2024 Fiat 500e Park Assist Sensors User Guide
This Guide covers 2024 Fiat 500e Park Assist Sensors. These sensors identify impediments, sound alarms, and help move in tight areas, improving parking safety and minimizing crashes.
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FRONT/REAR PARK ASSIST — IF EQUIPPED
The Park Assist system provides visual and audible indications of the distance between the rear and/or front fascia/bumper and a detected obstacle when backing up or moving forward (e.g. during a parking maneuver).
Park Assist will retain the last system state (enabled or disabled) from the last ignition cycle when the ignition is changed to the ON/RUN position.
Park Assist is active when the gear selector is shifted to REVERSE or to a forward gear and an obstacle is detected (if equipped with front sensors), as long as the system is on. When the gear selector shifted to NEUTRAL (or PARK in case of automatic gearbox), the system becomes inactive. When the vehicle is moving forward, the system will remain active until the vehicle speed remains below approximately 8 mph (13 km/h). Reducing the speed approximately below 7 mph (11 km/h), the system will come back active. When the vehicle is moving in REVERSE, the system will remain active as long as the speed remains below the maximum operating speed of 7 mph (11 km/h). When the maximum speed limit is exceeded, the system is disabled and the Park Assist switch LED will illuminate. The system will become active again if the vehicle speed reduces below approximately 6 mph (9 km/h).
PARK ASSIST SENSORS
The three or five Park Assist sensors, located in the rear fascia/bumper, monitor the area behind the vehicle that is within the sensors’ field of view. The sensors can detect obstacles from approximately 12 inches (30 cm) up to 59 inches (150 cm) from the rear fascia/bumper in the horizontal direction, depending on the location, type and orientation of the obstacle.
The four Park Assist sensors, located in the front fascia/bumper (if equipped), monitor the area in front of the vehicle that is within the sensors’ field of view. The sensors can detect obstacles from approximately 12 inches (30 cm) up to 35 inches (90 cm) from
the front fascia/bumper in the horizontal direction, depending on the location, type and orientation of the obstacle.
PARK ASSIST WARNING DISPLAY
The Park Assist Warning screen will only be displayed if “Sound and Display” is selected from the Uconnect system.
The Park Assist Warning screen is located within the instrument cluster display. It provides visual warnings to indicate the distance between the rear fascia/bumper and/or front fascia/bumper and the detected obstacle.
PARK ASSIST DISPLAY
The Park Assist warning screen will be displayed when the activation conditions described before are met
The system will indicate a detected obstacle by showing a single arc in the left and/or right front or rear regions based on the object’s distance and location relative to the vehicle.
If an object is detected in the left and/or right front or rear region, the display will show a single arc in the left and/or right front or rear region and the system will produce a tone. As the vehicle moves closer to the object, the display will show the single arc moving closer to the vehicle and the tone will change from a single 1/2 second tone to slow, to fast, to continuous.
Solid arcs will be shown only when the obstacles are out of driving tube. In the other case, arcs will be flashing.
Rear ParkSense Arcs
- Continuous Tone/Flashing Arc
- Fast Tone/Flashing Arc
- Fast Tone/Flashing Arc
- Slow Tone/Flashing Arc
- Slow Tone/Flashing Arc
- Slow Tone/Flashing Arc
Front/Rear/Side ParkSense Arcs
- Slow Tone/Flashing Arc
- Fast Tone/Flashing Arc
- Fast Tone/Flashing Arc
- Continuous Tone/Flashing Arc
- Continuous Tone/Flashing Arc
- Fast Tone/Flashing Arc
- Fast Tone/Flashing Arc
- Slow Tone/Flashing Arc
- Slow Tone/Flashing Arc
- Slow Tone/Flashing Arc
- Continuous Tone/Flashing Arc
- Fast Tone/Flashing Arcs
The vehicle is close to the obstacle when the warning display shows one flashing arc and sounds a continuous tone. The following charts show the warning alert operation when the system is detecting an obstacle:
| WARNING ALERTS FOR REAR | |||||||
| Rear Distance (in-
ches/cm) |
Greater than 59 in-
ches (150 cm) |
59-52 inches
(150-130 cm) |
52-41 inches
(130-105 cm) |
41-34 inches
(105-85 cm) |
34-24 inches
(85-60 cm) |
24-12 inches
(60-30 cm) |
Less than 12 in-
ches (30 cm) |
| Arcs — Left | None | None | None | None | None | 6th Flashing | 5th Flashing |
| Arcs — Center | None | 10th Flashing | 9th Flashing | 8th Flashing | 7th Flashing | 6th Flashing | 5th Flashing |
| Arcs — Right | None | None | None | None | None | 6th Flashing | 5th Flashing |
| Audible Alert Chime | None | Audible chime increases as the object gets closer to the vehicle | Continuous | ||||
| Radio Volume Re-
duced |
No | Yes | |||||
| WARNING ALERTS FOR FRONT | |||||
| Front Distance (inches/cm) | Greater than 35 inches (90
cm) |
35-30 inches (90-75 cm) | 30-24 inches (75-60 cm) | 24-12 inches (60-30 cm) | Less than 12 inches (30
cm) |
| Arcs — Left | None | None | None | 3rd Flashing | 4th Flashing |
| Arcs — Center | None | 1st Flashing | 2nd Flashing | 3rd Flashing | 4th Flashing |
| Arcs — Right | None | None | None | 3rd Flashing | 4th Flashing |
| Audible Alert Chime | None | Audible chime increases as the object gets close to the vehicle | Continuous | ||
| Radio Volume Reduced | No | Yes | |||
NOTE:
Park Assist will reduce the volume of the radio, if on, when the system is sounding an audible tone.
Front Park Assist Audible Alerts
Park Assist will turn off the Front Park Assist audible alert (chime) after approximately three seconds when an obstacle has been detected, and the vehicle is stationary. If the obstacle has been detected within less than 12 inches (30 cm), then the Park Assist will not turn off the Front Park Assist audible alert.
Adjustable Chime Volume Settings
Front and Rear chime volume settings can be selected from the Customer-Programmable Features section of the Uconnect system.
If the Uconnect system is equipped, chime volume settings will not be accessible from the instrument cluster display.
The chime volume settings include low, medium, and high. Park Assist will retain its last known configuration state through ignition cycles.
ENABLING AND DISABLING PARK ASSIST
Park Assist can be enabled and disabled with the Park Assist switch, located on the left side of the dashboard. When the Park Assist switch is pushed to disable the system, the instrument cluster display will show the “Park Assist Disabled” message for approximately five seconds.
The Park Assist switch LED, above speed threshold will always be on and below speed threshold only if the system is disabled or requires service. The Park Assist switch LED will be off when the system is enabled and the below speed threshold. If the Park Assist switch is pushed, and the system requires service, the Park Assist switch LED will blink momentarily, and then the LED will be on.
NOTE:
The rear sensors are automatically deactivated if a trailer’s electric plug is inserted in the vehicle’s trailer electrical socket. The front sensors stay active and can provide acoustic and visual warnings. The rear sensors are automatically reactivated when the trailer’s cable plug is removed.
SERVICE THE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM
During vehicle start up, when the Park Assist System has detected a faulted condition, the instrument cluster display will actuate a single chime, once per ignition cycle, and it will show the “PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS”, “PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT SENSORS”, or the “PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED” message for five seconds.
If “PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE WIPE REAR SENSORS” or “PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE WIPE FRONT SENSORS” appears in the instrument cluster display make sure the outer surface and the underside of the rear fascia/bumper and/or front fascia/bumper is clean and clear of snow, ice, mud, dirt or other obstruction and then cycle the ignition. If the message continues to appear see an authorized dealer.
If the “PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED” message appears in the instrument cluster display, see an authorized dealer.
CLEANING THE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM
Clean the Park Assist sensors with water, car wash soap and a soft cloth. Do not use rough or hard cloths. Do not scratch or poke the sensors. Otherwise, you could damage the sensors.
PARK ASSIST SYSTEM USAGE PRECAUTIONS
NOTE:
- Ensure that the outer surface and the underside of the front and rear fascia/bumper are clean and clear of snow, ice, mud, dirt or other obstruction to keep the Park Assist system operating properly.
- Jackhammers, large trucks, and other vibrations could affect the performance of Rear Park Assist.
- Clean the Park Assist sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch or damage them. The sensors must not be covered with ice, snow, slush, mud, dirt or debris. Failure to do so can result in the system not working properly. The Park Assist system might not detect an obstacle behind the fascia/bumper, or it could provide a false indication that an obstacle is behind the fascia/bumper.
- Objects such as bicycle carriers, etc., must not be placed within 12 inches (30 cm) from the rear fascia/bumper while driving the vehicle. Failure to do so can result in the system misinterpreting a close object as a sensor problem, causing a failure indication to be displayed in the instrument cluster.
- Drivers must be careful when backing up even when using Park Assist. Always check carefully behind your vehicle, look behind you, and be sure to check for pedestrians, animals, other vehicles, obstructions, and blind spots before backing up. You are responsible for safety and must continue to pay attention to your surroundings. Failure to do so can result in serious injury or death.
- Before using Park Assist, it is strongly recommended that the ball mount and hitch ball assembly be disconnected from the vehicle when the vehicle is not used for towing. Failure to do so can result in injury or damage to vehicles or obstacles because the hitch ball will be much closer to the obstacle than the rear fascia when the vehicle sounds the continuous tone. Also, the sensors could detect the ball mount and hitch ball assembly, depending on its size and shape, giving a false indication that an obstacle is behind the vehicle.
CAUTION!
- Park Assist is only a parking aid and it is unable to recognize every obstacle, including small obstacles. Parking curbs might be temporarily detected or not detected at all. Obstacles located above or below the sensors will not be detected when they are in close proximity.
- The vehicle must be driven slowly when using Park Assist in order to be able to stop in time when an obstacle is detected. It is recommended that the driver looks over his/her shoulder when using Park Assist.
If it is necessary to keep the trailer hitch and hitch ball assembly mounted for a long period, it is possible to filter out the trailer hitch and hitch ball assembly presence within the sensor’s field of view. The filtering operation must be performed only by an authorized dealer.
SIDE DISTANCE WARNING SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
The Side Distance Warning system detects the presence of side obstacles near the vehicle using the parking sensors located in the front and rear fascia/bumpers.
Side Distance Warning Display
The Side Distance Warning screen will only be displayed if this feature is enabled within Uconnect Settings. The system warns the driver with an acoustic signal and when selected, with visual indications on the instrument panel display.
The acoustic indications come activate only when the obstacle is detected within the trajectory of the vehicle and therefore there would be a risk of collision. Visual indications are always provided to the driver, even when the obstacle is not in the trajectory of the vehicle.
NOTE:
ParkSense will reduce the volume of the radio if on when the system is sounding an audible tone.
Activation/Deactivation
The system can operate only after driving a short distance and if the vehicle speed is between 0 and 11 mph (0 and 18 km/h). The system can be activated/deactivated via the “Settings” menu of the Uconnect system. If the ParkSense System is deactivated via the ParkSense switch, then the side distance warning system will automatically be deactivated.
NOTE:
The vehicle needs to be driven approximately one car length in order for the Side Distance Warning system to activate.
Operation With A Trailer
The system is automatically deactivated when the trailer’s electric plug is inserted in the vehicle’s tow hook socket. The rear sensors are automatically reactivated when the trailer’s cable plug is removed.
ParkSense Usage Precautions
Some conditions may influence the performance of the Side Distance Warning system:
NOTE:
- Ensure that the front and rear fascias/bumpers are free of snow, ice, mud, dirt and debris to keep the ParkSense system operating properly.
- Construction equipment, large trucks, and other vibrations could affect the performance of ParkSense.
- When you turn ParkSense off, the message in the instrument cluster display will read “PARKSENSE OFF.” Furthermore, once you turn ParkSense off, it remains off until you turn it on again, even if you cycle the ignition key.
- ParkSense, when on, will reduce the volume of the radio when it is sounding a tone.
- Clean the ParkSense sensors regularly, taking care not to scratch or damage them. The sensors must not be covered with ice, snow, slush, mud, dirt or debris. Failure to do so can result in the system not working properly. The ParkSense system might not detect an obstacle behind or in front of the fascia/bumper, or it could provide a false indication that an obstacle is behind or in front of the fascia/bumper.
- The presence of a tow hook without a trailer may interfere with the correct operation of the parking sensors. Before using the ParkSense system, it is recommended to remove the removable tow hook ball assembly and any attachments from the vehicle when it is not used for towing operations. If you leave the tow hook fitted when not towing a trailer, the tow hook could be detected as an obstacle by the sensors. Contact your authorized dealer to update the ParkSense system operations.
WARNING!
- Drivers must be careful when backing up even when using ParkSense. Always check carefully behind your vehicle, look behind you, and be sure to check for pedestrians, animals, other vehicles, obstructions, and blind spots before backing up. You are responsible for safety and must continue to pay attention to your surroundings. Failure to do so can result in serious injury or death.
- Before using ParkSense, it is strongly recommended that the ball mount and hitch ball assembly be disconnected from the vehicle when the vehicle is not used for towing. Failure to do so can result in injury or damage to vehicles or obstacles because the hitch ball will be much closer to the obstacle than the rear fascia/bumper when the vehicle sounds the continuous tone. Also, the sensors could detect the ball mount and hitch ball assembly, depending on its size and shape, giving a false indication that an obstacle is behind the vehicle.
CAUTION!
- ParkSense is only a parking aid and it is unable to recognize every obstacle, including small obstacles. Parking curbs might be temporarily detected or not detected at all. Obstacles located above or below the sensors will not be detected when they are in close proximity.
- The vehicle must be driven slowly when using ParkSense in order to be able to stop in time when an obstacle is detected. It is recommended that the driver looks over his/her shoulder when using ParkSense.
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