Durango 2WD V8-5.7L Hybrid (2009)
Parking Assist Warning Indicator: Description and Operation
Chime/Buzzer - Operation
PARK ASSIST SYSTEM
The park assist system is active only when the ignition switch is in the ON or START positions, the parking brake is released, the transmission gear
selector lever is in either the REVERSE position and the vehicle speed is less than 16 kph (10 mph) or, the DRIVE position and the vehicle speed is less
than 14 kph (8 mph) on deceleration, or 18 kph (12 mph) on acceleration. In vehicles equipped with this option, the system is enabled from the factory as
a default. The system can be manually disabled and enabled by the vehicle operator using the customer programmable features option of the Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) in the overhead console.
Reasons for disabling the system include trailer towing and off road use. With a trailer attached to the vehicle the audible and visible park assist alerts
would be incessant whenever the gear selector lever was in the REVERSE position due to the proximity of the trailer to the rear of the vehicle. Similarly,
operating the vehicle off road may cause the park assist alerts to become distracting due to the proximity of large trees or boulders and the extreme rear
approach angles that may be encountered while maneuvering on off road trails or terrain. When the system is disabled, a PARK ASSIST DISABLED
textual message will appear in the EVIC display whenever the gear selector lever is in the REVERSE position.
The microprocessor based park assist module is the central component of the park assist system. It supplies voltage to the park assist sensors and the
park assist display, receives and analyzes data from the sensors, calculates and communicates the proper display information to the park assist display,
performs system diagnostics, and communicates with other electronic modules in the vehicle or with a diagnostic scan tool over the Controller Area
Network (CAN) data bus. The module operates on battery voltage received through a fuse in the Junction Block (JB), and is grounded through a take out
and eyelet terminal of the body wire harness that is secured by a screw to the left inner D-pillar.
Four ultrasonic park assist sensors in the rear bumper fascia allow the park assist system to locate and identify the proximity of nearby obstacles. These
sensors each generate ultrasonic sound pulses when triggered by the park assist module, then signal the module when an echo of the reflected sound
pulses is received. The detection distance range from the rear of the vehicle is about 0.3 meters (11.8 inches) to about 2.0 meters (80 inches), and the
detection height range from the ground is about 0.2 meters (7.8 inches) to about 0.8 meters (31 inches). The detection area extends somewhat around
both rear sides (corners) of the vehicle.
The park assist display unit provides the vehicle operator with both visible and audible warnings indicating the relative range of a detected object. The
display is visible to the vehicle operator over an inboard shoulder when looking rearward while backing the vehicle up, but is not visible in a properly
adjusted inside rear view mirror when looking forward. The display contains two sets of eight Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicator units, one set
dedicated to each side of the vehicle, and an audible chime tone transducer. The LED units are concealed beneath a smoked oval lens and are not clearly
visible when they are not illuminated. When the park assist system is active and no obstacles are detected (stand-by mode), the two rectangular amber
LED units in the display are illuminated at a reduced intensity to provide visual confirmation that the system is operating.
The display provides a visual indication of a detected object and its proximity by illuminating one or more LED indicators, beginning with the outer most
round amber indicators and moving toward the center of the display as the vehicle gets closer to the object. As the vehicle comes to within about 200
centimeters (about 78.7 inches) of the object, one or both of the inner most rectangular amber LED indicators illuminate at full intensity and the display
emits a single half-second audible beep. As the vehicle comes to within about 50 centimeters (19.7 inches) of the object, all of the amber indicators and
the first red LED indicator are illuminated and the display emits a series of short, intermittent, audible beeps. If the audio system is turned ON, the audio
output will be muted automatically while the park assist audible warning is being generated. The audible warning changes from intermittent beeps to a
continuous tone as the final red indicator is illuminated and the vehicle comes to within 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) of a detected object.
When the park assist module monitors a problem in any of the park assist system circuits or components, it stores a fault code or Diagnostic Trouble
Code (DTC) in its memory circuit, illuminates all four red LED units in the park assist display, sends an electronic message to the EVIC, and a
SERVICE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM textual message is displayed in the EVIC display.
The hard wired circuits between components related to the park assist system may be diagnosed using conventional diagnostic tools and procedures.
Refer to the appropriate wiring information. The wiring information includes wiring diagrams, proper wire and connector repair procedures, details of
wire harness routing and retention, connector pin-out information and location views for the various wire harness connectors, splices and grounds.
However, conventional diagnostic methods will not prove conclusive in the diagnosis of the park assist system or the electronic controls or
communication between modules and other devices that provide some features of the park assist system. The most reliable, efficient, and accurate means
to diagnose the park assist system or the electronic controls and communication related to park assist system operation requires the use of a diagnostic
scan tool. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.
