Mondeo parking sensors duff

death_looms · 23 Dec 2012 at 15:03

Hi all, after crapping itself in Dublin (snapped a coil spring

), the mondeo has now developed a fault with the parking sensors: ocasionally they will work fine, but more regularly it will emit the "you're about to hit something" tone, even when there's nothing behind me (I did check to rule out the idiot factor

), then sometimes will stop and start it again. There's no discernible pattern, so I don't think it's in diagnostic mode. Anybody had the same problem before?
Seeing as it engages ok, I would suspect it's wither a sensor, wiring or control module, had a peek under the bumper and one of them is covered in road muck (missing a mudflap!!), so will be cleaning, drying and checking the connections for that over Christmas and see if it makes a difference, but I'd welcome any advice from other experience.

Cheers

Brookert · 23 Dec 2012 at 15:51

Make sure they are clean and fitted well is all I can say. Too Much crud on the sensor can predictably cause them to scream at you...

Zack101 · 23 Dec 2012 at 16:57

It would be unusual for a sensor to not work intermittently, but you can test each sensor. When it's playing up put your finger lightly on the face of the sensor, if it's working correctly you should feel it clicking quickly, almost vibrating. You should be able to hear it as well but needs to be a quite environment for that.

death_looms · 24 Dec 2012 at 10:55

@Zack101 was out doing that the other night, they were all clicking fine. We've had a couple of days now where I haven't taken the car out in the wet and they have started working again (at least I can't make it go wrong), so I'm hoping it's just a buildup of crap on the sensor, guess I'll find out after cleaning and refitting! Thanks for the answers guys.

Irish_Tom · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:10

I've got exactly the same thing with a MY54 Ghia X.

You can put it in diagnostic mode by following this guide.

I think I've tracked it down to a single sensor but I want to swap a couple around to ensure it's not a connection in the control box first.

I've also heard that rain affects their effectiveness as well.

death_looms · 24 Dec 2012 at 11:23

Tried that and couldn't get anything that was discernible as diagnostic beeps, I think it was actually convinced I was about to reverse into a granny.