Disabling PDC
 

I must have a bad connection on one of my pdc sensors, as it gives a solid squeal as soon as I put it into reverse (everytime).

Is there an individual fuse I can pull to temporarily disable only the PDC until I can have a look?

Thanks.

2003 E53 4.6iS

I'm not sure if there is a particular fuse...but there should be a fuse index in both locations that are mentioned in the owners manual. The fuses in the glovebox should have a printed fuse index when you pull down the door that exposes the fuses...and the rear fuses should have an index on back of the compartment door on the right rear side in the cargo area.

The fuse indexes list the fuses alphabetically, plus illustrates their location within the fuse box, as well as the amperage for each fuse. In this case...look in the "Ps" for some type of mention for PARKING:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...and%20rear.jpg


If you find there's no fuse for PDC or "parking"....then there's the PDC control module which is on the left side in front of the vehicle's battery which is below the floor panel in the cargo area:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...0Locations.jpg

check fuse F6 - it will also kill your electrochromatic mirrors and either the adaptive headlights or the RDC, depending on which options you have...

Fuse F6 is in the glove compartment

One check to see if a sensor is bad is to listen to it. If you activate the PDC system and put your ear close to the sensor you will hear a distinct ticking. Listen to them all and if one seems different then that one may be the issue. If you can get your hand up behind it, check and seat the plug connection. This how I found the sensor that was throughing a code for mine. You have different symptoms but this is so easy to do and may help you find an issue.

I had that problem after I took my car to the car wash. My guess was one if the sensors was covered in wax so I tried to clean them with window cleaner and that didn't work, so I ended up spitting on a paper towel and rubbed them a little and problem solved

Great, thanks guys I will try to troubleshoot first before having to disable.

what if none of the sensors is ticking?
i check the supply going to the PDC module and there's 12V (i think).
module is kaput?

give us more symptoms of the problem... :popcorn:

Basically same as the BBQ ...
just a solid beep once you engage to reverse or manually pressing the PDC button.
Fuse is ok, supply at the connector right at the PDC is OK. none of the sensors tick once activated as suggested above.

Cheers!

I had two dead sensors, one in front and one in rear and still don't feel like replacing them so I pulled the fuse for PDC (I forget the number, its in the glovebox) with no negative effects and effectively disabled PDC for the time being.


couldnt stand the solid beeping everytime i was slowing down or backing up

So i bought mine with one rear sensor missing, and no light or indication of PDC functioning at all. I'm assuming they pulled the fuse, haven't had a chance to look for the fuse yet, but my question i guess would be if one is missing the system will malfunction correct? :confused:

I believe my PDC is still working, but the chime has been disabled. Perhaps in the coding?

The PDC light on the button below the radio still blinks, but I don't get any chime. My license plate bracket blocks one of the front sensors.

the PDC light in the front (module A169) stays off, when system is off... turns on either manually or with gear in reverse, with a slight delay, to avoid false activations when you move gear selector from P, passed R to D... when sonar system detects obstacles, the speakers beep, the light stay solid on. if the light is blinking, something is wrong with the system... I just started my INPA to troubleshoot my problems, and it seems that IMPA is capable of testing the PDC module, probably tell you which sensors is bad, if any...

since the PDC module is in the trunk, it is a good idea to check it for water damage...

Fuse F6 will kill PDC along with couple other modules, such as electrochromatic mirror, tire pressure monitor - if your car never had them, nothing to worry about...

ep - you mentioned that your front license plate bracket covers one of the sonic sensors?... if I remember correctly, the OE front bumper of the 4.6iS has a small notch/cutout, not really visible, about 1cm wide, maybe 1mm thick, and the license plate brackets, both US and EU plates have a little tab - when you put the plate holder against the bumper and slide it left/right in search of the center, the tab slides into the slot and - voila!!! here is your center, and the sensors are not blocked... is your bracket off center?

EDIT: these are OE front license plate brackets, both EU, one is for 4.6iS with the center notch (has a license plate still attached) and the other one is for the 4.8iS, no little tab to locate center on the bumper... both bought from US dealers, at different times, both about $20-25 a piece...

it is off center, as visible on your avatar... i am gettng old, and not paying attention to the details... :)

is it off center by choice, or just because you never cared to move it to the center?

by choice, the braket is aftermarket.