Great Tip For Parking Sensors

[Jaddi01]

Hello guys and gals!

 

I wanted to change 4 faulty sensors on my MKII 00 Galaxy 1.9TDI. (sorry no pics in this one, but I'll try to be very descriptive :))

 

After reading how to check, remove and refit I thought I'd have a go. However.... it seems that the far front right and far front left sensor cables are too short for just the bumper inserts to be removed to change the sensors.

 

After looking into this, it seems the front bumper must be removed and then the sensors fitted from behind.

 

Well, I thought this was madness. So I became creative!

 

So, I managed to get some replacement sensors and also an old sensor cable loom (front or back, makes no difference).

 

I removed the old sensors and cut them on the bend on the "L" shape with a hack saw at 90 degrees. This reveals the 4 connectors on the inside (the ones that enter through the plug).

 

Next, saw away (or file) the plastic between the connectors to reveal 4 shiny connectors. Now what you should have is a standard plug (the one that goes on the loom) with 4 revealed prongs at the other end.

 

So, now you need to cut the plugs and wiring from the used loom. You can probably see where I'm going with this by now...

 

Where you've snipped the plug and cable from the old loom, you'll now need to solder the wires to the 4 shiny prongs you exposed on the old sensor. I did this with a bit of plastic shielding too, but I suppose you could use masking tape or something similar to stop any unwanted short circuits. Make sure the wires going to the prongs match where they go to on the plug. All you're really doing here is extending the cables...

 

Once done, I sealed the wires with PVA rubber to make it water-tight.. But silicone will do the same job.

 

Now you'll have a plug with wires leading to another plug. Basically an extension cable for your loom on the Galaxy. Should be about 15 - 20 cm long depending on how much cable you cut from the old loom.

 

Now repeat this and you'll have 2 super cool extensions.

 

Remove the bumper inserts holding the sensors (I guess you would have already done this to get the faulty sensors out).

 

Then insert your new extensions in the far right and far left. Attach new sensors and re-fit insert.

 

DONE!

 

 

And the best thing is, next time a sensor goes it'll only take 30 seconds to replace and no need to remove the front bumper....

 

 

Hope this helps someone out there...

 

 

 

John

Edited December 12, 2009 by Jaddi01