The Park Assist feature of your car is indeed fantastic and very modern! It’s an automatic parking assist that enables you to park with higher accuracy by using its guiding system technology that competes with ultrasonic and various camera-based alternatives. However, what if it fails to function?
The most common reason you’ll see the message “PARK ASST BLOCKED SEE OWNERS MANUAL” is that the ultrasonic sensors are not clean – likely from a build-up of dirt, mud, ice, snow, or slush.
When the “Park Assist Blocked” notice appears on your dashboard, your parking assist feature is no longer effective. This technology intends to help drivers with parking by delivering audible and visual clues. Once this system malfunctions, it’ll be challenging to park your car correctly unless you’re a hard-core driver and can park like a boss. In rare instances, it might be impossible to park your vehicle perfectly.
The “Park Assist Block” notification serves as a reminder to be extra cautious while parking your automobile. If you acquired a car with Park Assist, you might be wondering, “What does this park assist blocked notification mean?”, “How do I fix this?”. So let’s discuss it right here, right now. Read on to learn more!
Table of Contents
What Is Park Assist
Before heading to the Park Assist Blocked issue and some associated factors. Let’s get to know first know what Park assist is. Self-parking was one of the first forms of automated driving innovation used in automobiles, appearing roughly a decade earlier and is now standard on most new vehicles. Even regular modern cars can park themselves; self-parking is no longer exclusive to expensive luxury vehicles.
The rear, front, and side parking sensors used by the Park Assist system identify parking spots and obstructions. Basic variants will manage the driving by automatically turning your steering wheel, but the driver retains operation over your brake, throttle, and gear shifts. Other sophisticated systems are also developed, including ones that don’t only park in a small spot but also drive out from one.
Some automakers offer a technology that allows for fully automated parking, controlling the throttle, brake, and steering. On high-end car brands and models, remotely controlled parking allows you to exit your vehicle before driving itself in or out of the parking spot, frequently through a smartphone app.
How Does Service Park Assist Work?
You activate this system when you’re in a parking lot or stop-and-go roadway by pushing your vehicle’s park assist button. Numerous automobiles may use their park assist sensors to seek a parking spot while you drive slowly, beeping or showing an image of the available area on one of its displays when they detect a space that your car can fit through. Typically, it would be best to signal your automobile on the side you wish to park on.
When you have already picked a spot, and you’ve acknowledged that you wish to park there, your vehicle takes charge, informing you whenever you need to take action, for example, braking or accelerating, as your car does the maneuver. You may stop by using the brake and take control of your steering by grasping your wheel.
Park Assist Blocked Warning: What Does It Mean?
The Park Assist feature is a technology found in most current automobiles that assists motorists with parking in tight situations. If this feature is malfunctioning for any reason, you’ll get a notice or alert indicating your park assist is disabled or blocked. Consult a skilled technician if the warning “Park Assist Blocked See Owners Manual” appears. Fortunately, there are several simple solutions you can attempt to resolve the issue before taking your vehicle to a technician that may assist if you can’t fix them.
Reasons Why Parking Assist System Aren’t Working
In the majority of the cases, the Park Assist Blocked alert comes because of a defective parking assist sensor. Apart from that, several issues and circumstances listed below are the frequent causes of park assist function to stop working.
Car Wash
Car washing might hold moisture or water within your parking sensors. This dampness will inhibit its functionality since it blocks the sensor’s ability to scan anything in front of it. Once you notice your parking sensors aren’t working after a car wash. Inspect your parking sensors for moisture or other elements causing the blockage.
Low Battery
If your vehicle suffers from a low or weak battery, your park assist might not operate correctly or not operate at all. This could hinder your car’s capacity to park correctly using the system and might create issues with the vehicle’s other safety functions. It’s crucial to check the health of your battery for the proper functioning of your car’s safety features.
Off-roading
Going off-road might obscure parking sensors with dirt and grit or, worse, damage your sensors due to hard bumps. This will impede the visibility or functionality of your parking sensors. It’d be best to check your parking sensors after off-road driving.
Harsh Weather
Harsh weather conditions are capable of rendering parking sensors inoperable. In most cases, several drivers claim that their parking sensors ceased functioning after a snowstorm or severe rain. After the snow and ice melted, sensors would again work properly.
Damaged Bumper
If you own a modern car, you must know your vehicle carries modern features, like parking sensors. But do you know carmakers install them on your vehicle’s front and rear bumpers? If your car hits anything hardly from the front or rear bumper by mistake, your parking sensors are likely to be broken and cease functioning. Once this happens, you must get your parking sensors fixed or replaced.
Blown Electric Fuse
Once the fuses are damaged, your parking aid system may fail to function. Among the most significant factors to address concerning electrical fuses is their effect on park assist systems. Poorly built or produced electrical fuses could create operational issues, false alarms, or even total system breakdowns in specific systems.
High Speed
While reversing, you run your vehicle slowly. However, if you’re reversing your car at significant speeds in an open area, your parking sensors could cease functioning. Usually, parking sensors cease functioning if your vehicle’s speed surpasses five mph. If you want to get the best out of your parking sensors, it’d be best to reverse at normal reverse speeds.
How To Know If A Parking Sensor Is Bad
When your parking sensors are going bad, you’ll experience the signs it’ll manifest. Below are the most common indications a faulty sensor will exhibit.
- Even though there’s no obstruction surrounding your car, your parking system will emit continual alert tones.
- The adaptive parameters generated by your parking sensor won’t display on your reverse camera screen or would point in the incorrect position.
- The parking assistance feature that employs parking sensors would malfunction, and self-parking might underperform.
- You can tell a parking sensor is damaged by visually inspecting it.
Where Is The Park Assist Sensor Located
Usually, you can find your park assist sensor only on your car’s rear bumper. However, other vehicles also feature one in the front or sides. You can pinpoint your rear parking assist location by looking for a grey or black item on your bumper.
However, most parking sensors are coloured to suit the colour of your automobile. Typically, you can see them in the center of your bumper towards the bottom. Yet, you might also spot them by searching for a little circular component that protrudes from your bumper and measures approximately two inches in diameter. If you’re still confused, you can always consult your owner’s manual.
Cost To Fix Parking Sensors
Similar to other automotive sensors, parking sensors are costly to fix or replace. Depending on your car’s make and model, parking sensors might range from $500 to $1,300 to fix. Other car sensors could be available for $300 or lesser. However, the high expense of parking sensor repairs is attributable to the absence of a single parking sensor in your bumper.
It comprises many sensors. If you got smashed bumpers, all sensors are subject to replacement. The issue with automotive sensors is that they’re often challenging to fix or unfixable. In contrast to other automotive components, which may be deformed, curved, or beaten back to their former shape, sensors are complex devices that you should replace once they fail or shatter.
How To Reset Park Assist
Before going to a professional mechanic, there are a couple of steps below you can do to reset your park assist system once you see the park assist warning in your driver information center or dashboard.
- Wipe clean your front and rear park assist sensors thoroughly located on your rear and front bumpers.
- Reset your park assist system by pressing and releasing your park assist switch.
- In some circumstances, switching your ignition on/off could be effective.
- You can try deactivating and activating your rear park assist.
- You may remove the notification by pressing your odometer’s shaft; it might not reappear.
Other Causes Of “Park Assist Blocked” Warning
Usually, the Park Assist Blocked alert comes because of faulty parking sensors or other causes described above. Apart from this, the additional issues below are the common claimed causes of the park assist warning according to some drivers experiencing this trouble.
ECU Problems
If everything works well, but you still get a notice about the park assist system, only your vehicle’s ECU could be the cause. Your automobile’s brain handles the reception, processing, and delivery of signals. If there’s a glitch or it faces trouble, you’ll get unwanted warnings such as Park Assist Blocked.
Tow Or Trailer Hitch
After malfunctioning parking sensors, trailers are the most prevalent cause mentioned on the web, such as the “forum community” dedicated to cars. Typically, you’ll get a notification that your parking assist is blocked or disabled while pulling trailers. Some motorists experienced receiving the alert even after disconnecting their trailers. The reason was that they didn’t remove their trailer hitch.
Car Models Experiencing Park Assist Problem
According to a “Forum Community” dedicated to Chevrolet automobiles, the Chevrolet Silverado and Chevrolet Traverse are two standard vehicles whose drivers get this notice. Based on several online forums, the “Park Assist Off” notification is relatively common with GMC Acadia drivers.
The problem is not yet officially resolved according to the GMC Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) list. Also, the Chevrolet Avalanche, Buick Enclave, GMC Sierra, the Cadillac Escalade, and the Cadillac CTS all share this problem.
Conclusion
Park Assist systems are a terrific method to make you and your automobile park easier, but they might have detrimental effects on your automobile. Several online forums have mentioned the trouble with Park Assist, and most drivers have the same concerns.
This article contains all the information necessary about your Park Assist System. It doesn’t only covers the fundamentals of your park assist, but it also allows you to identify the fault if the problem persists after resetting your parking assist system.
FAQs
Why is my vehicle notifying Park Assist Blocked?
Park Assist Blocked notification could appear if y our ultrasonic sensors aren’t thoroughly cleaned. Keep your vehicle’s rear bumper free of muck, dust, snow, and mist.
Where is the park assist button located?
Next to your car’s shift lever is an Active Park Assist switch with a “P” label and a steering wheel symbol. To enable this function, hit the switch twice. Engage your turn signal to identify whichever side you want your car to begin searching for a parking space.
