Failed Park Assist.... now intermittent.

[sgould]

Can't get any codes read via Tech2 until the week after I get home from deepest Spain.  It seems that the problems with the park assist is weather related.  The park assist has been intermittent for a couple of weeks.  Then last week in rainy France, it died with a failure message and stayed that way all week.  Today, it was OK this morning but failed again later. 

Sometimes I get a failure message, sometimes I get a continuous bleep, sometimes I get random sounds, sometimes it seems to work.

Anyone any thoughts on this?

[Audax]

Any message on the SID? This sounds like a failed sensor which isn't uncommon. It might be cheaper to buy a single sensor and try guess work to replace than a Tech-2 session if it it. If you try tapping each sensor while it's faulty and sometimes it will show up the bad sensor as it will start working again after being tapped.

[sgould]

Today I got a continuous bleep when I engaged reverse.  Then it went intermittent and appeared to work as I approached an obstacle.

When it fails totally, I get a continuous bleep and "Park Assist Failure" message.

[Audax]

That's almost certainly a dirty sensor or one filled with water (or just plain dead!).

[sgould]

That's going to be my starting point next week when I'm home.  I had a look at the main box, in case some underfloor luggage had hit it, but it looked OK. Thanks.

[philg]

Mine was doing a similar thing. I finally remembered to have a listen to each sensor when they were working and one was distinctly quieter than the others. Gave it a nudge and the SID error came up.

Swapped it out for a Volvo branded sensor which was cheaper than Saab and BMW and it's been perfect since.

[SaabGeeza]

I've just fixed a 'parking assist failure' message that had been coming up every time I selected reverse. A new (= second-hand replacement) sensor has done the trick, using the 'replace each of the currently fitted sensors in turn' method, fortunately it came good on the second try.

[sgould]

I've got a second hand sensor on the way, but it's from a car of a different colour. 

Does anyone know if there will be any problems painting it?  Should I try and remove the original paint, or just add another coat of the right colour?

[Saabman]

I'd remove the paint with a bit of wet and dry as too much build up can affect sensors, then keep the sides where the sealing ring sits clear of paint as again a build up here prevents the sensors working right. Light coat and a bit of laquer and you'll be ok 

[sgould]

Thanks!  I was going to do a thin coat, but I wasn't sure about moving the old paint.

[Petemate]

Our previous Saab had a slight problem with the parking aid once. It did the continuous bleep thing like yours Will, then was OK when almost at the object. I did not have any messages. But when I had a good look, (this happened very soon after I had given the car a wash) the second from left sensor was slightly in, possibly from over-enthusiasm with the wash mitt. I fumbled under the bumper (can we still call them that these days? lol) and pushed against the sensor and it popped back flush. After that no problems.

[sgould]

I've been thumping mine for weeks!  They are all solidly fixed.  I think one has got some water in it.  It started going wrong in the wet weather.  Then it recovered a bit, from time to time, when we had a warm spell.  Then failed again in the heavy rain and floods in Spain.  And it's now showing "park assist failure" every time I select reverse.  The bits arrived this morning.  If it's dry tomorrow, I'll have a go.

[sgould]

Well, that was a failure....

Sensor is painted, but I couldn't get the bumper off. 

The four nuts are very awkward to get to, but something else is holding it on.   And I wasn't helped bay one of the four nuts was 15mm and the other three were 17mm.  Wasted a lot of time trying to sort that as it was all done by feel.

There's a pair of 16mm bolts that look as if they go in the right direction, but they are heavily loctited.

The WIS says two nuts hold the bumper on, with two more added when the towbar is fitted.  No mention of the 16mm bolts.

It's all back together now. SWMBO needs the car at the weekend and it's going to rain tomorrow and Friday.

[stevetreacy]

Hi,

Are you sure that the bumper has to be removed. I just pushed my sensor in about 10mm, released the tangs on the outer holder with a small screwdriver then pulled the whole sensor and holder out together. Unplug and thats it.

steve

[sgould]

Yes, unfortunately.  Saab changed the fixing method a couple of times during the life of the model.