Insignia Forum (I-E) Lifestyle How2s, FAQ's, Guides and Helpful Things

Fitting Guide - Rear Parking Sensors - Additional Info with pics

Started by andyellis111, Dec 01 2012 12:04 AM

Posted 01 December 2012 - 12:04 AM

andyellis111
I thought that these points would be helpful, further to the brilliant guide by Aldo21t here:

http://www.insignia-...?showtopic=1663 (http://www.insignia-enthusiast.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=1663)
Firstly, I would also like to point out this bumper removal guide by Ismal as it's very handy if you've not seen it:
http://www.insignia-...?showtopic=5391 (http://www.insignia-enthusiast.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5391)
So firstly, once the bumper has been removed by following the above guide, your car will look like this...
(Please note the cover on the floor, as suggested by DVDKEV - this will prevent the bumper from
scratching on the ground if you're doing it on your own)

From the outside of the boot, beneath the crash bar you will notice the following rubber bung which is used for
channeling the number plate light wiring into the car. If you cut a small hole in this, the sensor wires can be pushed
through one by one - once the four wires are through, the rubber should then be tight enough to still be water proof /
secure.

This next picture shows part of the backside of the bumper. You will notice the square markings, with crosses in
them. These are the Vauxhall recommended parking sensor positions - I drilled a pilot hole in the middle of each
using the tip of the drill bit supplied with the sensor kit (although any small drill bit will do), from the inside of
the bumper outwards.

As you can see below, this leaves good guide holes for drilling the sensor holes through from the painted side (drilling
the main holes is best done from the painted side so that smooth and accurate holes are drilled and the paintwork
isn't damaged).
Note: I'd appreciate it if you didn't use my number plate to speed everywhere, steal fuel and steal cars - I have a degree in Multimedia with a large emphasis on
photo editing but I really couldn't be arsed! :P/>

The sensor holes can be drilled now, and it's best to use a variable speed drill so that you don't rip into the paintwork.
I pushed the tip of the drill bit through, then made sure the sharp blades of the drill bit were flat against the
paintwork - then slowly started to drill until through completely. See pic below for the result:

After each hole has been drilled, you'll need to remove the plastic roundel of bumper that's left on the drill bit otherwise the next one won't be successful and might make a mess (see pic):

The parking sensors can now be fitted, best way is to push the sensor in, and pull it through with the other hand
whilst twisting it to get it flat against the bumper. However, do not pull the wires. The results are shown below,
(navy blue is a good match for metro blue Insignias - slightly darker but still look good!)

After pulling the wires carefully through the hole, I'd recommend taping them together like this to keep them tidy:

I positioned the main box just by the fuse box, and the buzzer up on a hidden shelf in the car's chassis just behind the
back left seat. These can be seen in the pics below. The positive red wire was scotchlocked to the green/white reverse
feed wire and the negative black wire was connected to the earth bolt attached to the fuse box.

The wires were tucked away and all trims and the bumper were properly put back together.
I think the existing guides referred to at the beginning of this are very helpful indeed, I just thought that these
additional points would be really helpful to people worrying about whether to carry out this mod or not.
It's not hard at all, and great results to protect your Insignia! Plus it saves paying the 400 from Vauxhall for the
same system!
These sensors were 13.94 in total (delivered) and can be found here on eBay:
http://www.ebay.co.u...40144598&_rdc=1 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330340144598?
ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_sacat%3D0%26_from%3DR40%26_nkw%3D3303401
44598%26_rdc%3D1)
I'd be happy to answer any questions at all.
:)/>
Posted 01 December 2012 - 12:18 AM

Thyjones
cheers for this, i might do mine tomorrow weather/tiredness dependant lol

Posted 01 December 2012 - 12:23 AM

andyellis111

Thyjones, on 01 December 2012 - 12:18 AM, said:

cheers for this, i might do mine tomorrow weather/tiredness dependant lol

Yeah go for it! Took me around 3 hours in total but I did stop for toast and tea and a chat with the neighbours lol.
Removing and replacing the bumper took me like 10mins each lol. Dead easy it's like Lego!!
Posted 01 December 2012 - 07:25 PM

Thyjones

just done mine, took around 2.5 hours, and being me who can never do a simple job in the nice warm daylight, I
began in the freeeeeeezing cold dark lol.

Anyway, all done and working. I did put them in the wrong order as well lol so had to test each one doh. The only
thing I have found, the solid beeeep which I would assume is "stop you're about to hit the wall" is still about a foot
away? These are the ebay ones, any suggestions?
Posted 01 December 2012 - 07:48 PM

andyellis111
Thyjones, on 01 December 2012 - 07:25 PM, said:

just done mine, took around 2.5 hours, and being me who can never do a simple job in the nice warm daylight, I began in the
freeeeeeezing cold dark lol.
Anyway, all done and working. I did put them in the wrong order as well lol so had to test each one doh. The only thing I have
found, the solid beeeep which I would assume is "stop you're about to hit the wall" is still about a foot away? These are the ebay
ones, any suggestions?

Glad you got it done all ok and sorted! Most parking sensors including these ones only measure down to 30cm so
there is a little bit of an escape gap in case your foot temporarily slips from the brake. My girlfriends factory fitted
ones on her Fiat 500 are exactly the same...
:)/>
Posted 01 December 2012 - 08:00 PM

Thyjones

andyellis111, on 01 December 2012 - 07:48 PM, said:

Glad you got it done all ok and sorted! Most parking sensors including these ones only measure down to 30cm so there is a little bit
of an escape gap in case your foot temporarily slips from the brake. My girlfriends factory fitted ones on her Fiat 500 are exactly the
same...
:)/>

ahh good point, probably better like that as you say! freezing still lol
Posted 01 December 2012 - 08:38 PM

andyellis111
Thyjones, on 01 December 2012 - 08:00 PM, said:

ahh good point, probably better like that as you say! freezing still lol

Yeah it's already starting to freeze up outside here :(/> at least the Insignia is good at deicing, mine only takes about
10 mins from fully frozen over to driveable - and that's without touching a can of deicer or a scraper lol... The heated
mirrors and heated washer bottle come in handy too!
Only bad thing is the Diesel engines being pretty loud until warm.
:)/>

DVDKEV

Posted 01 December 2012 - 09:03 PM

Nice work Andy, you've added the final pieces to the jigsaw. Well done to you pulling it off in this weather!

D4XVY

Posted 10 December 2012 - 10:24 AM

Could someone do me a favour and run out and measure the sensor box, im at my work so can't do it myself. As im
looking for a box and some protective foam to put it in for my engine bay as the engine is interfering with it. Cheers

andyellis111

Posted 10 December 2012 - 10:39 AM

D4VXY,
I can't check for you as I'm at work as well! :(/>
But I am sure this would do the trick:
http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27be6d2011 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-ABS-Plastic-Enclosure-Small-ProjectBox-For-Electronic-Circuits-/170698547217?
pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item27be6d2011)
As the parking sensor box surely is no smaller than that (plus it will accomodate the wiring connections and some
padding?)
Hope this helps,
Andy
(edit: you'll have to drill / cut holes for the wires in the box above)
Posted 10 December 2012 - 10:56 AM

D4XVY

Lol that's the exact one im watching, just wanted to make sure i bought the right size as he has all different sizes
Posted 10 December 2012 - 11:00 AM

andyellis111

LOL what a coincidence ... I'm going out to the car at lunch to look at the door seal in relation to a wind noise in
another thread of mine....
I don't have anything to measure the box with though :(/>
Posted 10 December 2012 - 11:25 AM

D4XVY

If u can't find anything use your hand, hold your hand flat as its roughly 4 inches in width at the base of your fingers.
Unless you have extremely large hands, but that's the average size. Gives me a rough idea
Posted 10 December 2012 - 11:40 AM

andyellis111
Will do :)/> I will probably let you know around midday when I have been outside :D/>

Posted 10 December 2012 - 01:52 PM

andyellis111
Hi,

I can confirm that the box linked above will be big enough for the parking sensor control box :)/>
My colleague had a small tape measure in his desk - although nobody knows why as we work on computer systems!
(provided that the box is smooth inside without any ridges that would make the useable space too small)
HTH
Andy
Posted 10 December 2012 - 02:02 PM

D4XVY

Cheers Andy, hopefully that will sort my problem. I wouldn't like to speculate as to why he had that small tape then
lol

Keeefy

Posted 07 October 2013 - 08:15 PM

Fitted mine today put the control box in the well for the so are tyre and mounted the bleeped under the parcel shelf

solid bit beside gage light. Nice and neat and easy to hear even with the radio on
Posted 19 February 2014 - 09:05 PM

LeeHunter
Thanks Andy

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