Passat parking sensor fault

[GarethDavidUK]

Hi all,

First off, I just want to say I'm hopeless with cars (I drive them, add fuel/windscreen wash/etc) so not handy at all!

My Passat (2012) developed a parking sensor fault a few months ago - typically after heavy rain, you'd start the engine and it'd say that the optical parking system is not operational, on the screen. Because of the rain, I thought it was to do with a sensor being wet/residue and keeping the system off. I've had it into the garage for a few things, and they diagnosed that the ECU for the parking sensor was shot. I've had it replaced, but now the fault has become intermittant - mostly off all the time, but also when its working when the car starts, it'll just come up on the screen with the "optical parking system is currently not available" message.

I've had it back into the garage and they're now saying that one of the sensors is faulty - I've got the print out somewhere, but I think it says there's a 'short to ground' fault. The guy said that the contacts on the back of it had been corroded, but he'd cleaned them up and resealed, but it's still playing up. Apparently a new one is a lot of cash (something about £120 for the sensor, 2x£13 for cable, and £20 for paint) which seems extortionate, but it doesn't feel right that the ECU was replaced and now there's another error .. almost like the error was always the sensor?

It's pretty clear the sensor is shot, but at £160 without labour it's a killer. Any ideas?

[UMEL]

Unfortunately the way of the car world with replaceable modules.

My sons air conn went tu a few years ago and the 'specialist' diagnosed the pump. Pump was replaced along with various other parts totaling £1300. The air conn worked for a day but then went TU again. Back to the 'specialist' for 6 weeks....yep, he had it in his workshop that long (son borrowed his car for this period)....RESULT, a £5 switch on the multifunction display panel in the dash. Absolutely NO comeback on the previous expensive parts fitted.