GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars - View Single Post

Droid13 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-26-2006, 05:58 PM

I had them put in by the dealer when I got the car, but I don't think they are terribly hard to install. It's simply 4 ultrasonic sensors with an auditory alert system. Each sensor has a 30 degree conical detection range of about 5ft. When you put it into reverse it beeps twice to indicate it's activated. Then it has 3 ranges of detection/warning. If it detects anything from 3 to 5 ft it beeps slowly, 18" to 3 ft it beeps quickly, and less than 18" it goes into a steady tone. It's not foolproof (the manual describes particular situations where it might not work, for example flag poles reflect sound waves to the side instead of back to the car), but so far it seems to work pretty good. I backed into the garage and the ranges were pretty accurate. It detected people walking behind the car while I was backing out of a mall parking spot. The car is so new I am of course being ultra cautious so I'm not giving the system a chance to save the day, but so far so good.