Parallel And Perpendicular Park Assist (PPPA)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2020 Jeep Renegade. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The PPPA system with pull out assist 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 PPPA is also capable of providing an autonomous brake warning 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 EVIC within the IPC. This brake warning feature is not available in vehicles equipped with a manual transmission.

Finally, the PPPA provides a semiautomatic parallel and perpendicular park assist feature. When enabled, this feature will identify a suitable parking spot and help to steer the vehicle into a selected parallel or perpendicular parking spot accordingly.

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

Antilock Brake System (ABS) Module - The ABS controls the application of the vehicle brakes to implement the autonomous brake warning feature when it receives the appropriate electronic message input over the CAN data bus from the PAM.
Body Control Module (BCM) - The BCM serves as the gateway between the CAN data bus networks used to communicate between the PAM, the ABS, the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) module, the IPC and the radio.
Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Module - The EPS module controls the vehicle steering in order to maneuver the vehicle into a selected parallel or perpendicular parking space based upon electronic message inputs received over the CAN data bus from the PAM.
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) - In vehicles equipped with the optional PPPA system, the EVIC within the 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 displays graphics and text to support the parallel and perpendicular parking features, textual warnings and error messages along with issuing audible alerts related to the current operating status of the PPPA system.
Parallel And Perpendicular Park Assist ON Switch - The PPPA features of the optional PPPA system can be selected and toggled using a PPPA ON switch. The PPPA ON switch is integral to the instrument panel switch pod, which is secured to the instrument panel center stack just below the radio. This switch allows the operator to turn the PPPA features On and toggle between the parallel and the perpendicular park assist features.
Park Assist Module (PAM) - Vehicles equipped with the PPPA system include a 12 channel PAM, which is secured with plastic push-in fasteners through integral mounting tabs to the inner surface of the lower deck opening closure panel just below the left tail lamp mounting panel, where it is concealed beneath the left rear wheel house carpet extension within the trunk of the vehicle.
Park Assist OFF Switch - The optional PPPA 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 in the instrument panel center stack below the heater and air conditioner controls. This switch allows the operator to turn the PPPA system off.
Park Assist Sensors - Vehicles equipped with the PPPA system have twelve ultrasonic park assist sensors. Six 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 - In vehicles equipped with the PPPA system, the PAM sends electronic message requests to the radio to generate audible signals indicating the approximate distance of obstacles from the front and rear paths of the vehicle. The radio 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 radio will mute that output during chime tone generation. In addition, the radio provides an interface that allows the vehicle operator to manually disable or enable the PPPA system using the customer programmable features option.