Principles of Operation

For rear parking aid systems, the rear sensors are activated at all times when the transaxle is in REVERSE (R). For front and rear parking aid systems, the front and rear sensors are always active in REVERSE (R). When the transaxle is in DRIVE (D), the front sensors are active if the vehicle speed is greater than 0 km/h (0 mph) and less than 8 km/h (5 mph). If the vehicle is in DRIVE (D) and has a speed of 0 km/h (0 mph), the front sensors are only active for 5 seconds before being deactivated.

An ultrasonic field is emitted in a semicircular area around the front and the rear of the vehicle. The parking aid sensors can detect objects approximately 1.8 m (5.9 ft) to the front or rear of the vehicle, 60 cm (24 in) on front and rear systems to the front side of the vehicle, 50 cm (20 in) to the rear side of the vehicle, and 16 cm (6 in) above the ground. A 750 Hz variable warning tone is generated from both parking aid speakers. The parking aid speakers increase their warning tone rate as the vehicle gets closer to an obstacle. When an object is detected within 25 cm (10 in) of the sensors, the warning tone becomes continuous. For the rear sensors, when an obstacle is detected only by the outer sensors and the distance between the obstacle and vehicle does not change in 3 seconds, the object is not reported. This is referred to as the 3-second time-out hereafter. The 3-second time-out is incorporated into both the rear and front and rear systems.

The system is functional with the ignition switch in the RUN position. A system disable switch allows the driver to disable the parking aid system when the ignition switch is in the RUN position. This switch is a momentary type. The system enables every time the ignition switch is moved to the RUN position. The switch has an indicator which is used to indicate when the system is disabled or a failure condition exists.

The indicator located in the switch illuminates when the momentary switch is pressed and the system is disabled. When the system is enabled, the indicator is not illuminated. Graphics on the switch represent parking aid off.

When the ignition switch is moved to the RUN position and no faults are active, the parking aid module proves out the indicator, located in the system disable switch, by illuminating the indicator for a period of 3 seconds. If a failure condition exists when the ignition switch is moved to the RUN position, the failure indication described below begins.

If the control module detects a failure in the parking aid system, it lights the indicator located in the system disable switch. The indicator is constantly illuminated while the failure condition exists and the ignition switch is in the RUN position. The indicator extinguishes when the ignition switch is moved from the RUN position or the failure condition no longer exists. During a failure condition, the parking aid system is disabled and does not enable by a press of the system disable switch.