Principles of Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2014 Lincoln MKX and 2014 Ford Edge. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The parking aid sensors detect objects approximately 152 cm (60 in) from the rear of the vehicle, 50 cm (20 in) from the rear side of the vehicle, and 30 cm (12 in) above the ground. The Parking Aid Module (PAM) calculates the distance to an object within the 170 degree semicircular azimuth area around the rear of the vehicle.

A variable-rate warning tone is generated from a speaker attached to the PAM . The speaker increases its warning tone rate as the vehicle gets closer to an obstacle. When an object is detected within 30 cm (12 in) of the sensors, the warning tone becomes continuous. When the PAM sounds the parking aid tone, it sends a volume cutback enabled message over the High Speed Controller Area Network (HS-CAN) to the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC). The IPC sends a message over the Infotainment Controller Area Network (I-CAN) to the Audio Front Control Module (ACM). When the ACM receives the message, it reduces the speaker output so the parking aid tone can be heard.

The parking aid system is enabled when the ignition switch is in the RUN position and the transmission in reverse. The parking aid system is disabled if a fault is detected in 1 of the 4 sensors, the parking aid speaker, or the PAM . This is indicated by a parking aid disabled warning message in the message center.

The parking aid system is enabled and disabled through the message center, located in the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC).

If a MyKey® restricted key is in the ignition cylinder, the parking aid menu is not available in the message center and cannot be deactivated.

The PAM communicates on the HS-CAN and can be diagnosed with a scan tool. The PAM communicates with the scan tool, the Body Control Module (BCM), and the IPC .