Front Parking Sensor - Enable at low speed

[ray.ward]

One of my compromises about owning a Tucson was that the front parking sensors would only engage if you reversed first.

Having had a number of Nissans and cars from the VAG group I was surprised to see that both Hyundai and Kia didnt have this

However in going through the many options I stumbled upon a new setting under "Parking Safety"

you can enable them to be active at low speed

"Auto PDW (Parking Distance Warning) Automatic activation of PDW at low speeds"

Lets hope the Auto Hold ALWAYS ON is next on the list of magic to appear

(also seems that the screen is a real fingerprint magnet"

[Unimatrix]

My front sensors are active when i'm sitting in traffic, not just reversing.

[Mar10]

Yeah mine have always been active at low speed without reversing first too. Maybe it just depends on what was set at the factory or dealer first.

[PhilHornby]

I nearly ran over a small wall due to the front Parking Sensors being OFF. I (naturally!) accused the other-half of turning them off, but the root cause was that "Auto PDW" setting. It seems to be the case, that without the option ticked, the sensors are turned off once 'high' speed is reached and do not automatically re-engage at low speed .

The logic of this defeats me - previous cars have had a button to disable or enable the sensors, should you ever feel the need (as does the Tucson).

What problem is "Auto PDW" trying to solve

[Indalo]

It seems to be the case, that without the option ticked, the sensors are turned off once 'high' speed is reached and do not automatically re-engage at low speed .

That’s interesting since I have never checked to see if mine have remained on - I think they are on but I don’t want to find out the hard way.

Thanks for raising the issue.

[Berty]

For my own 2023 Tucson there is a button both on the centre conole with a P and an orange light AND this setting, from the OP. My sensors pick up movements frequently not just in slow moving traffic but also when stopped if the engine is running and the car is in D or R. I know this because often the missus is walking near the car, most often when I drop her to work and she walks in front of the car, the sensors lose their mind.

I've had pedestrians and cyclists etc impact on the sensors, and for me both that settings in the picture was always on from delivery of the car and the P button is always on.

[PhilHornby]

From the manual (granted it's not the UK manual, since I don't have a PDF version of that) :-

It just doesn't say what the object of the exercise is

I can see a reason for them to be manually disabled, on occasion. I can also make an argument for them to be temporarily and automatically disabled at speed (the 'self-parking' Ford Mondeo used to detect Mercedes in adjacent lanes, on the motorway ).

I just can't see why you'd want them to work once and then automatically disable themselves

It would make a lot more sense for the logic to be reversed - so that if you've had to manually disable them, they automatically re-enable themselves after a drive cycle. No more unexpected near misses with low walls

[PhilHornby]

It would make a lot more sense for the logic to be reversed - so that if you've had to manually disable them, they automatically re-enable themselves after a drive cycle. No more unexpected near misses with low walls

I wonder...

Maybe it does do that The manual doesn't appear to say so, but the menu option implies it...

[PhilHornby]

I wonder...

Maybe it does do that The manual doesn't appear to say so, but the menu option implies it...

Right, I tested it.

Auto PDW enabled => The Parking sensors are automatically re-enabled, the next time you come to a stop (or some very low speed). Very useful if you've had to manually disable them earlier.

However ...

Auto PDW disabled => Does the exact opposite Far from being disabled and leaving the sensors alone, it enters a different automatic mode and reverses the logic to make sure they turn OFF, should you have had the temerity to turn them ON

Crazy.