Parking Dynamics PD1 Rear Installation Slideshow

1. Locate Main Bumper Bolts

1. Locate Main Bumper Bolts: Locate and loosen the main bumper bolts (or rivets if fitted) that hold your bumper in postion. These may be visible from the outside, inside of the car located behind the trim or from under the wheel arch as in step 2. In addition to this your bumper will have clips that hold it in place once the main bolts have been removed and this ensures its stays in position safely once these bolts are removed. Also ideal for testing the sensor prior to securing the bumper back on once the antenna is fitted.

Next: Locate Screws Under Wheel Arch »

2. Locate Screws Under Wheel Arch

2. Locate Screws Under Wheel Arch: Working under your wheel arch remove the screws, torx screws or clips holding your mud guard on. You typically won't need to remove the mud guard in full, just enough so you can gain access to remove the fastners holding each side/edges of your bumper on. Remove these fasteners and then remove the 2 or 4 fastners holding the underneath of your bumper accessed from the back of your vehicle.

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3. Remove Bumper

3. Remove Bumper: Now that all of your screws, torx screws, clips (fastners) are out, your bumper will typically be held on with clips and this gives it a clean fit against your bodywork and gives a seamless fit.

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4. Remove Trim in Boot to Access Reverse Light Wire / Light Cluster & Mount ECU

4. Remove Trim in Boot to Access Reverse Light Wire/Light Cluster & Mount ECU: Remove the trim if required inside of your boot to gain access to your passenger side rear light cluster as this is where you wire the PD1 ECU (Electronic Control Unit) to your reverse light wire and earth (car chassis). At this point find a suitable location to mount the ECU within easy reach of the reverse light wire and rubber grommet to run the twin antenna wire through.

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5. Mount ECU With Mastic

5. Mount ECU with Mastic: Cut the included black mastic strip in half and use half to mount the ECU on a suitable flat surface either horizontally or vertically. You'll use the other half (cut in half again) to secure each end of the antenna.

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6. Connect Red Wire on ECU to Reverse Light Wire

5. Connect Red Wire from ECU to Reverse Light Wire on vehicle: Using a power probe or test light locate your reverse light wire that is live only when reverse gear is selected. For safety you will NOT need the engine running to do this. Simply turn your ignition on and select reverse gear to able you to work at your reverse light wire. You may be able to find an exposed terminal or remove your light cluster to locate this wire.

Alternatively using a stanley knife blade carefully pierce the insultation of each wire and touch with your test light until you find the correct reverse light wire that will be live and an earth when your ignition is off and/or gear in neutral.

You do not need to cut the actual wire, using wire cutters or snips score a crease in the insulation of the wire and then force the insulation back exposing the bare wire but not actually cutting through the copper wire. You can now neatly attach the red wire of the PD1, solder and then cover with insulation tape.

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7. Connect Black Wire to Earth

7. Connect Black Wire to Earth: Connect the black wire from the ECU to a suitable earth point on the chassis of the car. You'll find a suitable earth point on most vehicles where you can connect the earth wire close to the rear light cluster.

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8. Locate Grommet and Run Antenna Twin Wire from ECU to Outside

8. Locate Grommet and Run Twin Antenna Wire from ECU to Outside: Locate the grommet provided by the car manufacturer around the bumper area and pass the twin antenna wire from the ECU to the outside. This is where the twin wire (both ends together as one) connects to the antenna tape on your bumper using the terminal provided.

You can extend this wire if required but Its important to keep it as short as possible and to ensure that it does not touch your bodywork nor bounce about when the vehicle is in reverse motion or problems with the operation can result. 

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9. Grommet Protecting Twin Antenna Wire

9. Grommet protecting Twin Wire: Ensure the twin wire is fully protected from car bodywork using a rubber grommet to prevent problems. If your car or vehicle doesn't have one as standard to pass this twin wire through, make a small hole using a drill, push in the grommet and then run the wire through.

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10. Measure and Find Most Protruding Part on Bumper

10. Measure and Find Most Protruding Part On Bumper:  Using a tape measure find the most protruding part of your bumper that will be the nearest to the approaching object and if possible mount the antenna at that height. Optimum height is 50cm from the ground but the antenna can be mounted at a min height of 40cm and max height of 60cm. 

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11. Mount 1 Antenna

11. Mount 1 Antenna: Run the adhesive metallic antenna tape covering the corners of the bumpers and onto the sides if you require side protection. The antenna must be 20cm away from the wheels which typically equates to 10cm from the edge of the bumper. To cut the antenna to size simply use scissors or wire cutters/snips and if you break it just overlap the break. The antenna can fit on any shape bumper and can run over or around the contours of your bumper. It does not have to be run in a straight line.

Before covering the antenna tape with gaffa tape do a pre-test as per the installation instructions and image 17. This will ensure the PD1 sensor is working correctly prior to re-fitting the bumper permanently.

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12. Mount 2 Antennas if Required

12. Mount 2 Antennas if Required: If having done the pre-test you decide you need to boost the detection range then simply run 2 antennas in parallel, leaving a gap of between 5cm and 12cm. If your bumper doesn't allow this gap then run the antennas closer together. See the Boosting Detection Range PDF for more details to prevent false alrams. Keep the lowest antenna above 40cm min from the ground. 

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13. Cover Antenna with an Anti-Rust Paint to Protect from Elements

13. Cover Antenna with an Anti-Rust Paint to Protect from Elements: Please Note: We No longer recommend using Duct tape as on the image above, we have found on a small number of vehicles this holds in moisture and can give false alarms. Please cover with an anti rust paint such as a car underseal (as used to protect the underneath of a car chassis), or an alternative like wax oil. At either end of the antenna you can use the left over 50% of the included black mastic.

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14. Connect Terminal to Twin Wire

14. Connect Terminal to Twin Wire Antenna: Crimp or solder the included teminal onto the twin wire joining the 2 wires together.

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15. Connect Twin Antenna Wire to Bumper

15. Connect Twin Antenna Wire to Bumper: It is recommended to get someone's help and while they hold the bumper, you can connect the twin antenna wire to the antenna tape on your bumper. Tape or fasten any loose twin wire to the bumper or pull any excess wire back into the car so it does not touch the bodywork to prevent interference.

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16. Mount Speaker

16. Mount Speaker: Mount the speaker in a suitable location so it can be heard clearly from the drivers seat. The speaker wire can be extended up to 15M.

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17. Pre-Test Sensor With Bumper Back in Place Held With Clips Only

17. Pre-Test Sensor With Bumper Back in Place held With Clips Only: As detailed on the installation instructions, prior to re-fitting the bumper securely do a pre-test to ensure the PD1 is working correctly and the detection range is to your satisfaction. Engage reverse gear with the ignition on and walk up to the bumper. After each walk test de-select reverse gear to reset the PD1. 

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18. Replace Bumper and Do a Real Test

18. Replace Bumper and Do a Real Test: Now test the PD1 sensor on various objects including cars, kerbs, people, garden objects, etc. Different objects may give a slightly different detection range.

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