Rear Park Assist

A Rear Park Assist (RPA) system is an optional factory-installed electronic parking aid. During parking and other similar vehicle maneuvers this system alerts the vehicle operator to the approximate relative distance of obstacles located in the path immediately behind the vehicle which, due to the surrounding rear vehicle structure, might be otherwise difficult to perceive. When an obstacle is detected, the system uses graphics and chimes to provide the vehicle operator with visual and audible indications of the presence and proximity of such objects.

The RPA system includes the following major components, which are described in further detail elsewhere in this service information:

• Body Control Module  - The Body Control Module (BCM) (also known as the Common Body Controller/CBC) serves as the gateway between the Controller Area Network (CAN) C and the CAN Interior High Speed (IHS) data bus networks used to communicate between the Park Assist Module (PAM), the Instrument Cluster (IC) (also known as the Common Instrument Cluster/CIC) and the Radio Receiver Module (RRM) (also known as the radio or the head unit). The BCM is also a Local Interface Network (LIN) bus master node, which allows it to communicate with the park assist Off switch in the instrument panel switch pod, which is a LIN bus slave node. Refer to MODULE, BODY CONTROL, DESCRIPTION .
• Instrument Cluster  - In vehicles equipped with the optional RPA system, the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) within the IC displays a vehicle graphic and up to four arc sections in two zones that illustrate the approximate location and relative distance of obstacles within the rear path of the vehicle. The EVIC also displays textual warnings and error messages along with issuing audible alerts related to the current operating status of the RPA system. In addition, the EVIC provides the interface that allows the vehicle operator to manually disable or enable certain features of the RPA system using the customer programmable features option. Refer to DESCRIPTION .
• Park Assist Module  - Vehicles equipped with the RPA system include a 4 channel Park Assist Module (PAM) (also known as the ParkTronic System/PTS module), which is secured through integral mounting tabs and a push-in type fastener to the left cowl side inner panel below the instrument panel where it is concealed by the cowl side trim (kick) panel within the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
• Park Assist Off Switch  - The optional RPA system can be manually disabled or enabled using a park assist Off switch. The park assist Off switch is integral to the instrument panel switch pod (also known as the Accessory Switch Bank Module/ASBM) in the instrument panel center stack below the heater and air conditioner controls. This switch allows the operator to turn the RPA system Off.
• Park Assist Sensors  - Vehicles equipped with the RPA system have four ultrasonic park assist sensors that are concealed behind the rear bumper. Only the sensor bezel and membrane is visible on the outer surface of the rear bumper. Each sensor is snapped into an individual molded plastic bezel and mounting bracket unit at horizontal intervals along the inside surface of the rear bumper.
• Radio Receiver Module  - In vehicles equipped with the RPA system, the PAM sends electronic message requests to the Radio Receiver Module (RRM) (also known as the radio or the head unit) to generate audible signals indicating the approximate distance of obstacles from the rear path of the vehicle. The RRM is capable of generating repetitive single chime tones at several varying frequencies or continuous tones through the rear audio system speakers. If the audio system speakers are already in use, the RRM will mute that output during chime tone generation. In addition, the RRM provides an interface that allows the vehicle operator to manually disable or enable the RPA system using the customer programmable features option. Refer to RADIO, DESCRIPTION .