Parking sensors, towbars and wiring looms!

nicktfarrow replied on 24/02/2020 11:35

Posted on 24/02/2020 11:35

Hi,

I have just purchased a mondeo mk5 17 reg and it need to get a towbar fitted and am not sure about the rear parking sensors and them being affected by just having a presence of a swan neck towbar (when not towing).

Indespension recommend a detachable towbar as the solution, but I dont really want to pay the extra £170 it costs as I would leave it attached all the time. They cannot guarantee that a static swan neck would not cause issues for the sensors. The local ford dealer reckons they can 'program out' the effect of the towbar from the rear sensors for £120, if its wired up with the correct 'module' (no idea what this is).

The other issue is the 'vehicle specific wiring' that is on offer for another £150 extra. I get the impression its nice to have but not really that vital but am not sure.

So I'm tempted to take a punt and go for the static swan neck with a non specific wiring for £300 rather then the detachable with vehicle specific wiring for £600 and hope ford can deal with any parkng sensor issues!!

Any advice or thoughts really appreciated!

nick

 

replied on 29/02/2020 13:30

Posted on 29/02/2020 12:57 by trellis

+1 to that . Still have the scars from a previous fixed tow bar .😀😀.

Posted on 29/02/2020 13:30

Some folk are slow learners. I learnt the lesson nearly 40 years ago. I have had fixed tow balls ever since and unbruised shins

Sandgroper replied on 02/03/2020 15:42

Posted on 28/02/2020 21:31 by EmilysDad

Can't say that I've ever noticed from my driver's seat!

So you beam yourself to the driver's seat without ever seeing the back of your car .....🙄

Posted on 02/03/2020 15:42

Just got better things to do that gazing longingly at the rear view of my car!!!

JohnM20 replied on 03/03/2020 09:07

Posted on 03/03/2020 09:07

On my Mondeo from about 10 years+ ago when the towbar was fitted the fitter taped a 1 penny piece over each of the two sensors next to the towbar before they were reinserted into the bumper. He used black gaffer tape so they were not obvious, just little black discs. Surprisingly this stopped them being activated but, of course, they were always inactive. I just had the towbar to tell me when I was too close to anything behind - bump! Thankfully things have changed quite a bit since then.

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