| morisato |
Hello, newbie here who recently acquired an '01 MDX base. Love the vehicle so far, but would love to upgrade it with some of the goodies that you '03-'04 owners have.
I initially wanted to put in a backup rear camera, but since my X is a non-nav one, that seems too expensive an option. So, I am interested in getting the collective wisdom of the people here for a backup sensor recommendation.
Should I get the Poron or would a generic one from eBay suffice? Are there other "name brand" ones that are better? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by morisato
Hello, newbie here who recently acquired an '01 MDX base. Love the vehicle so far, but would love to upgrade it with some of the goodies that you '03-'04 owners have.
I initially wanted to put in a backup rear camera, but since my X is a non-nav one, that seems too expensive an option. So, I am interested in getting the collective wisdom of the people here for a backup sensor recommendation.
Should I get the Poron or would a generic one from eBay suffice? Are there other "name brand" ones that are better? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
They all seem to work basically the same. Poron is one of the more recognized ones. I have a cheapie from the 12voltshop.com that is on it's 2nd year and works just fine.
The factory ones, with the exception of the camera, are a ripoff IMO. |
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| mgmdx |
morisato,
First of all, :welcome: to the board.
As far as your question, I agree with Dale's response. All backup sensors are basically the same. All of them beep at different pitch and/or frequency the closer you get to the obstacle behind you.
That said, personally I prefer the Poron system with VDI (Voice Distance Indicator). In addition to frequency change, there is also a female voice that provides verbal distance prompts at 8', 5', 3', 12", and "crash".
I've had mine installed on the MDX for 2+ years, and it works great. :29: |
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| morisato |
Thanks, DaleB and MGMDX -
I appreciate the welcome and the comments. I guess I'll see what's out there and not worry too much about "brand name" sensors, etc. |
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| TranMDX |
We just got a new Solara convertible and it has many blind spots. I did not want to drill holes in the bumpers, so I got the AutoPark 2000 and installed it on the lisence plate. Works great and only took 30 minutes for the install. I'll post some picture later of the AutoPark 2000.
I think it serves the purpose and was the cheapest. Plus, I would never drill holes in my car unless it is for a spoiler.
Here is a picture of the new solara. |
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| morisato |
quote:
Originally posted by TranMDX
We just got a new Solara convertible and it has many blind spots. I did not want to drill holes in the bumpers, so I got the AutoPark 2000 and installed it on the lisence plate. Works great and only took 30 minutes for the install. I'll post some picture later of the AutoPark 2000.
I think it serves the purpose and was the cheapest. Plus, I would never drill holes in my car unless it is for a spoiler.
Here is a picture of the new solara.
Where did you purchase the AutoPark 2000 and how much does it cost? Thanks! |
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| alphaforcex |
Whatever you do, stay away from the electromagnetic type of backup sensors.
This is the backup sensor that I installed:
www.bumpercare.com
It sounds great that I don't need to drill holes and the install is completely invisible but the sensor will only beep when it gets really close to the obstacle (advertised 50 cm but I only get warning starting at about 20cm). Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Wonder if others have used this product...
But yes, those ultrasonic ones are pretty much the same. |
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| TranMDX |
| Got my at overstock.com for like $25 with shipping! Great website!!! |
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| Mr. Mom |
| Ditto...Just got done paying $500 for a dent the size of a grapefruit in the hatch. |
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| Mr. Mom |
| The sensor arrived today and it took about 45 min. to install. The included wire would not reach the reverse lamp wire without adding a foot of additional wire. Seems to work ok, I could do without the little tune it plays when in reverse. Along with the Passport radar detector, the X sounds like a friggen pinball machine. |
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| morisato |
quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Mom
The sensor arrived today and it took about 45 min. to install. The included wire would not reach the reverse lamp wire without adding a foot of additional wire. Seems to work ok, I could do without the little tune it plays when in reverse. Along with the Passport radar detector, the X sounds like a friggen pinball machine.
Mr. Mom - what type of extra wire did you need to make it work? Is it something I can pick up at Radio Shack? I'm still waiting for my AutoPark to arrive. Would love to see some pictures and hear about how well it seems to work from a sensitivity perspective. |
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| Mr. Mom |
You could use some of the wire from the little speaker as I stuck mine on the inside of the rear hatch and there was a bunch left over. I popped the panel off the hatch and ran the wire over to the hydraulic lift arm, looped it around the top where it bolts on and then down to the reverse lamp wire. The speaker was run to the quarter size pop out plug on the bottom inside of the hatch and stuck on the panel with the tape. I have a 03 so I don’t know if yours has the same plug. I used the top two bolt holes of the license plate and had to be careful not to push to hard as it was near the breaking point.
It seems to work fine with solid objects, I walked behind it and it detected me. However, when I backed up to a shrub in the yard, it would not go off. |
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| Mr. Mom |
| Well, sorry to say I took out the AutoPark 2000 today after being disappointed with the performance of it. It has a very limited area that it does sense. The beeping every time the car is in reverse was totally annoying. Back to the drawing board. |
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| SwamiV |
quote:
Originally posted by Mr. Mom
Ditto...Just got done paying $500 for a dent the size of a grapefruit in the hatch.
I just had the exact same thing happen to me. Maybe its a depth/reality perception thing, but for me, having the camera *without* a proximity sensor of some sort has been MORE dangerous for me.
Is there perhaps some safety claim that could be made against Acura? |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by SwamiV
I just had the exact same thing happen to me. Maybe its a depth/reality perception thing, but for me, having the camera *without* a proximity sensor of some sort has been MORE dangerous for me.
Is there perhaps some safety claim that could be made against Acura?
So they take the camera out...do you now feel safer? If you think it's a hazard disconnect it or put black tape over the cam.
The camera or sensors are options (or part of optional packages) I don't see a lawsuit in the near future. |
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| SwamiV |
quote:
Originally posted by DaleB
So they take the camera out...do you now feel safer? If you think it's a hazard disconnect it or put black tape over the cam.
The camera or sensors are options (or part of optional packages) I don't see a lawsuit in the near future.
Strangely, I WOULD feel safer without the camera. I guess that was my point - either have both options as a matched set or neither. I think I will wind up buying an aftermarket backup sensor.
But I'm curious, has anyone else dinged their hatch/bumper on a backup despite (or because) of the camera? |
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| TheWorm |
quote:
Originally posted by SwamiV
Is there perhaps some safety claim that could be made against Acura?
The most appropriate claim might be against the DMV examiner who approved/issued the driver's license ;) |
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| SwamiV |
quote:
Originally posted by TheWorm
The most appropriate claim might be against the DMV examiner who approved/issued the driver's license ;)
You might be right! :eek:
The first time I got any type of scratch on my X (I'm sure everyone remembers their own "first time"), I was backing up slowly and looking at the camera. There was a small tree on screen. It got closer and closer in the video. Then I heard a thump, and voila, scratch on my bumper. |
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| DaleB |
quote:
Originally posted by SwamiV
Strangely, I WOULD feel safer without the camera. I guess that was my point - either have both options as a matched set or neither. I think I will wind up buying an aftermarket backup sensor.
But I'm curious, has anyone else dinged their hatch/bumper on a backup despite (or because) of the camera?
Yup, I did before getting the b/u sensor (aftermarket). It was quite small but on a car less than 3 mos. old, it sure hurt! |
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| Mr. Mom |
| Stronger back-up lights would be a big help. I tried replacing with Piaas and that didn’t help any. Out here in the country without street lighting at night and snowing with 5 inches of snow on ice, it was just too easy to back into a tree. The X should come with a ground guide. :rolleyes: |
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