Parking sensors for everyday Kiwi drivers
We get a lot of people popping in here at Grimmer Motors, asking about parking sensors. And fair enough too. Reversing out of a tight spot on Victoria Street or trying not to nudge a post in a Frankton carpark – it’s all part of the daily drive around Hamilton. With all the potholes popping up around places like Dinsdale and the odd speed bump sneaking up near the Base, having reliable parking sensors makes life that much easier.
Basically, parking sensors are those clever little gadgets in your bumper that beep when you’re getting close to something. They’re a proper lifesaver when you’re squeezing your Nissan Serena or your Peugeot 308 into a tight spot outside Chartwell mall. The closer you get to an obstacle, the faster they beep, warning you before you do any damage. Handy, right?
Learn more about how parking sensors work >
What kinds of parking sensors are there?
There’s two main types you’ll see around Hamilton garages: ultrasonic and electromagnetic sensors.
Ultrasonic sensors
Most cars in NZ – like Mazda CX-5s, Hyundai Tucsons, or the odd Suzuki Swift – run ultrasonic sensors. These send out little sound waves (yeah, sort of like your old school bat detector) that bounce off things behind you. The sensor measures how long it takes the echo to come back, works out the distance, and lets you know with beeps. Pretty simple. Works well even in the thick winter fog we get around Morrinsville or on a drizzly morning in Cambridge.
Electromagnetic sensors
Then there’s electromagnetic sensors. You’ll spot these on some Euro models, maybe your Fiat 500s or the odd older Mercedes from Tamahere – they create a field around the bumper. When you back up and something enters that field, the sensor picks up on it and gives you a warning. Bit fancier, bit trickier to install, but they’re pretty accurate as well.
Why do parking sensors stop working?
Seen plenty of cases in the shop (everything from Honda Odyssey vans to Audi Q3s) where parking sensors just stop playing ball. Up here in Hamilton, it’s often down to:
Dodgy installation – Had a tuktuk from Te Kowhai come in the other day where the sensors were wonky because the wiring job was all over the show. If you get your sensors fitted by someone who knows what they’re doing, you avoid most of these hassles.
Dirty sensor – With all the roadworks going on around Rototuna and wet winters, mud splashes everywhere, blocking those sensors. You’d be surprised how many parking sensor issues just need a decent clean. Give them a wipe and they’re usually sweet.
Wiring problems – Sometimes the wiring running back to your dash or display just packs it in, especially on older cars bouncing along Avalon Drive. If there’s no power getting through, the whole system stops working.
Why does the parking sensor keep beeping for no reason?
This is a classic – especially on aftermarket setups. Sometimes you get into the car (maybe it’s your Toyota Estima or a nice, late-model Kia Sportage), pop it into reverse and suddenly that sensor’s going off even though there’s nothing behind you. This can happen if the wiring is sharing a feed with your brake or indicator lights. When the car’s computer checks the bulbs, it can send a little pulse to the sensor and set it off.
Our techs fix this heaps. The best fix is chucking in a relay to stop those extra signals. Easy as, and means no more random beeping every time you slow for a roundabout in Melville.
Parking sensor installs & repairs around Hamilton
Keen to get some fresh parking sensors sorted? At Grimmer Motors in Hamilton, we can fit or replace sensors in most cars – from Mitsi Outlanders to Skoda Yetis – and sort out the display unit as well. We also do car reversing cameras if you want the full setup.
We mostly handle the full job right here and don’t usually sell just parts. But if you can bring your car in – whether you’re from Ngaruawahia, Matangi, or right here in town – we’ll diagnose it, get the right gear, and fit it for you. This way you drive off safe and sorted, no mucking about.
Got dodgy parking sensors? Want help with your car service or even your WOF in Hamilton? Give us a shout.