[Ziggythewiz]

So after crossing some train tracks the other day my car died. I coasted into a parking lot and did some troubleshooting which indicated the contactor was dead along with the +12v line feeding it.

So I bypass the contactor to get to work, and then reading on here about contactor failures someone mentioned having the collision switch in line with the contactor to cut power in the event of an accident, and I think, hey, I have that! Duh!

So I go out and press the reset and contactor switches fine, not sure why it didn't work when I tried using a spare always on +12v feed. Oh well, add that to the list of quick checks!

 

[FarFromStock]

I picked up a new one that is used in many Ford pickup trucks, but haven't installed it yet. Where did you install yours? I have been looking at the passenger side kick panel.

 

[Ziggythewiz]

Mine is mounted on an L bracket on the outside of the spare tire compartment (74 VW bug). I figure anywhere you can mount it to metal in the front left quadrant where it is easily accessible is good, with the idea that anything that can hurt the driver should trigger it. I don't remember if it's necessary to be vertical or not, mine nearly is.

You can just see the top of it in the attached pic.

 

[notailpipe]

I just got one of these to put in my CRX when the project gets going (soon). Seems like all the sensors on eBay are from Fords. I wonder why not many other car companies do this? Seems a no-brainer.

Anyway, thanks for the post. I think I might mount mine somewhere accessible now in case railroad tracks set it off, like maybe under the dash by my feet or something, so I don't have to get out of the car in a false alarm.

 

[FarFromStock]

Mine is mounted on an L bracket on the outside of the spare tire compartment (74 VW bug). I figure anywhere you can mount it to metal in the front left quadrant where it is easily accessible is good, with the idea that anything that can hurt the driver should trigger it. I don't remember if it's necessary to be vertical or not, mine nearly is.

You can just see the top of it in the attached pic.

Thanks Zig!

 

[Ziggythewiz]

I think I might mount mine somewhere accessible now in case railroad tracks set it off

They're supposed to be able to drive over a curb (at what speed IDK) without tripping, I don't know if mine's overly sensitive, but they just repaved the tracks making what amounts to half a speed bump.

 

[frodus]

how is it mounted? They need to be mounted so the sensor is in a certain position. The sensor is 2 axis, so it needs to be aligned such that the up/down axis is not going to trip it. It should be such that front/back and side/side will trip it.

With mine, it's got a red rubber cover, and it needs to be pointing up.

 

[Ziggythewiz]

It's pointing up.

 

[Max57TBird]

how is it mounted? They need to be mounted so the sensor is in a certain position. The sensor is 2 axis, so it needs to be aligned such that the up/down axis is not going to trip it. It should be such that front/back and side/side will trip it.

With mine, it's got a red rubber cover, and it needs to be pointing up.

When I bought mine at a junk yard (Off a Ford for $ 5.00 USD), the clerk advised me to mount it vertically, somewhere near the center of gravity of the car. That way, a curb, speed bump, RR tracks, etc. won't set it off.

Lane Maxwell

 

[Ziggythewiz]

If it happens much I'll consider moving it, as it is currently very near the front axle. I still need to get my shocks upgraded, which should also reduce the possibility of a mistrip.

Really resetting it isn't even any hassle, it's just a matter of keeping it in mind when troubleshooting. Based on the event, it should have been the first thing I checked, but I didn't even think of it as I had installed it many months ago and forgotten about it.