How do the backup sensors work?

[cyclonemike]

My wife and I went Honda shopping this past weekend. We are looking for more room than our 98 CRV and the Pilot and Odyssey are at the top of our list.

The dealer could not give a very good explanation about how the optional backup sensors work and they did not have a vehicle in stock with them currently installed for a demo.

I understand technically how they work, but do not understand what type of warning signal it gives. How loud is the signal, how does it change with distance to an object, and can it be heard form the exterior of the vehicle?

I have this vision of my wife waking up the neighborhood when she gets called into the hospital for a delivery during the middle of the night when she backs out of the driveway!

Any input would be helpful.

Thanks,
Mike

[axel888]

Hi, Mike!

If you're still wondering how the sensors work, I will try to give a quick rundown. I posted a thread months ago and outlined a DIY install of the sensors that www.eautodevices.com sells. Most of the sensor systems work, in general, the same way. The sensors that are using sonar technology work this way:

A signal is sent out when the vehicle is in reverse. If there is an object within the sensing range of the sensors, a sonar beam bounces off the object and feeds back into the system. The processor box then triggers a "beep" or several beeps that emit out of a speaker mounted inside the vehicle. There is no "beeping" sound outside of the vehicle. If the system has a digital display (like the model that www.eautodevices.com sells), the distance of the detected object is shown in the display. When the vehicle moves closer to the detected object the distance shows in the display decreasing in distance.

Most backup sensors work only when the vehicle is in reverse because the system is connected to one of the backup lights as a power source. Some companies have systems in the marketplace that have sensors mounted on both the front and rear bumpers (BMW and Land Rover for example), so the sensors go off when the vehicle is in both drive or reverse mode. Some people don't like the sensors on the front because the alarms go off all the time when objects are close to the vehicle.

The volume of the "beeps" vary. They're not really terribly loud. If you're playing your car stereo and the volume is at mid volume the "beep" of the sensor system can be heard. Some systems have adjustable volume switches and some even have mute switches.


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