon).

I'd like to be shot of it fairly soon so can your daughter pick it up sometime?
(Also advertised on another forum but the responses are less, how can I put it, "inviting". )

[oldnick]

thanks to andrew's kindness I am going to be able to find my faulty sensor and sort out the problem !
in anticipation I sourced a new one from germany , arrived today , correct part number , correct connector , but it ain't right !

the actual sensor bit in the centre isn't the same shape ! it's circular instead of squared off circular ! anyway I gave it a fine emery paper , sprayed the correct colour , finished with lacquer , dried in the hot sun ...looks a treat so will fit !

Ian would have a fit !

[Adrian E]

There's a thread I've posted in that gives the correct part number and a source in Germany for pre-painted sensors to match your paint code. I bought a set of 4 for the back of mine for about £120 delivered. They sell individually too....