Rear parking sensor prob on Passat 1.9TDI

Niall F

I hope somebody can help me. My rear parking sensors don't work on my '05 Passat 1.9TDI anymore.
The last time it worked was when I put a bale of briquettes into it and slammed the boot lid. Don't know what I broke / loosened but any ideas on how to fix it would be greatly appreciated.
When the car goes into reverse, it just beeps solid for about 4 seconds and that's it. What used to happen is you went into reverse, it gave a quick beep and then beeped when you got very close to something.
I did feel a loose wire and pushed it back in (about 2 inches to the left and above of where one of the senors are). Didn't fix it though.

biko

You're probably going to have to take it out and inspect it.

Niall F

I'm not sure which of the 4 sensors it it. Pretty sure it's the second one from the right. I can't get it out. I can get to it from behind the bumper and it will move a tiny bit but doesn't want to seem to come in or come out. Not sure if it just needs brute force or if there's something I need to take off first.

nogoodnamesleft

What model passat do you have the B6 (current shape) or the previous shape (B5.5)? Does the system make any noise when you engage reverse?

I have a similar problem with my 2003 passat after I hit one massive pothole last saturday, anyways when I engage reverse it emits its usual "beep" followed by a high pitched continious tone (which signifies an error with the system. My sensors work intermittently so while the car was parked I engaged reverse to determine what sensor was out.Turned out to be the passenger side (same side I hit with the pothole :mad: ). I have a vag com lead and this confirmed the fault (was only waiting for an excuse to get one) ive attached a screen shot of what mine gave me.

The PDC controller is located on the right handside behind the panel. The wiring harness is plugged into this and runs underneath the car along the bumper bar plugging into each of the four sensors. Its difficult to see you will have to get your hand right up above the bumper bar. I called by a VW main dealer earlier today but they were closed so I havent fixed mine yet its annoying the sh*t out of me.

The sensors are a known item to go due to water ingress . The for removal of the sensor they must be removed from the inside of the bumper, they clip into the housing so the clip must be bent back to allow the sensor to be pushed from the outside in. You can then remove it from the wiring harness.

Niall F

It would be the older model I have.
I can't see anything but I was able to feel some clips. I'll try bending the clip and seeing if I can push the sensor back in and take it out that way. I wish I could take something off though so I could see what I was doing.
....No joy on that one I'm afraid. Those clips seem to just keep the wiring in place. Does seem to turn slightly where it meets the sensor though. Tried squeezing and twisting but no joy.

nogoodnamesleft

Its difficult to see alright, what I did was stuck a digital camera up behind the bumper to give me an idea what was there, work by feel after that. The clip is holding the sensor is part of the bumper there is a large plastic connector on the wiring harness to connect to the sensor.

Niall F

Found the clips by feel you're on about. Got them and pushed the sensor back. Still attached to the wire. I can get a torch and see the full thing now but I can't see how to detach it from the wiring. Is it just the gold bit (colour of the bumper) I need to pull out of the black plastic somehow or where is the clip?

nogoodnamesleft

You should be able to just detach the plug connector from the PDC sensor by firmly but gently pulling it apart.

johnnyraw

Hi, just enquiring how you fared out after..... the rear sensors on my passat started giving trouble 2 weeks ago and the high pitched sound is starting to bug me..... i'm not sure which one it is but i'm pretty sure it's diagnosable using VAG. did you have to replace the sensor or was it a wiring problem, and if you did, is it expensive? Also, the visible parts of the sensors from the outside are colour coded with the car, so how does this work if you have to replace one of them? thanks alot, john

Niall F

Hi, I didn't fare out in the end. Couldn't take the sensor off the wiring. I am able to get the sensor at cost and I do hope it will turn out to be just a sensor and not the wiring. In relation to the colour, as far as I know it comes in just one colour. The noise bothers me too. I'm still waiting on the new sensor. When I do get it I'll certainly let you know.

johnnyraw

hi, got my friend to plug his VAG diagnostics into the passat at the weekend..... error code came up for "rear mid-right" parking sensor.
He erased the error code and it's being working perfectly since....not
saying this is the solution for you but ye might give it a shot, i'll let you know if it starts giving bother again

Niall F

Problem seems to have rectified itself. I don't know how. I'd given up on it and had priced a sensor. Was very dear for just one sensor though so I decided I'd leave it. Started working Saturday night. Stopped working again this evening and started working there when I got home. Something loose somewhere I reckon or a short so I'm going to leave it. Might ask for it to be checked out when the car is due a service.

exaisle

nogoodnamesleft wrote: »

The PDC controller is located on the right handside behind the panel. The wiring harness is plugged into this and runs underneath the car along the bumper bar plugging into each of the four sensors.

Hi...sorry for resurrecting this ancient thread....but I have a similar problem...im getting error "01546 - Sensor for Parking Aid; Rear Mid-Left(G204)
31-00 - Open or Short to Ground" from VCDS and I want to find where the controller is so that I can trace the wires back from that...

So....could you be a bit more specific please....the PDC controller is located on the right handside of what?? :-) I don't want to be pulling out panels that I don't need to....

Thanks in advance!! :-)

E.

biko

Old thread lock. Feel free to private message your question or start a fresh thread.