Freelander 1 quick and easy parking sensor replacement

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Russell Grier

Guest
This post relates to: Parking Sensors, PDC, Park Distance Control

After studying this site and others I couldn't find a nice, easy guide to replacing the faulty parking sensors on my Freelander without taking the rear bumper off (because I'm lazy, and the screws are made of toffee).

Instead of removing the bumper and unclipping the sensors from the inside, simply drill them out as follows. Note the process is the same for all 4 sensors and I won't cover fault diagnosis (listening for clicks) as has been covered by others...

1. Drill the centre of the first sensor out using a 16mm flat/auger bit, pull out the bung shaped object.

2. Drill deeper, until you have drilled through the old sensor - you can be quite rough here.

3. Using the flat bit as a lever and start wiggling, the plastic bulge/mount will start to come free of the bumper. As it does you will see the retaining lugs which were holding it in place. Keep encouraging the unit until it pops out.
1.PNG


4. Remove what's left of the old sensor from the bulge and the electrical connector

5. Plug in the new sensor into the electrical connector in the car
2.PNG


6. Test it clicks.

7. If it does, then click the new sensor into its mount, then click that back into the bumper.
3.PNG

8. Repeat as necessary until all sensors have been replaced and the system is working. Approximate time, 5 mins per sensor. The photo below is from the first sensor I replaced, I did a neater job for each sensor after that!
4.PNG
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi this is a superb post, and description.

I have one sensor not working. Feel a bit scared by method in case I get it wrong. Does author think using a corkscrew would have desired effect but be a bit more forgiving ?
 
Framtaff said:
Hi this is a superb post, and description.

I have one sensor not working. Feel a bit scared by method in case I get it wrong. Does author think using a corkscrew would have desired effect but be a bit more forgiving ?
Click to expand...

Just take the rear bumper off. It's a 15 minute job that doesn't carry a risk of damaging the paint if the drill slips. ;)
 
I'd just like to thank the original poster, as I've just changed one of the sensors following this method, and ten minutes later (took me a little longer to prise the old one out) I now have working parking sensors again! This literally saved me hundreds! :)
 
Hi well done, good job! I still haven't been brave enough :(

Don't want to take bumber off as all bolts are rusted up so 15 min job will end up taking whole day.

Any tips with the drill?

Thanks
 
Framtaff said:
Hi well done, good job! I still haven't been brave enough :(

Don't want to take bumber off as all bolts are rusted up so 15 min job will end up taking whole day.

Any tips with the drill?

Thanks
Click to expand...
I used a 16mm hole boring bit (just as in the photo). You'll drill through the first part and get through a metal piece before getting into a lot of plastic. It's useful have the new sensor nearby to compare how deep you should keep drilling before you stop.

I drilled all the way through to the back part of the sensor (the outer shell), only stopping now and then to scoop out the crap with a flat screwdriver. I'd also bouught a spare bezel just in case I buggered the old one (it came out fine, but put a new one in anyway).

It's also useful to have the new sensor partially pushed into the new bezel (not so it clicks in place) so that you can compare with what comes out of the bumper and known which way the sensor connector is pointing. In my case in was the off-side (driver side in the UK - right) sensor and the connector was horizontally positioned to the right (useful to know when levering the old one out).

Not sure if any of that is helpful in anyway. If you want, I can take pictures of the old sensor so you can see what's left...
 
Hi, I got brave! Ten minutes later all sorted. I had to cut or trim the one way tabs off the bezel surround with Stanley knife enough to get the bezel with the sensor into the bumber and at same time leave enough to keep it in place but that was simple enough. Thanks for giving me the confidence. Thanks for all the advice.
 
Framtaff said:
Hi, I got brave! Ten minutes later all sorted. I had to cut or trim the one way tabs off the bezel surround with Stanley knife enough to get the bezel with the sensor into the bumber and at same time leave enough to keep it in place but that was simple enough. Thanks for giving me the confidence. Thanks for all the advice.
Click to expand...
I bought some new bezels, and just pushed them until they went into the bumper. The plastic of the bumped bends quite a lot, and I just used a rubber mallet to push (NOT hammer) the new sensor (already clicked into the bezel) into the bumber until it eventually went it (with quite a big push).
 
Framtaff said:
I have one sensor not working. Feel a bit scared by method in case I get it wrong. Does author think using a corkscrew would have desired effect but be a bit more forgiving ?
Click to expand...

Looks like a job for the weekend... how did you detect which one was not working? Does it show up in the diagnostics with an error code?
Thanks
 
Framtaff said:
Hi just listening to the sensors in turn to detect which one isn't clicking :)
Click to expand...

OK thanks, will give this a go; I thought they were Ultrasonic...

ultrasonic definition
/ʌltrəˈsɒnɪk/
adjective
adjective: ultrasonic
of or involving sound waves with a frequency above the upper limit of human hearing. :confused:​
 
Framtaff said:
Hi you can just about hear them if you put your ear close enough with car in reverse. Good luck
Click to expand...

OK, just tried and none of them are clicking that I can perceive.
The reverse lights (and aftermarket park camera) come on but there is no beep at all, and no clicks, the parking aid button is flashing...
Is it possible that the beeper has failed or become disconnected? Would the system detect this?

Thanks
 
Hi, can you get a nice young set of ears to listen for the clicks? Sounds as though no power getting to the sensors as its unlikely all 4 have failed.

Sorry but that's the limit of my knowledge. Hope you can get it sorted.
 
Well, took the boot panels off to locate the control module (which was not even fixed in place?).
It was very dusty, stuck in there for 15 years in a very dusty environment.
Had a quick inspection and blew out all of the dust and refitted.
Now I hear a very faint beep when I engage reverse and get near the sensors so I guess it is working but needs a new beeper thing.
Ebay time...
 
Just a quick post to say thank you for the tip, I drilled out the sensors today and as You advised it worked a treat. To anyone doing this I would add my sensors when drilling started with a aluminium disc just below the outer shiny bit that started spinning as the drill bit-bit, persevere through this into the soft plastic and a rubber outer seal can be prised out straight away. Keep drilling until the end of the flat section of the shown 16mm bit or into internal metal bits then all thats left is a paper thin plastic wall to snap out. The bezel was removed by lifting the tabs that hold it with a 90 degree scriber/pick then one edge lifted with a trim clip tool then the rest followed. Saved me ages of time but although the sensors now all tick it didn't cure my problem so I have asked on here.
 
Russell Grier said:
This post relates to: Parking Sensors, PDC, Park Distance Control

After studying this site and others I couldn't find a nice, easy guide to replacing the faulty parking sensors on my Freelander without taking the rear bumper off (because I'm lazy, and the screws are made of toffee).

Instead of removing the bumper and unclipping the sensors from the inside, simply drill them out as follows. Note the process is the same for all 4 sensors and I won't cover fault diagnosis (listening for clicks) as has been covered by others...

1. Drill the centre of the first sensor out using a 16mm flat/auger bit, pull out the bung shaped object.

2. Drill deeper, until you have drilled through the old sensor - you can be quite rough here.

3. Using the flat bit as a lever and start wiggling, the plastic bulge/mount will start to come free of the bumper. As it does you will see the retaining lugs which were holding it in place. Keep encouraging the unit until it pops out.
View attachment 95264

4. Remove what's left of the old sensor from the bulge and the electrical connector

5. Plug in the new sensor into the electrical connector in the car
View attachment 95265

6. Test it clicks.

7. If it does, then click the new sensor into its mount, then click that back into the bumper.
View attachment 95266
8. Repeat as necessary until all sensors have been replaced and the system is working. Approximate time, 5 mins per sensor. The photo below is from the first sensor I replaced, I did a neater job for each sensor after that!
View attachment 95267
Click to expand...
Excellent thread , thank you , 10 minute job for an absolute novice .
 
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