[OlegE]

On low speeds the front parking sensor sometimes malfunctioning. It can happen when some cars are crossing intersection while I am waiting on red. The cars can be from 5 to about 15 meters in front.
It can happen when I am slowly driving in a busy street.
I noticed that it happens more often when it is rainy or the next few days after rain.

Any suggestion how to fix it without taking it to dealership? I hate taking the car to dealership. Once something repaired in dealership it sometimes assembled improperly and/or other issues can be expected. Just my experience.

 

[llninja]

When you way malfunctioning, what is it doing? Is it beeping when nothing is there or not beeping when something is there. More often then not, dealerships fix it right, at least here in the states (I dont' know aobtu Canada). You can try to diagnose it yourself by replacing sensors at your cost and sweat equity, or take it in to get et it covered by the manufacturer's bumper to bumper warranty.

 

[OlegE]

When you way malfunctioning, what is it doing? Is it beeping when nothing is there or not beeping when something is there. More often then not, dealerships fix it right, at least here in the states (I dont' know aobtu Canada). You can try to diagnose it yourself by replacing sensors at your cost and sweat equity, or take it in to get et it covered by the manufacturer's bumper to bumper warranty.

It is when something is there but too far to consider it a parking warning.
It doesn't bother me that much. And when it does I switch off park assist - one click
I will take it to dealer a few months before the warranty expire with all other small problems. Just wanted to hear if these are common problems and outcomes.

Thanks for replying!

 

[llninja]

It is when something is there but too far to consider it a parking warning.
It doesn't bother me that much. And when it does I switch off park assist - one click
I will take it to dealer a few months before the warranty expire with all other small problems. Just wanted to hear if these are common problems and outcomes.

Thanks for replying!

Why in the world would you have park assist turned on when sitting at a red light or driving down a busy street. You should only turn it on when you are trying to parallel park. I don't think this is a problem at all: operator error.

 

[Sean-a-Tron]

It is when something is there but too far to consider it a parking warning.
It doesn't bother me that much. And when it does I switch off park assist - one click

I will take it to dealer a few months before the warranty expire with all other small problems. Just wanted to hear if these are common problems and outcomes.

Thanks for replying!

Why in the world would you have park assist turned on when sitting at a red light or driving down a busy street. You should only turn it on when you are trying to parallel park. I don't think this is a problem at all: operator error.

I leave mine on. I've never once had it alert while on the road though. It isn't supposed to alert you until you're a couple of feet from the obstacle.

Maybe it's the cross traffic alert. Those sensors are supposed to have a much longer range. I haven't used one of those yet, so I'm not sure on their operation and controls.

 

[OlegE]

I am talking about Front Parking Assist (FPA). It is On by default. LLninja, I feel you get upset with my posts. I am asking you not to reply. I am sure there are other members who I can have conversation with.

 

[BryanC]

OlegE, I am curious if you find anything causing this. I got my 2017 Volt 3 weeks ago and for the first week I had the same problem you had. The sensor would be set off by crossing traffic at red lights and traffic bumps in parking lots. It was irritating enough that I started turning off the FPA when it would happen (which I would rather leave on). It would only happen at slow speeds or when stopped. For some reason it stopped doing it after the first week. The only changes I know of are (1) I washed the car and (2) I put a vanity plate on the front license plate holder.

 

[one4thegipper]

I had my 2016 in for service (engine light) last week, and there were three recalls - two of which were related to the front camera. I told the service guy that my front alert had been going off randomly at stops, and he said that the recall should take care of it. I haven't had any issues since, so it appears he was correct.

 

[Random]

The many named systems can be confusing, APA is the automatic park assist (2017 manual, page 206).

This thread is about RPA and FPA, related to the bars that show up in the display to show how close some objects are to the ultrasonic sensors in the bumpers.

RPA and FPA are also different from the Forward Collision Alert (FCA) (which indicates by the 6 red LEDs in the dash)

(2017 manual, page 208) Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System

When approaching a vehicle ahead too
quickly, FCA provides a red flashing
alert on the windshield and rapidly
beeps. FCA also lights an amber
visual alert if following another
vehicle much too closely.
FCA detects vehicles within a
distance of approximately 60m
(197 ft) and operates at speeds
above 8 km/h (5 mph).

 

[Random]

Some intersections might have traffic and/or pedestrians close enough to indicate on FPA (front parking assist, 2017, page 204).

For RPA and FPA (this thread) (from 2017 manual, page 205): Parking Assist

With RPA, and if equipped with FPA,
as the vehicle moves at speeds of
less than 8 km/h (5 mph) the
sensors on the bumpers may detect
objects up to 1.8m (6 ft) behind the
vehicle and 1.2m (4 ft) in front of the
vehicle within a zone 25 cm (10 in)
high off the ground and below
bumper level. These detection
distances may be shorter during
warmer or humid weather. Blocked
sensors will not detect objects and
can also cause false detections.
Keep the sensors clean of mud, dirt,
snow, ice, and slush; and clean
sensors after a car wash in freezing
temperatures.

 

[OlegE]

OlegE, I am curious if you find anything causing this. I got my 2017 Volt 3 weeks ago and for the first week I had the same problem you had. The sensor would be set off by crossing traffic at red lights and traffic bumps in parking lots. It was irritating enough that I started turning off the FPA when it would happen (which I would rather leave on). It would only happen at slow speeds or when stopped. For some reason it stopped doing it after the first week. The only changes I know of are (1) I washed the car and (2) I put a vanity plate on the front license plate holder.

I see. You washed your car. I have this issue after/during rain or in a humid weather. It could be that some moisture accumulates between the sensor and sensor cover.

 

[OlegE]

I had my 2016 in for service (engine light) last week, and there were three recalls - two of which were related to the front camera. I told the service guy that my front alert had been going off randomly at stops, and he said that the recall should take care of it. I haven't had any issues since, so it appears he was correct.

one4thegipper, that is great! Were these camera related recalls for software or hardware? If you have codes for these recalls, please post.

 

[Random]

I am talking about Front Parking Assist (FPA). It is On by default. LLninja, I feel you get upset with my posts. I am asking you not to reply. I am sure there are other members who I can have conversation with.

one4thegipper, that is great! Were these camera related recalls for software or hardware? If you have codes for these recalls, please post.

OlegE, FPA only uses the ultrasonic sensors in the bumper (?) Does anyone know if this is correct?

 

[Tomt]

The TSB for a software update to the windshield camera cured the problem for me.

 

[OlegE]

OlegE, FPA only uses the ultrasonic sensors in the bumper (?) Does anyone know if this is correct?

I thought the same, but Tomt says -

The TSB for a software update to the windshield camera cured the problem for me.

Maybe the recall doesn't state it accurately enough. It could be that both camera and sensor are affected by the update.
In any case, software update is needed. I will report after I get new software.

 

[Random]

That could be, that the update addresses all sensors. Or, maybe some of the false beeping really is FCA related, at least if it happened while the car was moving. While very bright at night, sometimes the six red LEDs in the dash are not so visible in direct sunlight.

I forgot to mention, I once got a rear parking "red!" indication when all could find moving was traffic out on a street, tens of feet from the rear of the car. I have no idea how the ultrasonic sensors could "see" that far.

Anyway (short of somethings that can be fixed by updates or hardware repairs, or cleaning sensor surfaces), as others have said, I suppose a false alarm once in a while is better than a missed alert.

 

[BryanC]

I see. You washed your car. I have this issue after/during rain or in a humid weather. It could be that some moisture accumulates between the sensor and sensor cover.

UPDATE: My car has spent this past week in the shop. I brought it in for a CEL (strange because I haven't used gas in 3 weeks) and asked them to check the sensors. Not only had the FPA stopped alerting but the self-parking feature was not working. Don't know what the technician did to fix that because I haven't gotten the car back yet but he did find a problem.

As for the CEL that got me to bring the car in, a hose in the emissions system has to be replaced. It's a 3 day job on top of the 4 days it took to get the hose shipped to the dealer. Seems a frame has to be dropped, as well as the main battery and the fuel tank. The sole Volt tech at the dealership doesn't want to start that big a project on a Friday. Hope to have the car back Thursday next week.

 

[OlegE]

UPDATE: My car has spent this past week in the shop. I brought it in for a CEL (strange because I haven't used gas in 3 weeks) and asked them to check the sensors. Not only had the FPA stopped alerting but the self-parking feature was not working. Don't know what the technician did to fix that because I haven't gotten the car back yet but he did find a problem.

As for the CEL that got me to bring the car in, a hose in the emissions system has to be replaced. It's a 3 day job on top of the 4 days it took to get the hose shipped to the dealer. Seems a frame has to be dropped, as well as the main battery and the fuel tank. The sole Volt tech at the dealership doesn't want to start that big a project on a Friday. Hope to have the car back Thursday next week.

Thank you for the update, Bryan! Let us know when you get your car back.

 

[one4thegipper]

one4thegipper, that is great! Were these camera related recalls for software or hardware? If you have codes for these recalls, please post.

I misread the ticket - there was one recall on the front camera that split over two pages on the ticket. Here is the information from the service ticket:

Campaign 39570 Front Camera Freezes
Cause: Recall Campaign Program # BCEB3
9102665 Recall 39570 Program Front Camera
38533 Recall Program and Calibrate Front Camera (BCEB3)

 

[Tomt]

I had the camera software update done on mine a couple of weeks ago and it rectified the issue for me...

I had my 2016 in for service (engine light) last week, and there were three recalls - two of which were related to the front camera. I told the service guy that my front alert had been going off randomly at stops, and he said that the recall should take care of it. I haven't had any issues since, so it appears he was correct.