Front And Rear Park Assist

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2017 Jeep Cherokee. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

A Front and Rear Park Assist (FRPA) 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 paths immediately behind and ahead of the vehicle which, due to the surrounding vehicle structures, 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 FRPA is also capable of providing an autonomous brake warning (also known as brake and release) feature. When enabled, this feature will alert the vehicle operator when the automatic transmission gear selector is in the Reverse (R ) position and an object is detected in the rear path of the vehicle by aggressively applying and releasing the brakes. Following an autonomous brake warning application, an icon representing the rear of the vehicle with three red arcs and the text BRAKE! will appear in the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) within the Instrument Cluster (IC) (also known as the Instrument Panel Cluster/IPC). This brake warning feature is not available in vehicles equipped with a manual transmission.

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

Antilock Brake Module - The Antilock Brake Module (ABM) controls the application of the vehicle brakes to implement the autonomous brake warning feature when it receives the appropriate electronic message input over the Controller Area Network (CAN) data bus from the Park Assist Module (PAM).
Body Control Module - The Body Control Module (BCM) 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 Antilock Brake Module (ABM), the Instrument Cluster (IC) (also known as the Instrument Panel Cluster/IPC) and the Radio Receiver Module (RRM).
Instrument Cluster - In vehicles equipped with the optional FRPA system, the Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) within the Instrument Cluster (IC) (also known as the Instrument Panel Cluster/IPC) displays vehicle graphics and amber or red arc sections that illustrate the approximate location of obstacles within the front or rear paths 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 FRPA system.
Park Assist Module - Vehicles equipped with the FRPA system include a 10 channel Park Assist Module (PAM) (also known as the ParkTronic System/PTS module), which is secured through integral mounting tabs to weld studs on the left quarter inner panel just behind the left rear wheel house, where it is concealed beneath the quarter inside trim within the cargo area of the vehicle.
Park Assist Off Switch - The optional FRPA 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 FRPA system Off.
Park Assist Sensors - Vehicles equipped with the FRPA system have ten ultrasonic park assist sensors. Four are concealed behind the rear bumper fascia and six are concealed behind the front bumper fascia. Only the sensor membrane is visible on the outer surface of the bumper fascia. Each sensor is snapped into an individual molded plastic mounting bracket located at horizontal intervals along the inside surfaces of the front and rear bumper fascias.
Radio Receiver Module - In vehicles equipped with the FRPA system, the PAM sends electronic message requests to the RRM to generate audible signals indicating the approximate distance of obstacles from the front and rear paths of the vehicle. The RRM is capable of generating repetitive single chime tones at several varying frequencies or continuous tones through the front or 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 FRPA system using the customer programmable features option.