Front Curb Alarm

[tsunami]

On my test drive at my dealer...the sales person told me to pull as far forward as I could, to clear lot traffic. After I got out, I knelt down and looked at the curb and the air dam...I couldn't see any gap. I had him look...he said "d%^n, this is the lowest curb in the lot".
I wonder how many GTs now have badly scraped or torn air dams?

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[davekro]

Got the curb alert mini installed and working. Numerous lessons learned with recommendations and photos.

1. With the hood up I took a straightened coat hanger and pushed it
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6

The pictures should help out with my description of the install.

Thanks so much for the install info and pics. :hail:

I read elsewhere that it might be helpful to first install with plain double sticky tape* while testing and adjusting, that way you can change your mind on location or exact angle of surface to choose. (* tape can even be made less sticky by applying to your pants a time or two, so you it can come off easily).

Can you describe the test you planned to see how wide the beam detects at it's farthest and closest activation?

Can you post a picture several feet away so we can see how noticeable or not that the sensor is? Though I am pretty sure it is MUCH less noticeable than a crunched air dam. :eyebulge:

 

[davekro]

On my test drive at my dealer...the sales person told me to pull as far forward as I could, to clear lot traffic. After I got out, I knelt down and looked at the curb and the air dam...I couldn't see any gap. I had him look...he said "d%^n, this is the lowest curb in the lot".
I wonder how many GTs now have badly scraped or torn air dams?

Did the curb hit above the rubber and actually contact the hard air dam? Did you hear anything as you pulled it over the curb. What would you say the curb height was and the distance from the rubber to the ground, roughly?

(obviously I still have an order, not an actual car. ;)

 

[texag70]

Thanks so much for the install info and pics. :hail:

I read elsewhere that it might be helpful to first install with plain double sticky tape* while testing and adjusting, that way you can change your mind on location or exact angle of surface to choose. (* tape can even be made less sticky by applying to your pants a time or two, so you it can come off easily).

Can you describe the test you planned to see how wide the beam detects at it's farthest and closest activation?

Can you post a picture several feet away so we can see how noticeable or not that the sensor is? Though I am pretty sure it is MUCH less noticeable than a crunched air dam. :eyebulge:

Appears the field of view of the sensor it about 10 deg left and right. Outside of that it would not see the 4 inch high test box at all. IMO to have complete front end warning would require at least 3 sensors: two additional sensors with each located on the edge of both sides of the lower grill.

 

[davekro]

Appears the field of view of the sensor it about 10 deg left and right. Outside of that it would not see the 4 inch high test box at all. IMO to have complete front end warning would require at least 3 sensors: two additional sensors with each located on the edge of both sides of the lower grill.

So, in use, how close is curb when beeping starts?
Can you describe how it acts as you approach closer?
Can you easily tell when you are consistanly just a few inches away, or is it less exact and you use it to stay more than a few inches away.

I guess I'm trying to get a sense if, like a back up camera, you can tell when you are just about to hit the object. Obviously by sound ;)
Thanks again for pioneering! :clap2:

 

[texag70]

So, in use, how close is curb when beeping starts?
Can you describe how it acts as you approach closer?
Can you easily tell when you are consistanly just a few inches away, or is it less exact and you use it to stay more than a few inches away.

I guess I'm trying to get a sense if, like a back up camera, you can tell when you are just about to hit the object. Obviously by sound ;)
Thanks again for pioneering! :clap2:

It's a very simple warning. At about 18-20 inches from the curb the buzzer gives a double beep and that's it. No other warnings as you get closer so after you hear the two beeps and get closer you're on your own. Bottom line is when you hear the double beep you're probably close enough.

 

[davekro]

It's a very simple warning. At about 18-20 inches from the curb the buzzer gives a double beep and that's it. No other warnings as you get closer so after you hear the two beeps and get closer you're on your own. Bottom line is when you hear the double beep you're probably close enough.

Good to know. Does your estimate of 10º mean 5º left and 5º left for a total of a 10º span? I'd guess, since it advertised as a pencil beam. Tks

Post back after you have used it in the wild, so to speak for a week or so with how it is working for you. I'll have to start payning attention if some parking lots have left or right offset parking blocks. My mind thinks most all are centered (good for this system). I'd just not want to get lazed into depending too much on the beep.

 

[CorvetteDreamin]

A couple of problems I see with this install even though it WILL work.

1) You shouldn't wire directly to the battery -- it will create a parasitic drain on the battery. And although minimal, it will draw power. It should run to the fuse box to a circuit that is only powered on when the "key" is on. And if you DO run to the battery, you should have a fuse between the control box and the battery (as close to the battery as possible).

2) The routing of the sensor wire (and power) through the fender and under the door frame seal. That's sharp sheet metal under there and not a good way to run a cable. This should go through the firewall.

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