Faulty parking sensor - bumper can’t come off help!

[Mos6689]

Hi all

So I’ve got a faulty rear parking sensor. Identified which one and went to take the rear bumper off today but the torx screws on either side have threaded heads. So a PITA to get the bumper off. Thankfully I can actually reach the faulty sensor behind the bumper as it’s one of the centre ones.

My question is how are they fitted? Do I pull into the car or push out? Are there any clips? Do I twist? I can’t see the sensor, I can only get my hand to it and feel it and couldn’t work out how to remove it. Had a look on here and there’s no mention of actually removing the sensor itself because I assume its pretty self explanatory once the bumpers off.

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[ph001]

They remove inwards and have a couple of retaining clips each side that you need to gently prise outwards with a flat blade screwdriver. I think it will be tricky to do with the bumper in place.

They tend to go faulty when water gets in them, so it’s definitely worth giving them a good spray with wd40. This has cured many a dodgy sensor in the past.

 

[Mos6689]

They remove inwards and have a couple of retaining clips each side that you need to gently prise outwards with a flat blade screwdriver. I think it will be tricky to do with the bumper in place.

They tend to go faulty when water gets in them, so it’s definitely worth giving them a good spray with wd40. This has cured many a dodgy sensor in the past.

Thanks bud appreciate that. I did try wd40 but didn’t have any luck unfortunately. I thought this was the problem initially because in the summer they started working again. The one that’s faulty has a faint continuous ticking compared to the other 3 that tick 3 times then pause then 3 times and so on.

Ordered one off eBay for £25 so even if it doesn’t work & turns out to be wiring, I won’t be too peeved off with the spend.

Any ideas on how to resolve the bumper off issue?

 

[Wortmanov]

Just wondering which torx screws you are referring to?
The bumper is held in place with some screws (regular bolts in my case) under the car and plastic clips in the wheel wells. Remove those and you can (gently but firmly) pull either end outwards, after which you pull it straight back. Helps having 2 people, because you don't want to destroy the wiring.

 

[Mos6689]

Yes there are bolts underneath the bumper and then (according to a how to guide on here) there are 2 torx bolts either side attaching the wings to the bumper. On your Z you’re saying it’s the same as the front bumper? Clips holding the sides in where it meets the rear wings?

Can anyone else shed any light on this?

 

[dhobbs]

Bolts underneath the bumper, three pull rivet retainers in each of the wheel arches, then pull the bumper outwards at the arches.
No torx bolts!

 

[Mos6689]

Bolts underneath the bumper, three pull rivet retainers in each of the wheel arches, then pull the bumper outwards at the arches.
No torx bolts!

This should make my life a hell of a lot easier! Thanks for the pic dhobbs!

 

[dhobbs]

No problem, happy to help.

I had to replace one of my sensors only last month. The worst bit was trying to get the sensor unclipped without damaging anything. Small screwdrivers under the clip as mentioned previously worked.

 

[Wortmanov]

Second that, and please, have someone helping you, especially if it's the first time. It is quite easy to damage the wiring (brittle)...

 

[dhobbs]

I also found that disconnecting the wiring from the control unit and feeding through the grommet helps the removal as the wiring is all connected to the bumper.

 

[Mos6689]

The thing that caught me and my body shop out a few times was the way the bumpers pry off. My body shop broke the retaining clips twice.

Once all the retaining clips and fasteners are out, a couple of small bolts as well. You have to gently but firmly pull them away. Just grab one side in different areas where you think they may pry away from and pull towards you, you’ll know what too much force is when pulling them away.