Rear Park Assist Trick

[weagle99]

I might have discovered something about the beloved rear park assist system on our trucks. It appears that if you cover the sensors with tape it tricks the system into thinking that everything is A-OK and spares the driver from lights, beeps, and warning messages that aren't needed. This seems to solve the problem of having the sensors detect a trailer hitch and require the driver to A) remove the hitch or B) clear the DIC every single time the truck is started and put in reverse. I plan to carry this experiment one step further and eliminate the aggravation associated with keeping a hitch in the receiver.

 

For informational purposes only. Use (or don't use) in good health.

[700 sportsman]

what type of tape, clear, duct, or masking??

and I take it they don't work

[weagle99]

what type of tape, clear, duct, or masking??

and I take it they don't work

 

I used masking tape but others might work. I believe the idea is to keep the ultrasonic signal from travelling any distance.

 

I am now trying paint...

[sno]

What kind of hitch do you have installed that causes the backup sensors to de-activate?

 

I have a 2" drop with 2" ball on my truck at all times and the sensors have never detected it. They do deactivate once a trailer is actually hitched up, but the DIC notification goes away after a few seconds so it's never been bothersome.

[weagle99]

What kind of hitch do you have installed that causes the backup sensors to de-activate?

 

I have a 2" drop with 2" ball on my truck at all times and the sensors have never detected it. They do deactivate once a trailer is actually hitched up, but the DIC notification goes away after a few seconds so it's never been bothersome.

 

I had the same style hitch and it deactivated the system everytime. I swapped to a 3 1/4" drop with 2" ball and the system sometimes shuts off, and other times beeps incoherently. The message on the DIC seems to stay until I manually reset. I pulled the fuse for the system and still saw the DIC message, and just unplugging the sensors gives a 'service' message.

 

When I first bought the truck I asked my dealership about the problem with the hitch and their solution was to 'put the hitch in a bag and store it in the cab when not in use.' Um, no.

 

Anyway, I might be making too big a deal out of this but to me it is an annoyance in a vehicle that is regularly used for towing.

[Sir Dan]

Sorry you're having problems w/ yours, but I always keep my 2" drop in and never have a problem. The only thing that sends it kinda loopy is ice or snow on the sensors. Maybe check with a different dealer.

[texasblueline]

Funny, I was thinking about this earlier after reading here how some people don't like the sensors and how they'll automatically deactivate if they're blocked (ie, a trailer). I was thinking that you could get some vinyl decals, cut them round to cover them neatly, and that'd probably disable the sensors.

 

I see great minds think alike.

[J-man67]

8" drop FTW

[jnpaddison]

i have a small hook on the back to give some form of protection ,, it clears the sensors ,,

but in the winter months - the system does seem to go screwy

[weagle99]

I am happy to report that spray paint works...

 

Again, I am posting this for info only and don't advocate that anyone else do this.

[redsled2007]

Gee, I'm confused. Can't you just turn yours off. That's what I do when they act up.