Rostra Backzone 250-1901 User manual

ULTRASONIC PARKING SYSTEM
CONTENTS
PARTS IDENTIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
SYSTEM OVERVIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
PRECAUTIONS & LIMITATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
INSTALLATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
WARRANTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
®
Form #5228, Rev. A, 04-14-10

PARTS IDENTIFICATION
ITEM QTY DESCRIPTION
1 1 ECU CONTROL MODULE
2 1 SENSOR HARNESS
3 1 POWER HARNESS
4 1 SENSORS
5 1 ALARM
6 1 INSTALLATION/OPERATOR MANUAL
7 1 HARDWARE PACKAGE
8 4 FLAT BEZELS
9 4 ANGLED BEZELS
1
6
4
2
5
7
3
PAGE 2
89

WARNING: THE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPLEMENT OTHER SAFETY
PRACTICES BY ENHANCING DRIVER AWARENESS OF DIFFICULT-TO-SEE AREAS. FAILURE TO
OPERATE THE SYSTEM IN THE MANNER SPECIFIED IN THIS MANUAL COULD RESULT IN PER-
SONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR POSSIBLY DEATH. ALWAYS INSPECT BEHIND AND
BELOW YOUR VEHICLE PRIOR TO BACKING UP TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF PROPERTY
DAMAGE AND BODILY INJURY. ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN BACKING UP. RESPONSIBILITY
FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE REMAINS WITH THE DRIVER.
FIGURE 1
SYSTEM LAYOUT
BEFORE BEGINNING INSTALLATION, FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE INSTALLATION INSTRUC-
TIONS AND THE BACKZONE SYSTEM COMPONENTS. TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY:
A) MAKE SURE YOUR VEHICLE IS IN "PARK".
B) APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.
C) PLACE WHEEL BLOCKS BEHIND THE REAR TIRES.
D) IF YOU LIFT THE VEHICLE, ENSURE THAT YOU USE JACK STANDS AND FOLLOW THE
VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURER LIFTING INSTRUCTIONS.
E) READ THIS MANUAL BEFORE STARTING.
CAUTION: IT IS ADVISABLE TO DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE FOR 3 MIN-
UTES BEFORE BEGINNING INSTALLATION, TO AVOID UNINTENDED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.
NOTE AND RECORD ANY ANTI-THEFT RADIO CODES PRIOR TO DISCONNECTING.THIS VEHICLE
IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ULTRASONIC PARKING ASSIST SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM IS A STATE-OF-THE
ART PARKING AID THAT USES ULTRASONIC TECHNOLOGY TO DETECT OBSTACLES IN A VEHICLE'S
REARWARD BLIND SPOTS. THE SYSTEM IS ONLY OPERATIONAL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN
REVERSE. WHEN TARGETS, SUCH AS PARKED CARS, TREES, AND WALLS ARE DETECTED IN THE
COVERAGE AREA OF THE SENSORS, THE SYSTEM WILL GIVE AN AUDIBLE ALERT ("BEEPS") TO
THE DRIVER VIA THE ALARM UNIT MOUNTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
PAGE 3

DETECTION ZONES
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO REVERSE,
THE SYSTEM WILL SOUND ONE QUICK "BEEP"
TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE SYSTEM HAS
BEEN ACTIVATED. THE SYSTEM WILL ALERT
THE DRIVER TO THE PRESENCE OF A TARGET
WHEN IT IS WITHIN ONE OF THE FIVE DETEC-
TION ZONES AS SHOWN IN DIAGRAM A. ZONE
1 IS THE FIRST DETECTION ZONE AND COVERS
THE DISTANCE FROM APPROXIMATELY 5FT TO
4FT FROM THE REAR BUMPER. THE ALARM
UNIT WILL GIVE A SLOW BEEPING SOUND IF A
TARGET ENTERS INTO THIS ZONE. ZONE 2
COVERS THE DISTANCE FROM APPROXIMATELY
4FT TO 3FT. THE ALARM UNIT WILL GIVE A
FASTER BEEPING SOUND WHEN A TARGET
PASSES INTO THIS ZONE. ZONE 3 COVERS THE
DISTANCE FROM APPROXIMATELY 3FT TO 2FT
FROM THE REAR BUMPER. THE ALARM UNIT
WILL GIVE A FAST BEEPING SOUND IF A TAR-
GET ENTERS INTO THIS ZONE. ZONE 4 COVERS
THE DISTANCE FROM APPROXIMATELY 2FT TO
1FT. THE ALARM UNIT WILL GIVE THE FASTEST
BEEPING SOUND WHEN A TARGET PASSES INTO
THIS ZONE. ZONE 5 IS THE FINAL ZONE AND
COVERS THE AREA FROM 1FT TO 0FT FROM THE BUMPER. THE ALARM WILL SOUND A CONTIN-
UOUS TONE WHEN THE TARGET IS DETECTED IN THIS ZONE.
NOTE: ALL MEASUREMENTS ARE APPROXIMATE. DUE TO AN OBJECT’S POSITION, SHAPE,
SIZE OR ANGLE, THE REFLECTED SIGNAL READ BY THE SENSOR MAY BE AFFECTED.
WHEN THE TARGET MOVES ENTIRELY OUT OF THE DETECTION AREA, THE SYSTEM WILL STOP
ALARMING. THE ULTRASONIC PARKING ASSIST SYSTEM ALERTS THE DRIVER TO MOVING AND
STATIONARY TARGETS. THE SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN OUT OF
REVERSE GEAR.
PLEASE NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TOW HITCH HARDWARE OR
EXTERNAL/REAR MOUNTED SPARE TIRE SHOULD TEST SENSOR LOCA-
TIONS PRIOR TO DRILLING HOLES.
1. FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS BEGINNING ON PAGE 7, MARK HOLE LOCATIONS ON THE
BUMPER BUT DO NOT DRILL HOLES. CONNECT 1SENSOR TO MAIN SENSOR HARNESS.
CONNECT MAIN SENSOR HARNESS, ALARM UNIT AND POWER HARNESS TO ECU.
2. CONNECT POWER HARNESS TO +12V AND GROUND AND TURN ON THE SYSTEM.
CAUTION: IF USING VEHICLE POWER, APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE, TURN IGNITION SWITCH
TO THE ON POSITION, DO NOT START ENGINE, PLACE VEHICLE IN REVERSE.
ZONE 1
ZONE 2
ZONE 3
ZONE 4
ZONE 5
b b
Beeeeeeeee
bbbbbbbbbbbbb
b b b b b b b
b b b
DIAGRAM A
PAGE 4
SYSTEM OVERVIEW

3. AVOIDING USER DETECTION, HOLD THE SENSOR (WITH LOCATOR UP AND SENSOR FACE
PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND) AT EACH MARKED LOCATION. IF THE SYSTEM DETECTS THE
HITCH OR SPARE TIRE, MOVE THE SENSOR AWAY FROM THE CENTERLINE OF THE VEHICLE
UNTIL NO DETECTION IS HEARD.
4. MARK NEW LOCATIONS SYMMETRICAL ABOUT THE VEHICLE CENTERLINE AND RETEST.
IF DETECTION IS UNAVOIDABLE, OR NEW SENSOR LOCATIONS DO NOT ADEQUATELY COVER THE
CENTER PORTION OF THE BUMPER, USE ROSTRA PARKPILOT SERIES 250-1814/1832 WITH
DYNAMIC SCAN MEMORY TO AVOID DETECTION OF REAR MOUNT SPARE TIRE AND TOW HITCH
HARDWARE.
PRECAUTIONS
A. IN VERY COLD WEATHER THE SENSOR MAY NOT DETECT OBSTACLES.
B. THE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM IS STRICTLY MEANT AS A DRIVER'S AID WHEN PARKING OR BACK-
ING UP YOUR VEHICLE. NOT ALL OBJECTS WILL BE DETECTED BY THE SENSORS. THEREFORE,
YOU MUST EXERCISE CAUTION AND COMMON SENSE WHILE DRIVING.
C. DO NOT EXCEED A SPEED OF 4 MPH WHILE BACKING UP.
D. ALWAYS STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN A SOLID TONE IS HEARD FROM THE ALARM UNIT AS IT
INDICATES AN OBJECT IS DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE REAR OF YOUR VEHICLE.
E. REGULARLY INSPECT THE SENSORS AND KEEP THEM CLEAN.
F. SYSTEM SENSITIVITY MAY BE DECREASED SLIGHTLY IF THE FACE OF THE SENSOR IS WET.
LIMITATIONS
A. UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, THE DETECTION FUNCTION MAY NOT FUNCTION PROP-
ERLY:
1. THE SENSOR IS COVERED WITH FOREIGN MATTER, SUCH AS MUD OR SNOW (DETECTION
FUNCTION RETURNS TO NORMAL IF SENSOR IS CLEANED).
2. THE SENSOR IS FROZEN (DETECTION FUNCTION RETURNS TO NORMAL WHEN DEFROST-
ED).
3. A HAND IS BLOCKING THE SENSOR.
4. THE VEHICLE IS IN A VERY HOT OR COLD AREA.
5. DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD, ON AN UNPAVED ROAD OR IN TALL GRASS.
6. ANOTHER VEHICLE'S HORN, MOTORCYCLE ENGINE SOUNDS, A LARGE VEHICLE'S AIR
BRAKE SOUND, ANOTHER VEHICLE'S SONAR OR OTHER THINGS THAT TRANSMIT ULTRA-
SONIC WAVES ARE NEAR THE VEHICLE.
7. IT IS RAINING HEAVILY OR WATER IS SPRAYED ON THE SENSOR.
8. THE VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY TILTED.
9. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A COMMERCIAL FENDER POLE OR A WIRELESS MECHA-
NISM ANTENNA.
10. THE SENSOR IS COVERED WITH FOREIGN MATTER, SUCH AS MUD OR SNOW.
11. THE VEHICLE IS MOVED FORWARD OR BACKWARD TOWARDS HIGH CURBS OR OBJECTS
THAT ARE PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND.
PAGE 5
PRECAUTIONS & LIMITATIONS

B. THE SENSOR CANNOT DETECT THE FOLLOWING OBJECTS:
1. THIN OBJECTS, SUCH AS WIRES AND ROPES.
2. MATERIALS THAT EASILY ABSORB ULTRASONIC WAVES, SUCH AS COTTON, SNOW, ETC.
3. OBJECTS WITH SHARP EDGES.
4. SHORT OBJECTS.
5. TALL OBJECTS WITH A PROJECTED UPPER PART.
C. OTHER NOTICES:
1. THE SENSOR CANNOT DETECT OBJECTS DIRECTLY UNDER THE BUMPER. (THE SENSOR
MAY DETECT LOW OBJECTS AND THIN POLES, AND THEN LOSE TRACK OF THE
OBJECTS.)
2. THE SENSOR MAY BE UNABLE TO DETECT OBSTACLES THAT ARE TOO CLOSE TO THE
SENSOR.
3. THE SENSOR MAY BE UNABLE TO DETECT OBSTACLES IF IT IS DROPPED OR SUBJECTED
TO A STRONG IMPACT.
PAGE 6
1. THE SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT VERY
LOW LYING TARGETS SUCH AS CURBS.
2. THE SYSTEM WILL DETECT AREAS B
AND C, BUT NOT AREA A.
3. POINT A IS BE DETECTED FIRST, AND
THEN POINT B IS DETECTED AS THE CAR
MOVES CLOSER. HOWEVER, IF THE TAR-
GET GETS TOO CLOSE, POINT A MAY FALL
INTO A BLIND SPOT AND POINT B WILL BE
MISJUDGED AS THE CLOSEST DISTANCE.
4. WHEN BACKING TO A SMOOTH WALL
ALMOST PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF
TRAVEL, THE WALL MAY NOT BE DETECT-
ED AS MOST OF THE SIGNAL IS REFLECT-
ED AWAY.
5. WHEN THE CAR APPROACHES A GRAD-
UAL SLOPE, THE SLOPE MAY NOT BE
DETECTED.
6. THE SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT A
SMALL AND SMOOTH POLE.

PAGE 7
STEP 1: SENSOR LOCATION
1. THE BACKZONE SENSORS ARE DESIGNED TO
MOUNT FLUSH IN A BUMPER FASCIA. THE
IDEAL LOCATION WILL BE A FLAT SURFACE
THAT IS PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND,
AND 18"-22" ABOVE THE GROUND. WRAP
THE BUMPER WITH TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE
PLASTIC. FOR THE 2 SENSOR SYSTEM, MEAS-
URE THE WIDTH OF THE BUMPER AND MARK
LOCATIONS FOR SENSORS AT 1/4 DISTANCE
FROM EACH END. FOR THE 4 SENSOR SYS-
TEM, MEASURE THE WIDTH OF THE BUMPER
AND MARK THE LOCATIONS AT 1/8 AND 3/8
DISTANCE IN FROM EACH END AS SHOWN IN
FIGURE 2.
NOTE: VEHICLES WITH METAL OR ANGLED
BUMPERS MUST USE BEZELS. FOR METAL
BUMPERS WITH FLAT MOUNTING SURFACES
PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND, USE THE
FLAT BEZELS PROVIDED. FOR ANGLED
BUMPERS (METAL OR PLASTIC) USE
ANGLED BEZELS PROVIDED.
2. IF USING BEZELS, USE A 26MM HOLE SAW TO
DRILL HOLE AT EACH MARK. IF NO BEZELS
ARE REQUIRED, USE A 22MM (7/8") HOLE
SAW. MAKE SURE THE PILOT BIT ON THE
HOLE SAW IS FLUSH WITH THE PILOT HOLE IN
THE BUMPER. THIS WILL ENSURE AN EVEN
CUT. CAREFULLY DEBURR THE HOLES IN THE
BUMPER. SEE FIGURE 3.
STEP 2: SENSOR MOUNTING
1. IF USING BEZELS, TURN BEZEL SO THE
LOCATING KEY IS IN THE 12 O’CLOCK POSI-
TION (TOWARD THE TOP OF THE CAR). PRESS
THE BEZEL FIRMLY INTO BUMPER, MAKING
SURE IT SNAPS INTO PLACE. FIGURE 4
2. CONNECT THE SENSORS TO THE MAIN SENSOR
HARNESS UNDER THE VEHICLE.
NOTE: IT IS EASIER TO PASS THE MAIN SEN-
SOR HARNESS LEFT AND RIGHT LOOM CON-
NECTORS THROUGH THE DRILLED HOLES
BEFORE CONNECTING AND INSERTING THE
SENSORS.
INSTALLATION
1/4
1/4
3/8
1/8
3/8
1/8
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
DRILL 7/8” (22MM) HOLE
ALIGN SENSOR
WITH BEZEL KEY
12 O’CLOCK
TOP OF VEHICLE
FIGURE 4

PAGE 8
STEP 2: SENSOR MOUNTING (CONT.)
3. TURN THE SENSOR SO THAT THE MOUNTING
TAB WITH THE ARROW IS FACING THE TOP OF
THE VEHICLE, FIGURES 4 & 5. PRESS THE
SENSOR FIRMLY INTO THE FASCIA (OR BEZEL),
MAKING SURE THE SENSOR SNAPS INTO
PLACE.
4. MAKE SURE THE END OF THE MAIN HARNESS
WITH THE CONNECTORS ROUTES ALONG THE
PASSENGER OR DRIVER SIDE. USE WIRE TIES
WHERE NECESSARY TO SECURE AND PROTECT
HARNESS. CUT A SLIT IN THE DESIRED
GROMMET LOCATION AND PASS THE SENSOR
HARNESS THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR OF THE
VEHICLE. IN SOME VEHICLES, ACCESS TO
TRUNK AREA CAN BE FOUND BY REMOVING
TAIL LIGHT FIXTURE. SEAL GROMMET WITH
SILICONE SEALANT.
STEP 3: POWER CONNECTIONS &
MOUNT ECU
1. CONNECT THE BLACK 4-PIN CONNECTOR
FROM THE POWER HARNESS TO THE CONTROL
MODULE (ECU). USING THE SUPPLIED CON-
NECTORS, CONNECT THE RED POWER WIRE
OF THE BACKZONE POWER HARNESS TO THE
+12V REVERSE LIGHT. CONNECT THE BLACK
GROUND WIRE OF THE BACKZONE POWER
HARNESS TO THE REVERSE LIGHT GROUND OR
A CHASSIS GROUND. CONNECT THE SENSOR
HARNESS TO THE CONTROL MODULE.
2. USING THE SUPPLIED RECTANGULAR PAD,
MOUNT THE ECU BEHIND A TRIM PANEL IN
THE TRUNK OR CARGO AREA. THE ECU
MUST BE MOUNTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE
AWAY FROM AREAS PRONE TO MOISTURE.
ALSO, MAKE SURE THE IN-LINE FUSE HOLDER
IS ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SECURE
EXCESS WIRE WITH WIRE TIES.
INSTALLATION
UP
FIGURE 5

PAGE 9
STEP 4: ALARM UNIT MOUNTING
1. CONNECT ONE SIDE OF THE ALARM UNIT
EXTENSION HARNESS TO THE 2-PIN CON-
NECTOR FROM THE POWER HARNESS.
CONNECT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ALARM
UNIT EXTENSION HARNESS TO THE 2-PIN
CONNECTOR FROM THE ALARM UNIT. USING
THE SUPPLIED ROUND VELCRO PAD, MOUNT
THE ALARM UNIT TO ANY FLAT SURFACE
BEHIND A TRIM PANEL AS SHOWN IN
FIGURE 6.
STEP 5: TESTING
1. RECONNECT NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE
AND TORQUE TO 3 FT*LBS. REENTER ANY
THEFT DETERRENT INFORMATION, IF APPLI-
CABLE.
2. TURN THE IGNITION TO THE "ON" POSITION,
ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND PUT
THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. THE ALARM
UNIT WILL ALERT ONE QUICK BEEP TO INDI-
CATE THAT THE SYSTEM IS ACTIVE. HAVE
AN ASSISTANT WALK INTO THE DETECTION
AREA AND TRIGGER AN ALARM. CYCLE THE
REVERSE GEAR AND VERIFY THAT THE SYS-
TEM POWERS UP AGAIN. AVERAGE DIS-
TANCES ARE AS FOLLOWS (SEE DETECTION
ZONES, PAGE 3):
ZONE 1 (SLOW BEEPING) - 60" TO 47"
ZONE 2 (QUICKER BEEPING) - 47" TO 34"
ZONE 3 (FASTER BEEPING) - 34" TO 24"
ZONE 4 (FASTEST BEEPING) - 24" TO 14"
ZONE 5 (SOLID TONE) - 14" TO 0"
STEP 6: REASSEMBLY
1. REINSTALL ALL TRIM PIECES TAKING SPE-
CIAL CARE TO ENSURE HARNESSES AND
WIRING CONNECTIONS ARE PROPERLY
SECURED.
2. BE SURE HARNESS IS NOT PINCHED OR
BOUND BY TRIM PIECES.
3. PLACE THE OWNER'S CARD IN THE GLOVE
BOX.
4. RECONNECT ALL DISCONNECTED BULBS
AND CHECK FOR FUNCTION.
INSTALLATION
FIGURE 6

PAGE 10
MAINTENANCE
ALWAYS KEEP SENSORS CLEAN, AS DEPOSITS OF DIRT OR CAR POLISH RESIDUE MAY RESULT IN
ERRORS. WATER FROM WASHING YOUR CAR, OR RAIN ON THE SENSORS MAY ALSO EFFECT THE
ACCURACY OF THE SYSTEM AND CAUSE FALSE READINGS. GROOVE ON THE SENSOR MUST BE
CLEAN WITH NO DEPOSITS OF DIRT OR CAR POLISH RESIDUE.
DO NOT WASH
THE SENSORS
WITH SQUIRT
GUN OR SWAB
THEM FORCIBLY
PLEASE WASH
THE CAR WITH
LOW-PRESSURE
WATER
NOTES