2014 Freelander 2 - 3 parking sensor questions

Hello,
I've just purchased a lovely 2014 Freelander 2 SD GS. I was told it didn't have front parking sensors, the manual infers it does, but I presume that manual isn't model specific.

Q1: I really don't think it does, but am I missing something? I've found it harder to judge how close I am to other vehicles in front when parallel parking than I thought. Do you have recommendations for non intrusive front parking sensors which I could buy and fit myself easily?

Q2: The rear parking sensor bleeper is incredibly loud. Can I lower its volume?

Q3: I have a standard towbar attached. When reversing and the beep gets to the constant beep, do you find you still have some way to go before the towbar would touch an object?

Thanks!

Hi,

You should remove your tow bar, it is known for causing interferences with the parking sensors.
You should put a front camera, less instrusive and the cheaper than putting front sensors ...

Meerkat1234 said:

I've just purchased a lovely 2014 Freelander 2 SD GS. I was told it didn't have front parking sensors, the manual infers it does, but I presume that manual isn't model specific.

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A1:
Unfortunately the GS is a base model, and is missing many of the items the owners handbook shows could be fitted, the front sensors being one of them.

Retrofitting is possible, but not cheap or easy, but not impossible.

It would be difficult to make an aftermarket kit look OE.

A2:
Have you tried adjusting the radio volume while the sensors are active? That might work, although it doesn't on my 09MY SE.

A3:
If the tow bar is a factory item, then it shouldn't interfere with the rear sensors, as it's designed to work with them. My factory tow bar doesn't get detected by my PDC at all.

On all cars Ive owned with rear parking sensors (not freelanders) when the bleep becomes constant there is usually about 12 inches of space left between the rear of the car and the obstacle being reversed towards

Col

Colthebrummie said:

On all cars Ive owned with rear parking sensors (not freelanders) when the bleep becomes constant there is usually about 12 inches of space left between the rear of the car and the obstacle being reversed towards

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The Freelander is the same. This distance gives a safety margin for a tow bar to be fitted, and a bit extra for delayed reactions.

Alteredtech said:

Hi,

You should remove your tow bar, it is known for causing interferences with the parking sensors.
You should put a front camera, less instrusive and the cheaper than putting front sensors ...

Click to expand...

In what way does the towbar cause interference?

Alteredtech said:

Hi,
You should put a front camera, less instrusive and the cheaper than putting front sensors ...

Click to expand...

Do you have any suggestions as to make and model?

Nodge68 said:

The Freelander is the same. This distance gives a safety margin for a tow bar to be fitted, and a bit extra for delayed reactions.

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So when it's a constant beep, it's saying "at this point, we're allowing space behind for a tow bar and a bit more". Do you know what that bit more is? My other vehicle has front and rear sensors and a camera, so this needs a different set of judgment calls.

Meerkat1234 said:

So when it's a constant beep, it's saying "at this point, we're allowing space behind for a tow bar and a bit more".

Click to expand...

That's correct.

Meerkat1234 said:

Do you know what that bit more is?

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On my diagnostic reader, the rear PCD sounds a constant tone at a measurement of 30 cm.
The front sounds a constant tone at 25 cm.

Nodge68 said:

That's correct.


On my diagnostic reader, the rear PCD sounds a constant tone at a measurement of 30 cm.
The front sounds a constant tone at 25 cm.

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Super, thanks very much.

If anyone has any suggestions to help me get front sensors, that would be much appreciated.

Meerkat1234 said:

If anyone has any suggestions to help me get front sensors, that would be much appreciated.

Click to expand...

First off, you could see if the wiring for the factory front PDC is in place. The front bumper harness is behind the front inner corner of LH front arch liner.
If the harness is there, then you can check to see if the harness to the PDC ECM is also there. The PCM ECM can have up to 3 plugs, 1 is for power and data, the 2nd is for the rear PDC sensors, the 3rd is for the front PDC sensors.
If you have the 3rd harness just tied up nearby, then it's very likely the vehicle is wired for front PDC. The PDC ECM is behind the LH boot side trim panel.

If so you just need the PDC front bumper, complete with the harness and sensors, and have the system activated by LR or someone else with JLR SDD, which is LR's diagnostic equipment.

Nodge68 said:

First off, you could see if the wiring for the factory front PDC is in place. The front bumper harness is behind the front inner corner of LH front arch liner.
If the harness is there, then you can check to see if the harness to the PDC ECM is also there. The PCM ECM can have up to 3 plugs, 1 is for power and data, the 2nd is for the rear PDC sensors, the 3rd is for the front PDC sensors.
If you have the 3rd harness just tied up nearby, then it's very likely the vehicle is wired for front PDC. The PDC ECM is behind the LH boot side trim panel.

If so you just need the PDC front bumper, complete with the harness and sensors, and have the system activated by LR or someone else with JLR SDD, which is LR's diagnostic equipment.

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Thank you. If I've understood you correctly, I check all the above and then buy... ? What constitutes a PDC - harness, sensors, and...? So I can't fit and activate them myself? Do you have any recommendations as to brands and models?

Meerkat1234 said:

Thank you. If I've understood you correctly, I check all the above and then buy... ? What constitutes a PDC - harness, sensors, and...? So I can't fit and activate them myself? Do you have any recommendations as to brands and models?

Click to expand...

If the wiring is in place, it's possible to retrofit the factory front PDC.
You will obviously need to make sure the wiring is installed, as it's pretty much impossible to fit the wiring without stripping huge amounts of the vehicle to install it.
If the wiring is there, then you'll need a front bumper with the PDC sensors installed. You'll also need the correct PDC control module, as your current one will be for rear PDC only.
If you don't have the dash switch, then you'll need that too. Once all the hardware is in place, you'll need to get it activated with LR diagnostic software, or someone with a GAP IID BT diagnostic tool.


Alternatively you could spend a few quid to buy and install a universal aftermarket kit, which there are many on Amazon or Ebay, but obviously those won't look OE, and you'll need to install a switch somewhere to turn the system on when needed.

Personnaly I will avoid cutting holes in the front bumper, you will have only one try to done it right … all can go wrong easily …

Front camera can do the job, and it less intrusive.

The bottom line is I don't want to dismantle anything, or cut anything. I just want to buy something off the shelf, install and plug it in relatively easily, and see where the front of my Freelander is!

Meerkat1234 said:

The bottom line is I don't want to dismantle anything, or cut anything. I just want to buy something off the shelf, install and plug it in relatively easily, and see where the front of my Freelander is!

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As far as I know, there's nothing off the shelf which is plug n play, without at least some work to the vehicle.