New Passat - bumper Removal - help!

[breadster50]

Hi - trying to fit a "Taurus T123-P" electromagnetic reversing sensor [instead of normal ultrasonic sensor] on my 2006 Passat Estate 2.0TDI 140. The instructions say that you need to remove bumper. I had an opportunity to use a ramp to get the underside cover from the rear of the car, but couldnt get the damn bumper off. I managed to stick the sensor strip across the rear of the inner of the bumper but it isnt perfect. I could really do with some advice wrt removing the bumper AND advice from anyone who has fitted/tried to fit one of these kits............

[Quatrelle]

Looking to do the same myself with a saloon, using an ultrasonic system with 4 sensors which means drilling holes, and I would rather remove the bumper beforehand. Prefer the Taurus idea though - where did you buy yours? I notice one supplier (Googled) says they can send bumper removal instructions 'if available' or contact your dealer for advice - yeah, right! Is the reversing light in the tailgate on the estate? Mine's in the bootlid, which means either putting the control unit in the lid (not a good idea) or running cable down the boot 'hinges' with VW's own (fiddly, but I can't isolate the reversing light supply in the boot). I've had a brief look under the car, but if I go down the Taurus route and discard the 4-sensor job I'll have mine up on the ramps again before spending more money. It can't (theoretically) be that difficult seeing as it would be one of the most common body parts that would be damaged. Sorry I can't be of more help, after all that!

[breadster50]

Hi Quatrelle

Having trouble with the Taurus... HOWEVER..... contacted the company directly and the aftermarket help was SUPERB. On most new cars, the electronics are "multiplexed" [as is my passat] so i had to buy [yes, i know!] the "multiplex relay kit" [another £22 delivered]. If you know anything about cars/electrics then i guess this is a simple off the shelf relay [it should be arriving tomnorrow so will post the part number on to hopefully save people cash]

I bought mine from www.addacdchanger.co.uk £76 delivered. RRP £110.

Yeah - reverse light in tailgate - ran down tailgate behind facia, through grommet [pain in the...] the down behind the rubber seal and into the base of the boot.

I didnt take off the bumper but it is flexible.... the sensor was stuck on and then i ran the cable into the boot well [its plastic on the estate].

If you have access to a ramp then this'll be a simple job - if u can get someone who knows how to get the bumper off then hey presto!

Will inform you of how the relay goes.......... fingers crossed!

[Quatrelle]

Hi Breadster50

Thanks for that, it's interesting, especially the relay bit. I'd already tried my 4-sensor thingy by tapping into the reverse light bulb holder, and it seemed to work ok, but this modern wiring worries me. (I tapped into what I thought was the reverse light wire in the boot - not the way to go). I think it's called the CANbus system, where two wires do the work of many, but I haven't got a clue, so the relay might be the best (safest) bet.

I looked on addachanger's website (Googled it), and it looks like they want 15GBP to deliver to France, which seems a bit strong, so I'll wait for your verdict on the relay and perhaps order both at the same time and maybe save money.

You say you contacted the company - was that Taurus or addachanger?

I found a short video on Youtube on how to fit it, but the bumper was already off the car (whatever it was), and until I see the instructions with the product it's difficult to say whether it would be of any help.

Hopefully I'll have mine up on the ramps on Thursday. I seem to remember the exhaust and its heat shield were a major obstruction.

Good luck with yours!

[Quatrelle]

ITV4, 7pm, this evening, 'Used car roadshow' supposedly contains an item ".....giving the lowdown on fitting parking sensors" - don't know if it will be of any relevance though.

[Flash2]

Passat rear bumpers are quite easy to remove. You'll need a couple of torx screw drivers (T20 & T30 I think).
Remove the rear lamps (the outer lamps on the vehicle body and be very careful if you've got an estate!). Remove the screws under the lamp units (T30s).
Remove rear wheels. (remember to take the lock nut key out of the boot before you put the car on the ramp!)
If you have mudflaps fitted remove them, if not remove the screws (T20s) around the rear of the wheel arch.
In the wheel arch where the plastic bumper joins to the vehicle body, there is a plastic rivet which does up vertically through the bumper into the body. Pry the rivet out.
Under the vehicle, there are two more T30s to remove and there is a plastic panel on the off side that you need to remove (T20s).
Now get someone to help you pull the bumper off. Grip it on at either side and pull it rearward. It fits onto guides at the sides and should slip off.

It sounds like a lot of work, but should only take about 20 - 30 mins. If you don't have the use of a ramp, you can do it without removing the wheels if you can get something to remove the screws with that will fit beween the tyre and the screw. I use a ratchet spanner with an adapter to take my torx bits if I can't get the wheels off.

If your fitting the ultrasonic type sensors, like the Cobra park master supplied by VW, you dont have to remove the bumper. Drill the holes for the sensors and feed the sensor wires between each hole using a welding rod or coat hanger. Start at the off side. put your rod through the O/S inner hole and out the O/S outer. Tape the O/S outer sensor wire onto the rod and pull it through. Now remove the O/S number plate lamp (don't remove the screws, just pry it out) and put the rod in the hole for the number plate lamp and out the O/S inner hole. Tape the O/S outer and O/S inner sensor wires to the rod and pull it through so both wires are now hanging out the hole where the number plate lamp fits. Work your way across the bumper in that fashion then when you have all the sensors fitted route the four wires to the inside of the vehicle via the large gromet behind the bumper at the N/S. And no, you don't need to remove the bumper to get at the grommet. I've got a note of where the holes should be drilled too if anybody wants to know. Regards - Jim.

[Quatrelle]

Thanks Flash2, that's fairly comprehensive!

One other thing that worries me is where to wire into? Is a relay needed (as above) or can I go into the wires at the reversing light?

Your help is much appreciated....

[Flash2]

No need for a relay. you can connect the positive wire of the parking sensor control unit directly to the reverse lamp circuit. I've never done an estate, but on the saloon version you need to remove the N/S boot side trim. Behind the trim near the boot hinge you will see a little carrier with 3 little multiplugs attached. You pick up the reverse light feed there. I think it's a blue plug but I can't remember the colour of the wire off hand. On golfs, polos, etc the reverse light wire is a black with blue tracer, but I have a feeling it's not on the 3C passat. I'll check my notes when I go back to work on Tuesday and let you know, or you could stick the car in reverse and probe the wires with a test lamp.
Glad I could help - Jim.

[Quatrelle]

Tried tapping into one of the three multiplugs - engaged reverse, disconnected one, the reverse light went out, result! or so I thought.....connected into it and, if my memory serves me, got a light on the dash telling me a bulb had a problem (I tried all this a couple of months ago and haven't had time to pursue it until now). Again, if my memory is correct, when I tapped in at the bulb holder everything seemed ok. The problem then was getting the wire back down the boot support arm to the control unit, but I found a way that I could probably do that.

Advice on exactly where to drill the holes would be useful. I was worried about hitting something behind the bumper and/or getting the wires through to the boot, which was why I contemplated ditching the sensors and getting a Taurus electromagnetic system that sticks on.

Thanks again for your time - John

[Flash2]

Hi John. I don't know why you would get a bulb failure warning when connecting at the multiplug in the boot but not when connecting at the bulb holder...it's the same wire. Did you check to see that the reverse lamp was lit when the bulb failure message was displayed?
I'm off work until Tuesday, but I'll dig through my noted and get you the measurements for drilling the holes.
Regards - Jim.

PS. What make are the sensors you fitting?