California parking sensor failure

Rebooting will probably take care of it.

In a California, there is a gray quick release clamp on the negative battery terminal, which is located under the air flow sensors in front of the engine. It is a tight fit to reach in there, but it can be done without taking the intakes apart. Leave it disconnected for a minute, and then put the clamp back on.

You need to follow this process after reconnecting the battery, or you might not be able to open the trunk, fuel lid, etc. without repeating the process.

Wait one minute before inserting the key in the ignition switch. Then insert the key and turn it on, but do not start the car, and wait another minute. Do not switch on any lights, wipers, etc. during this period.

Then do all of the following: make sure the doors, the engine compartment lid and the trunk are closed, unlock and lock the doors with the remote control on the key, open the trunk with the remote control on the key, raise the door windows and rear windows to the upper limits, open and close the doors, and turn the heater fan on and then off.

Start the car and let it sit idling for 10 minutes before you drive it with everything switched off, including the lights, the radio, wipers and the air conditioner. This is supposed to allow the ECU to readapt.

 

The important thing is to do all of those things before you start the car. And yes, you can remove the key during the process. For the windows, you just need to lower them all the way down and then raise all of the way up. You need to have the key in the on position for that part.

Those are all things the workshop manual tells you to do. In my experience, the real risk is that you might not be able to open your trunk or the fuel filler door if you start the car without actuating everything first. Not a huge deal, but you have to disconnect the battery again and start over. It has to do with how the body control module is programmed.

 

I tried this as i have a sensor error , can i ask how easy is it to change the sensors , as this didnt work for me unfortunately

 

It depends on which ones you need to access. I think I was able to access one on the front with the car on a lift after taking the underbody panel off.

 

i tried my scanner and it comes up with missed when trying to read the sensors

i get C100D , C100E and U1602

 

I have the same issue. I tried disconnecting the battery and no joy. Now trying to decide if I replace the module first before looking at sensors. I had one fail about 5 years ago, then it was best part of £275 to have it replaced by dealer, can buy new for £45 but just the pain of taking rear panels etc off.

 

is there a way to check them at all like using your phone camera or listening to each sensor for a noise been emitted ?

 

My scanner let me know which one was an issue. I am not sure if you can test by listening. I am pretty sure the car has to be in gear for the sensors to be active, so it would be a two-person job to find out.

I found an aftermarket part for about $15 that worked perfectly. It looked like the exact part used by Ferrari/Maserati. Certainly one of the more egregious markups.