Universal Reversing Sensor Kit with LED Display

Universal Reversing Sensor Kit with LED Display — an aftermarket parking sensor kit with a separate LED display. Fitting reversing sensors to a vehicle that never had them is one of the few retrofits that reliably prevents the most expensive bodywork repair there is — a bumper into a bollard — and this kit can be specified with four, six or eight sensors depending on how much of the vehicle you want covered.

Why it is worth fitting

A reversing camera shows you what is behind the car; a sensor tells you how close it is, which is the information you actually need at the moment you are manoeuvring into a tight space. That distinction is why sensors still matter on a vehicle that already has a camera, and why they are worth fitting to one that has neither. The detection range from about two metres down to 30 centimetres gives you a graduated warning rather than a single alarm, and the LED display shows which sensor is detecting, so you know whether the obstacle is behind the corner or directly in the middle. Four sensors suit a small car; six or eight are worth having on something long, or on a vehicle with a spare wheel or a tow bar that a four-sensor setup may not cover.

Key features

• Choose four, six or eight sensors depending on vehicle length and how much coverage you want
• Detection from about 2 m down to 0.3 m, giving a graduated warning rather than a single alarm
• 180° detection coverage across the rear of the vehicle
• Separate LED display showing distance and which sensor is detecting
• Waterproof sensors rated for exterior mounting in the bumper
• Audible buzzer with a selectable tone
• Mute function for use when reversing with a trailer
• Retrofit kit complete with a hole saw and wiring loom, so no dealer involvement is needed

Specifications

Will it fit?

Universal — the sensors are drilled into the bumper, so the position and spacing are set at installation rather than fixed by the vehicle. That means the kit will work on almost anything, but it also means the quality of the installation determines the quality of the result. Three installation decisions affect accuracy more than anything else: the height of the sensors above the ground, the angle at which they point, and the spacing across the bumper. Sensors set too high detect kerbs too late; sensors set too low pick up the ground itself and alarm continuously. If in doubt, have the kit fitted by a workshop that has done it before, or send us the vehicle details and we will advise on sensor placement.

Fitting and first use

Disconnect the battery. On most vehicles the rear bumper must be removed to route the loom properly, so plan for that. Mark the sensor positions on the inside of the bumper first, spacing them evenly and avoiding any area with structural reinforcement or a recess behind it. Drill from the outside using the supplied hole saw, keeping the drill perpendicular. Fit each sensor with its arrow pointing upwards, because a sensor fitted upside down will point at the sky or the road and give false readings. Route the loom through an existing grommet, connect the control unit, then the display and buzzer in the cabin. Reconnect the battery, test each sensor by walking behind the vehicle towards it, and only then refit the bumper.

Care and maintenance

Wipe the sensor faces periodically with a damp cloth; a film of road grime is a common cause of a sensor that keeps alarming or a system that stops detecting at close range. Avoid waxing or polishing the sensor faces, and do not paint over them. Check after any bodywork or bumper removal that the sensors are still pointing in the right direction and have not been knocked. If the system alarms continuously in rain, check for water sitting in a sensor recess before assuming a fault.

Frequently asked questions

Can I fit this myself?

It is a DIY-able job, but the bumper usually has to come off and drilling has to be accurate if the sensors are to read correctly. A workshop that fits sensors regularly will get a better result.

How many sensors do I need?

Four suits a small car. Six or eight are worth having on an estate, an SUV or a van, or where the rear of the vehicle has a spare wheel or a tow bar that a four-sensor layout may not cover.

Will it work alongside a reversing camera?

Yes, and the combination is more useful than either alone: the camera shows what is there, the sensors tell you how close it is.

Does it detect low obstacles?

Sensors detect objects within their beam pattern, so very low obstacles such as a kerb can fall below the detection angle. Careful positioning at installation is what gets the height right.

SKU: AP-040  |  Category: Car Parking Sensor

Delivery is a flat €12 per order. See our Returns & Exchanges page for delivery times, your 14-day right of withdrawal and the 2-year legal guarantee of conformity.