XC70: Body XC70 parking sensors

[blackogo]

Hi all

Not been on in a while, but now back in the Volvo fold with a 2009 XC70 SE. Has anybody added rear parking sensors with a fixed tow bar? Done this on a previous S80 SE, but then the bumper is a different design!

Steve

[GrantA]

Got them on mine but factory fitted, no probs with the towbar, just need to turn the PA off when reversing with the trailer/caravan.

[blackogo]

Thanks for that.

Just wondering how near the "inner" pair can be to the tow ball before they are affected. Guess i can always disconnect them and go with the two outer sensors if I have a problem. I will fit an in line switch in the boot. After all, will only need to disconnect when caravan is attached. Have not seen another XC70 with them on to check....yet.

Steve

[GrantA]

Originally Posted by blackogo

Just wondering how near the "inner" pair can be to the tow ball before they are affected. Guess i can always disconnect them and go with the two outer sensors if I have a problem. I will fit an in line switch in the boot. After all, will only need to disconnect when caravan is attached.

On the factory fit the inner 2 sensors are 60cm apart, that is each one is 30cm from the centre line / towbar. As I said I can "turn off" the PA (parking assist) if I have a trailer / caravan on tow and engage reverse gear. When you are in forward motion or stopped the PA does not "bleep" only when you engage reverse. An in-line switch shouldn't be necessary but you could always leave a loop of wire in the boot to fit one if there is a problem.

[AA Milne]

Originally Posted by GrantA

On the factory fit the inner 2 sensors are 60cm apart, that is each one is 30cm from the centre line / towbar. As I said I can "turn off" the PA (parking assist) if I have a trailer / caravan on tow and engage reverse gear. When you are in forward motion or stopped the PA does not "bleep" only when you engage reverse. An in-line switch shouldn't be necessary but you could always leave a loop of wire in the boot to fit one if there is a problem.

I've the factory fit sensors for both front and rear park assist on an 08MY XC70 and the rear parking sensors disable when any trailer is plugged in to the towbar electrics, leaving the front parking sensors active. There's no need to press any buttons to disable anything. I'm a little surprised that's not also the case with rear only park assist, to be honest.

[GrantA]

Originally Posted by AA Milne

I've the factory fit sensors for both front and rear park assist on an 08MY XC70 and the rear parking sensors disable when any trailer is plugged in to the towbar electrics, leaving the front parking sensors active. There's no need to press any buttons to disable anything. I'm a little surprised that's not also the case with rear only park assist, to be honest.

My post above must have confused you, my front parking assist is unaffected by the towbar electrics. I've just had a poke around in the rear wing for the towbar electrics and they are not a Volvo fit but an after-market fit so no disabling of the rear parking sensors when the trailer is plugged in. It's a pity but you have to work with what you have so I press the "PA" button on the centre console to disable the parking assist when reversing.

[AA Milne]

Originally Posted by GrantA

My post above must have confused you, my front parking assist is unaffected by the towbar electrics. I've just had a poke around in the rear wing for the towbar electrics and they are not a Volvo fit but an after-market fit so no disabling of the rear parking sensors when the trailer is plugged in. It's a pity but you have to work with what you have so I press the "PA" button on the centre console to disable the parking assist when reversing.

Ah right, that makes sense. Just had a look through the manual (was looking at something else) and it confirms with the Volvo towbar pack, rear park assist will be disabled automatically when a trailer/caravan is plugged in.

I don't know if it's something your dealer would be able to update on the car though, I do know it's annoying as my car does a fair bit of moving trailers around without electrics in reverse in the process of launching and recovering boats

[blackogo]

Thanks for the info re distances. My tow bar is after-market and i don't have a switch in the dash to temp disconnect the sensors - hence the switch in the boot. Am off to West Wales tomorrow for a week with the 'van, so will order the sensors and fit them on my return.

[rnlisg]

i have had some fitted to my 07xc70,no problem with the caravan on the back
at all,i got them on fleabay for around £15,they have been on for nearly a year.i have a detatchable towbar but cant see that would make any difference.

[apersson850]

To get all the automation you can, that's associated with towing, you need Volvo's TRM (Trailer Module) and the appropriate software. I have that on my XC70 2012.

Automatic disabling of rear park sensors, but keep front ones alive, which is good when reversing and maybe not noticing that your car's front is on it's way hitting something.
Rear foglight not going on when the trailer is attached, to avoid blinding yourself from the reflection of a caravan front.
Trailer turn indicator monitoring, even when not using them.
Trailer stop light bulb monitoring, even when not braking.
Automatic disabling of the guide lines in the park assist camera view.
Control of 30 and 15 wires to the socket (steady +12 V supply and the other only with the engine running).
TSA (Trailer Stability Assist) active (if installed in your car) when towing.
Ability for the AWD system to adapt to heavier load (don't know if they use that, though).