Reversing Kit for Vectra Estate

[Marky]

Has anyone fitted a Reversing kit to a Vectra Estate??

All the posts I have seen so far show the Hatch.
Removing the bumper on the Hatch looks fairly straight forward.
Looking at the bumper on my estate, it doesn't look to easy to remove.

Any ideas??

[chrisgettings]

you dont have to take the bumper off
if you look under your car at the rear you will find you do have the room to do that you have to.
remember to fit a relay on the Reversing kit ,,,doing this will stop it bleeping all the time
all you need to do is use all the wirring you have at your rear lights

you do not need a a feed for the relay

[Marky]

Thats good to know. I'll try and have a look underneath later.

Where do you pass the wires through??

[chrisgettings]

Thats good to know. I'll try and have a look underneath later.

Where do you pass the wires through??
lift the spare wheel out
look down and you will see a rubber gromit use that or get a stuffing gland it looks like this http://www.ghlucas.co.uk/products/plastic_cable_glands.htm
you will have seen them
put it from in inside to the out so the nut is on the outer side of the car
and there water tight
you can put a fair few wires in them
if you go to a electrical shop it will be about 1 pound hifi shop will be a lot more
dont forget to use a relay
you only need use the wires from your lights
the relay will stop the bleep the light warning systum pulses the wire

[Marky]

Cool.

So I only need the wires from the lights? No need for any extra power cables?

Hmm... Wonder if I now have the bottle to drill my bumper!!

[chrisgettings]

no need for extra cabling just what is at the lights
find out what size hole you need there cutters you can buy
http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/products.php?cat=Cone%20Cutter%20Drill%20Bits
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/11-Pce-Holesaw-Hole-Saw-Set-Fast-Delivery-from-UK-Stock_W0QQitemZ170018353806QQihZ007QQcategoryZ1218 92QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Ben H]

Why is the relay so important? Just curious.

[chrisgettings]

Why is the relay so important? Just curious.
the sensor will bleep
the car send a voltage pulse for the light fault sensor the unit picks up the voltage and will begin powering up then powers down again
the voltage sent to the lights for the fault sensor is to small for the relay to switch on
so when you put it in gear its 12v at the relay,,,,it switch and the reversing sensor power up

[Marky]

More great info, thanks Chris.

Another question though. How do you get at the reversing lights (or any of the rear light cluster) on an Estate!

I was looking at it the other day as I was thinking of getting the silver indicator bulbs but decided both the front and rear light units are not designed for bulb replacements and it might be easier to buy a new car if the bulbs go!!! Saves on the cost of skin grafts for the hands.

[chrisgettings]

More great info, thanks Chris.

Another question though. How do you get at the reversing lights (or any of the rear light cluster) on an Estate!

I was looking at it the other day as I was thinking of getting the silver indicator bulbs but decided both the front and rear light units are not designed for bulb replacements and it might be easier to buy a new car if the bulbs go!!! Saves on the cost of skin grafts for the hands.
take the trim out on the left hand side of the car it will make it a lot easyer to get to all you need to

[Damian]

the sensor will bleep
the car send a voltage pulse for the light fault sensor the unit picks up the voltage and will begin powering up then powers down again
the voltage sent to the lights for the fault sensor is to small for the relay to switch on
so when you put it in gear its 12v at the relay,,,,it switch and the reversing sensor power up

I don't have a relay fitted to mine, and mine does not bleep. Only bleeps when reverse is engaged. I don't think the voltage pulse for the fault sensor is high enough to activate the reversing kit

[Ben H]

I don't have a relay fitted to mine, and mine does not bleep. Only bleeps when reverse is engaged. I don't think the voltage pulse for the fault sensor is high enough to activate the reversing kit

I don't have a relay fitted & don't have a problem with the rears, that's why I asked the question, I can see into what you're saying & perhaps may explain why my fronts misbehave connected to foot brake wire. Supposed to work whilst footbrake is on & for 5 seconds after footbrake released. I can pull up into a space with say a bollard infront, the sensors pick it up as I park but if I put handbrake on & leave engine running every few seconds the kit bursts into life with a few beeps & display telling me I'm 0.3 away from bollard & goes out again after 3 or 4 bleeps.
Might give the relay a go on the footbrake wire.

[chrisgettings]

I don't have a relay fitted to mine, and mine does not bleep. Only bleeps when reverse is engaged. I don't think the voltage pulse for the fault sensor is high enough to activate the reversing kit
on some kits this is true

try without the relay first