Dear Jazz'ers,
The car was bought from the dealer with the reverse parking sensors as an extra. It worked well for many years. A couple of weeks ago it no longer works properly. As soon as I engage reverse, the regular "pi" is emitted to let me know I engaged R (and not 4th) and then a deeper "piii" keeps on constantly, even with nothing behind the car. Check the youtube video if that helps:
So far I tried the following:
1) Cleaned the sensors. No change;
2) WD40 on the sensors in case it was humidity inside (I used to have car on underground parking but I moved in August and now the car sleeps on the side of the road). No change;
3) Checked all fuses under steering whell that had no specific function associated in the diagram (as this is an extra) but all fuses were OK;
4) Recorded video of the sensors with car idling and reverse engaged and could hear on the video all 4 sensors doing the "clack clack clack" as proof they work. Another video:
5) Used an ODB2 wifi dongle and torque on my android to check ECU errors but nothing there (maybe because the system has an ECU of its own?);
6) Inside the boot, took the cover for the rear lights on the side oposite to the fuel filler and there was the reverse sensor ECU. It's a Bosch ParkPilot 0263004011. Seems to have been fit by dealers on many Honda, Open, Audi, etc. See photos attached, still haven't figured out how to embed. Disconnecting it took away ALL noises (of course).
Now... Research on the web states that maybe there is a fuse on the wiring there but I saw none and before I disassemble the cover for the whole boot, I would need to know if it is worth it...
A specific web result was of a guy saying the noise was fixed by replacing the buzzer. I find that odd but I don't know if the problem was exactly like mine. I still haven't identified the buzzer's location either as I have some hearing restrictions that make it harder to pinpoint from where the noise comes.
Another web result for a similar Bosch ECU said there was a way to run diagnostics but it was a unit with leds and I don't know how to do that on this one.
I checked the web and from breakers I can get a ECU like this for around 50€ (new only found one for 400£ ahahah no way!).
Soooooo..... Please help me with your opinions or past experience!
Find the buzzer and replace it? Disassemble cover of boot and look for a fuse on the wiring and check it? Replace the ECU? Open the ECU and check for a specific component that may have failed (I can handle some degree of solder and electronic components and own a multimeter)? Is there a way to run ECU diagnostics that I should try first?
Thank you very much for your patience reading through all this!
Duarte