Parking sensors
QThank you for your reply to my previous Help! question about the rear vehicle monitoring system on my 2009 Mazda6 2.2. I was very impressed with a level of information in your email. Now I have another issue with the sensors.
I noticed that the rear bumper is a slightly different colour to the rest of the body, so it has either been resprayed or replaced with a non-genuine item. Although I did an HPI check on the car before I bought it from a private seller, I guess you never really know what you are buying.
When I took off the bumper, I had to disconnect the parking sensors. These did not come with the car, but were a genuine Mazda kit that I got on ebay from a seller with leftover stock. Prior to being disconnected, the sensors were working perfectly. After being reconnected, the sensors now will not engage (there’s no sound when I select reverse gear and the button which operates the front does not work). After I disconnected and reconnected the battery there was a noise from the parking sensors that sounded different to when they operate normally.
I acquired a Chinese clone VCM2 with Mazda IDS software to try and code them myself as Mazda dealer prices are out of my pay range. After going through hell setting up the software on my computer, I finally managed to get the IDS to connect to my Mazda, but I’m aware it might not have all the functions and capabilities.
Could you please tell me which module is responsible for the parking aid – there are a few listed, all with three-letter abbreviations – and how to programme it? Bartosz Kijanski
AAs the sensors were working before disconnection, I would first try removing and cleaning the connecting plugs with a switch cleaner spray, before refitting them. I would also check for any physical reason for your problem, such as a broken wire; this may be an internal break and might require checking with a continuity meter. If the problem is not due to a broken connection you may find that the main unit has failed, although given the circumstances I would suspect that a connection problem or broken wire is the most likely scenario.
The parking sensor unit should not require programming and I am not sure it will be accessible with your Chinese clone software. If it is, then the threedigit abbreviation should be GGI.