2018 Yaris Front Proximity Sensor

[Casalspring]

I just bought a 2018 Yaris Hibrid. I like the car very much, but in town the proximity sensor drives me crazy. Every time I come to a full stop, or get within 10 or 15 feet from the car in front of me, or pedestrians cross in a cross walk, the thing beeps, and keeps beeping for a few seconds even after every thing is clear and I have started on my way. I know there is a button to silence it, but I am pushing the button every couple of minutes. Is there any way to turn down the sensitivity, or to disable it entirely?

[Starensis]

Not aware of any way of adjusting sensitivity.

[Tomv]

On my Corolla in Carista app there was settings for parking sensor range - long and short. 
Maybe it could be available for Yaris too.

[Juicedrinker69]

Good afternoon, may I ask you something regarding the above?

My partners Yaris bought at 3 years old only 3,500 miles on the clock 2018 model had this issue from day one.  Took it for its service with Toyota dealer bought from (have a 3 year service and mot plan with them) showed them the Toyota Technical service bulletin which clearly shows Toyota knows there is an issue and explained it is driving her nuts as triggers so so often and completely inaccurate as nowhere near anything.  The car now has 11,000 miles on it and they have told me that they might have to charge me to rectify / replace the ecu as it is not covered by warranty!

 

How can something that is a known possible issue not be covered by the warranty when it is clearly not working properly? 

[Casalspring]

I have not attempted to have it fixed.  It drives me crazy, too. The next time I am near a Toyota dealer I will ask them about it. Did they say how much to replace the ECU?

[flash22]

@Juicedrinker69 is it the front parking sensors that going off, I take it they are the factory sensors that you can adjust on the display ?

[Casalspring]

As far as I know, it is the collision avoidance sensitivity you can change in the display, not the parking sensors.

[Juicedrinker69]

1 hour ago, Casalspring said:

As far as I know, it is the collision avoidance sensitivity you can change in the display, not the parking sensors.

 

1 hour ago, Casalspring said:

As far as I know, it is the collision avoidance sensitivity you can change in the display, not the parking sensors.

Thank you but unfortunately it is not the collision avoidance sensors (I work in Motorsport and have a mecahnical and electrical engineering background).  There was a Toyota TSVB specifically for a faulty ECU on 2018 Yaris hybridd such as my partners and on that year model there is no such adjustment available 

[Juicedrinker69]

1 hour ago, flash22 said:

@Juicedrinker69 is it the front parking sensors that going off, I take it they are the factory sensors that you can adjust on the display ?

Yes its the factory fitted one BUT there is no adjustment and through my work contacts I was shown a Toyota TSB regarding this issues on this specific model and it requires an ecu change to rectify it (as per Toyota dealer TSB document).

[Starensis]

Yes, they are very sensitive and no adjustment of sensitivity is available on our MK3 67 plate.

They are as good as useless and need either removing or permanently inhibiting imo.

if there is a TSB, then I’d love to know the ID - our car is in for service soon so will ask them to look into it.

[Juicedrinker69]

51 minutes ago, Starensis said:

Yes, they are very sensitive and no adjustment of sensitivity is available on our MK3 67 plate.

They are as good as useless and need either removing or permanently inhibiting imo.

if there is a TSB, then I’d love to know the ID - our car is in for service soon so will ask them to look into it.

Totally agree, my fiance is driven nuts about them triggering at any time when nowhere near anything and the dealer accepted they were useless when I last had it serviced and went to drive away.  It was parked at least 10m from their building and as soon as I started the car the beeping was going crazy as thought the stationery car was about to touch building.  I went back inside got out service manager and he said'oh yes...thats definatley not right' after switching it off by the button and it triggering again a few seconds later.   There is a TSB Ive not will locate the details and send to you on here but hope you have more success with your dealer as livid they are going to charge her and will be complaining to Toyota HQ.  Just note that when I told them about the TSB the dealer queried how I knew about it and then said car is out of warranty (although 11,000 miles, under 5 years old and bought from them and serviced by them) to say that riled me up is an understatement.

[Juicedrinker69]

4 hours ago, Casalspring said:

I have not attempted to have it fixed.  It drives me crazy, too. The next time I am near a Toyota dealer I will ask them about it. Did they say how much to replace the ECU?

No they didnt as I was very annoyed they are thinking of charging for it.  I will cross that bridge when it is in for service and MOT next week.

[Juicedrinker69]

For anyone interested here is the TSB code, all credit goes to another poster on here who found it a while ago and Toyota acknowedged it but said not if out of warranty. Thats a ridiculous thing because if Toyota have deemed it necessary to supply a replacement ECU to rectify and from what they say on the TSB then they are accepting there is a fault in the first place.

AC-00186T-TME

Subject: Accessory Parking Aid system giving false detects

Area of Application: All Markets

 

Models – Model Codes: Yaris - KSP130, NCP130, NHP130, NLP130, NSP130, NSP131 ;

 

Introduction

This Technical Service Bulletin is to inform you of the production change and repair method for the subject concern. Applicable to vehicles which are equipped with the Toyota parking aid system: PW501-0D110

Description of the phenomenon

Some customers may experience and report that the accessory parking aid system falsely detects an object when actually nothing is present around the front of the vehicle.

Production change

An updated ECU has been developed to assist in preventing this false detection.

As a 2018 car in the UK you are still in warranty (so long as mileage is less 100000 miles ) so contact your dealer an reference the bulletin.

[Starensis]

Thanks for looking that up for us.
 

I’ve copied bulletin and emailed it to my dealer. Will see what comes back. 👍👍
 

Does anyone know where ECU is located; in case it’s a buy it and fit it yourself?

[Juicedrinker69]

15 minutes ago, Starensis said:

Thanks for looking that up for us.
 

I’ve copied bulletin and emailed it to my dealer. Will see what comes back. 👍👍
 

Does anyone know where ECU is located; in case it’s a buy it and fit it yourself?

No problem at all, clearly this is a larger issue amongst 2018 Yaris Hybrids as I've heard a few people complaining about it and in fact one person I know of completely disconnected it which they shouldn't have done as it should work as intended to.  I don't think (hope) they would expect you to fit it yourself.  Please let me know what your dealer says about it and I will update next Friday following the service and MOT.  I hope that more and more people who have this issue actually complain to their dealer or Toyota about it as it is unacceptable.  They seem to only recall cars for issues that are safety related but as my partner said when this suddenly triggers on a road (as it happens for no reason) it often makes her panick a little. 

[Starensis]

It’s as though Toyota knew the front sensors were an issue. From 19 plate, the fronts were discontinued on Icon-Tech and replaced by rear sensors.

We were on the verge of buying a 19 plate and asked why no sensors on front. Dealers answer was “customers didn’t like the front sensors”. So they knew.

[Juicedrinker69]

WOW..... thats a very interesting reply 'customers didn't like the front sensors' as you say they must of known because people would not have had any issue with them if they worked properly and they most definately would not have removed a feature that worked well from a newer model.

[flash22]

If it's the Dealer/Burnaston add on, they may/may not have fitted the disable switch, it that case it's the TPA 400/600 kit - control unit is behind the heater controls, pop the trim off around the gauges, then the long padded facia, unbolt the radio then you can pop the heater controls out (the whole plastic trim comes off complete with the a/c controls

eg. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175651930697

https://www.toyota-tech.eu/aimuploads/4872b69c-17b4-47ca-a39d-f7632b67e11c/Yaris_RHD_TPA_Front_PW501_0D113_AIM_004_685_3.pdf

https://www.toyota-tech.eu/aimuploads/6f9404dc-4444-4acf-b269-a87276b24f09/Yaris(RHD)_TPA_Front_AIM004 554-0.pdf

[Starensis]

27 minutes ago, flash22 said:

If it's the Dealer add on, they may/may not have fitted the disable switch, it that case it's the TPA 400/600 kit - control unit is behind the heater controls, pop the trim off around the gauges, then the long padded facia, unbolt the radio then you can pop the heater controls out (the whole plastic trim comes off complete with the a/c controls

eg. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175651930697

 

 

https://www.toyota-tech.eu/aimuploads/4872b69c-17b4-47ca-a39d-f7632b67e11c/Yaris_RHD_TPA_Front_PW501_0D113_AIM_004_685_3.pdf

https://www.toyota-tech.eu/aimuploads/6f9404dc-4444-4acf-b269-a87276b24f09/Yaris(RHD)_TPA_Front_AIM004 554-0.pdf

 

Is the front assist system dealer fit or plant fit on 2017 Icon-Tech? Looked at build spec of ours on Toyota Tech site and it doesn’t list front parking assist within.

 

[flash22]

A lot of Options are fitted at Burnaston on import to UK spec - the icon-tech had them as standard the rest were the optional parking pack

https://autocatalogarchive.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Toyota-Yaris-2018-UK.pdf

Options – Icon and Icon Tech
— Parking Pack (front and rear
parking sensors§)
— Protection Pack (scuff plates,
front and rear mudflaps and
rear bumper protection plate)
— Style Packs (Chrome, Carbon,
Red or Green (see pages 44
and 45 for more information)

§ Rear sensors only on Icon Tech as
front sensors fitted as standard

[Starensis]

Thanks for the info. Mine are factory fitted then, so Manufacturers defect.

[Juicedrinker69]

Hello just to update anyone who is interested.  Yesterday the Toyota dealer ‘begrudgingly’ changed the ECU chip following me showing him the TSB number and stressing my finances anger over the continual false sensor bleeping at anytime the car is driven.  The outcome is that it is now fixed!!!!  100% correct in how it operates.  I’ve driven more than 100 miles since though towns, car parks, motorways, across country and it is absolutely perfect now so anyone who has this issues with the false proximity alerts MUST insist on the upgraded chip being fitted free of charge 

[Starensis]

Update on this topic. Went armed with this Service Bulletin last week when taking the Yaris in for a service.

After an hour of investigation and claiming no knowledge of the bulletin or issues with front parking system, they confirmed there is indeed a bulletin. They have now arranged a date to fit a new ECU. This is provided under the service warranty - car is now 6 years-old.

Hopefully, this will correct the issue and they refit everything to standard I expect.

[Juicedrinker69]

On 8/26/2023 at 3:23 PM, Starensis said:

Update on this topic. Went armed with this Service Bulletin last week when taking the Yaris in for a service.

After an hour of investigation and claiming no knowledge of the bulletin or issues with front parking system, they confirmed there is indeed a bulletin. They have now arranged a date to fit a new ECU. This is provided under the service warranty - car is now 6 years-old.

Hopefully, this will correct the issue and they refit everything to standard I expect.

@Starensis Hello not sure how I missed your update on here - just seen it!

All the best with that new ECU and I can still confirm that my fiance who drive her Yaris everyday says that it is still working 100% perfectly as it should do so she is delighted as was tearing her hair out with the constant (and at times like on an empty M/way) very random bleeping linked to the front proximity sensors.  Its now working exactly as it should do BUT I am very disappointed at the Toyota dealers denial (even after the issue / fault and TSB was shown).

Its very poor for a brand thats supposed to be good and more akin to what I would of expected from Alfa Romeo who used to tell me whenever there was a bizarre fault or something falling off like the door handle on my 12 month old car that it was a 'character / quirk' of the vehicle and nothing to be fixed under warranty!

I actually don't trust any vehicle manufacturers now as even had issues with a low mileage Lexus that I bought from a main dealer (and it certainly wasn't cheap!) and ended up having to report them to Lexus HQ and within 30 minutes of the complaint the Dealer Principle phoned me and promised me all sorts to rectify their sales and service department mistakes that he admitted they had made.  After a week they returned the car to me and had rectified some things but 'forgot' to do the others that were promised 😠.

 

 

[Starensis]

1 hour ago, Juicedrinker69 said:

@Starensis Hello not sure how I missed your update on here - just seen it!

All the best with that new ECU and I can still confirm that my fiance who drive her Yaris everyday says that it is still working 100% perfectly as it should do so she is delighted as was tearing her hair out with the constant (and at times like on an empty M/way) very random bleeping linked to the front proximity sensors.  Its now working exactly as it should do BUT I am very disappointed at the Toyota dealers denial (even after the issue / fault and TSB was shown).

Its very poor for a brand thats supposed to be good and more akin to what I would of expected from Alfa Romeo who used to tell me whenever there was a bizarre fault or something falling off like the door handle on my 12 month old car that it was a 'character / quirk' of the vehicle and nothing to be fixed under warranty!

I actually don't trust any vehicle manufacturers now as even had issues with a low mileage Lexus that I bought from a main dealer (and it certainly wasn't cheap!) and ended up having to report them to Lexus HQ and within 30 minutes of the complaint the Dealer Principle phoned me and promised me all sorts to rectify their sales and service department mistakes that he admitted they had made.  After a week they returned the car to me and had rectified some things but 'forgot' to do the others that were promised 😠.

 

 

Yeah, even Lexus have bad dealers. After all, they’re still run by Listers, Steven Eagell etc.