rear beep to avoid colliding

[Jeff]

This year I rented a very inexpensive rental car in France. I believe it
one of the small Renaults. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this
inexpensive rental model had the keyless door and ignition system and though
it lacked a navigation system, it also beeped while backing up to avoid
hitting an object.

Here in the US I purchased in Lexus 2007 GS 350 with the "medium" package
upgrade. This included the keyless system (salesman made a big deal of it)
and the navigation system with the rear camera view. But, the so useful
beeping on backing up to avoid hitting an object - which I had in the cheap
rental car - was not available without purchasing the top upgrade package.
Since that included nothing else I wanted other than the rear collision
avoidance beep, I did not go for it. Seemed silly and annoying to not
include it with the cheaper packages.

Can such a "radar" beeping system be installed inexpensively on a 07 GS350?

Jeff

[Ray O]

Post by Jeff
This year I rented a very inexpensive rental car in France. I believe it
one of the small Renaults. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this
inexpensive rental model had the keyless door and ignition system and though
it lacked a navigation system, it also beeped while backing up to avoid
hitting an object.
Here in the US I purchased in Lexus 2007 GS 350 with the "medium" package
upgrade. This included the keyless system (salesman made a big deal of it)
and the navigation system with the rear camera view. But, the so useful
beeping on backing up to avoid hitting an object - which I had in the cheap
rental car - was not available without purchasing the top upgrade package.
Since that included nothing else I wanted other than the rear collision
avoidance beep, I did not go for it. Seemed silly and annoying to not
include it with the cheaper packages.
Can such a "radar" beeping system be installed inexpensively on a 07 GS350?
Jeff

I think most of those backup distance sensors are sonar. Whether they can
be installed inexpensively depends on your definition of "inexpensive."

Here is one aftermarket sensor:
http://www.12voltdirect.com/product.aspx?prodid=BAT-1

Here is a kit for $39: http://www.parking-sensor.net/

Here is another kit for under $39 available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006DRLY4/dealtime-auto-20/ref=nosim

I just googled "backup sonar".

[Jeff]

Post by Ray O

Post by Jeff
This year I rented a very inexpensive rental car in France. I
believe it one of the small Renaults. I was pleasantly surprised to
see that this inexpensive rental model had the keyless door and
ignition system and though
it lacked a navigation system, it also beeped while backing up to
avoid hitting an object.
Here in the US I purchased in Lexus 2007 GS 350 with the "medium"
package upgrade. This included the keyless system (salesman made a
big deal of it)
and the navigation system with the rear camera view. But, the so
useful beeping on backing up to avoid hitting an object - which I
had in the cheap
rental car - was not available without purchasing the top upgrade
package. Since that included nothing else I wanted other than the
rear collision avoidance beep, I did not go for it. Seemed silly and
annoying to not include it with the cheaper packages.
Can such a "radar" beeping system be installed inexpensively on a 07 GS350?
Jeff

I think most of those backup distance sensors are sonar. Whether
they can be installed inexpensively depends on your definition of
"inexpensive."
http://www.12voltdirect.com/product.aspx?prodid=BAT-1
Here is a kit for $39: http://www.parking-sensor.net/
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006DRLY4/dealtime-auto-20/ref=nosim
I just googled "backup sonar".

Now that's pretty cheap! Glad I did not go for the top package. I'll have
to look into it. Thanks for the links. I did not know what they were
called.

Jeff

[Ray O]

Post by Jeff

Post by Ray O

Post by Jeff
This year I rented a very inexpensive rental car in France. I
believe it one of the small Renaults. I was pleasantly surprised to
see that this inexpensive rental model had the keyless door and
ignition system and though
it lacked a navigation system, it also beeped while backing up to
avoid hitting an object.
Here in the US I purchased in Lexus 2007 GS 350 with the "medium"
package upgrade. This included the keyless system (salesman made a
big deal of it)
and the navigation system with the rear camera view. But, the so
useful beeping on backing up to avoid hitting an object - which I
had in the cheap
rental car - was not available without purchasing the top upgrade
package. Since that included nothing else I wanted other than the
rear collision avoidance beep, I did not go for it. Seemed silly and
annoying to not include it with the cheaper packages.
Can such a "radar" beeping system be installed inexpensively on a 07 GS350?
Jeff

I think most of those backup distance sensors are sonar. Whether
they can be installed inexpensively depends on your definition of
"inexpensive."
http://www.12voltdirect.com/product.aspx?prodid=BAT-1
Here is a kit for $39: http://www.parking-sensor.net/
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0006DRLY4/dealtime-auto-20/ref=nosim
I just googled "backup sonar".

Now that's pretty cheap! Glad I did not go for the top package. I'll have
to look into it. Thanks for the links. I did not know what they were
called.
Jeff

You're welcome! Make sure you look at how the sensors are installed - some
of them look pretty cheesy.

[mcbrue]

When you are looking at the sensor packages, make sure there are more
than 4 sensors. 4 are simply not enough to adequately cover the rear
bumper. You need at least 6 like are on the front Lexus bumper. Also
make sure the alert buzzer or light or voice or bomb or whatever is
loud enough to attract your attention clearly. If it does not make
itself knows clearly above the other noises in the car, the system is
useless. And I do thank Lexus for the experience with back-up warning
system design which has given me these insights which I pass on to you
so that you may not be plagued as some of us are with inadequate
systems. (Certainly would not want to point any fingers at any brands
and suffer all the slings and arrows of the loyal followers of that
brand.)

[Ray O]

Post by mcbrue
When you are looking at the sensor packages, make sure there are more
than 4 sensors. 4 are simply not enough to adequately cover the rear
bumper. You need at least 6 like are on the front Lexus bumper. Also
make sure the alert buzzer or light or voice or bomb or whatever is
loud enough to attract your attention clearly. If it does not make
itself knows clearly above the other noises in the car, the system is
useless. And I do thank Lexus for the experience with back-up warning
system design which has given me these insights which I pass on to you
so that you may not be plagued as some of us are with inadequate
systems. (Certainly would not want to point any fingers at any brands
and suffer all the slings and arrows of the loyal followers of that
brand.)

In the LS, you can set the volume of the backup alert.

As far as the number of sensors needed to adequately provide coverage, there
are several factors that designers consider. The sonar works kind of like a
light. If the bumper is a relatively flat plane, like the back bumper, 4
should be adequate - 1 on each corner and 2 for the area behind the car. 4
sensors would "illuminate" all of the areas behind the bumper. If the front
bumper is more curved, there are more directions to cover, and since the
steering wheels are in front, there are more directions that need to be
covered. Of course, one should always be looking in the direction of
travel; the sonar sensors are an aid, not a replacement.

[Jeff]

Thank you very much.

Jeff

Post by mcbrue
When you are looking at the sensor packages, make sure there are more
than 4 sensors. 4 are simply not enough to adequately cover the rear
bumper. You need at least 6 like are on the front Lexus bumper. Also
make sure the alert buzzer or light or voice or bomb or whatever is
loud enough to attract your attention clearly. If it does not make
itself knows clearly above the other noises in the car, the system is
useless. And I do thank Lexus for the experience with back-up warning
system design which has given me these insights which I pass on to you
so that you may not be plagued as some of us are with inadequate
systems. (Certainly would not want to point any fingers at any brands
and suffer all the slings and arrows of the loyal followers of that
brand.)

[mcbrue]

Hey Ray O - yall need to move down south hear fer us wifout a gud
wrench in our store!

The volume setting on the radar system does adjust, and I have it on
the maximum setting. My car does not have the rear beeper as loud as
the front beeper, however, and that is what causes the problem in part.
The visual display for the rear is in the center of the dash vs the
front display being on the navigation screen. Those two factors led me
to run into the low wall at my accountants office when I had it out the
first or second day. I was looking back, but the position of the
sensors did not seem to detect the wall to the side of the car. Thus I
have formed an impression of the lack of efficacy of the system. My
second collision with a thing while backing up was the same sort of
situation. Since then, I have just reverted to my normal way of driving
and I ignore the backing up radar thingy. The front radar is much more
senstive as it points out my position perfectly in my garage relative
to the side wall and the low steps next to the car. Guess I will go try
to back the car into the garage to compare so I can reallllllly bitch
(or, Heaven Forbid! have to give up on one point).

[Ray O]

Post by mcbrue
Hey Ray O - yall need to move down south hear fer us wifout a gud
wrench in our store!
The volume setting on the radar system does adjust, and I have it on
the maximum setting.

You must have listened to too much loud music as a yute. Mine is set at the
middle setting. ;-)

My car does not have the rear beeper as loud as

Post by mcbrue
the front beeper, however, and that is what causes the problem in part.
The visual display for the rear is in the center of the dash vs the
front display being on the navigation screen. Those two factors led me
to run into the low wall at my accountants office when I had it out the
first or second day. I was looking back, but the position of the
sensors did not seem to detect the wall to the side of the car. Thus I
have formed an impression of the lack of efficacy of the system. My
second collision with a thing while backing up was the same sort of
situation. Since then, I have just reverted to my normal way of driving
and I ignore the backing up radar thingy. The front radar is much more
senstive as it points out my position perfectly in my garage relative
to the side wall and the low steps next to the car. Guess I will go try
to back the car into the garage to compare so I can reallllllly bitch
(or, Heaven Forbid! have to give up on one point).

My '01 LS does not have the backup camera, only the sensors so the visual
display comes up on the navigation screen for both front and rear as well as
on the instrument cluster, which I turned off since it is redundant.

You can adjust the range of the sensors in my car, I assume you can do the
same in yours. Of course, an obstacle that is lower than the sensors may
not be picked up. For example, when I back into a parking space, the
sensors do not pick up the parking block or curb behind the vehicle because
they are too low. Although I like gadgetry, I know most of it has
limitations, so I still turn around and look where I'm going and check the
side mirrors.