Park assist is one of the most technologically advanced features of your newer model car. It uses a number of cameras, sensors, and radars to help aid you in parking your vehicle in tight spots. But what happens when you get the park assist-off message?
In the rest of this blog post, I will discuss everything you need to know about these features. Keep reading.
What is Park Assist?
Park assist is a technology that assists you in parking your car in a confined space. It can be a useful tool if you’re trying to park in between two cars or parallel park in a busy parking lot.
The technology behind the system is fairly simple: The sensors on the car detect where other cars are around it and guide you into an open space between them.
You can activate the system by pressing a button on your dashboard or steering wheel, or simply turning on your blinkers and waiting for the lights to turn green.
What Does Park Assist Off Mean?
There are a number of reasons why your car may be saying park assist off. Here is a few reasons:
- If your car is saying park assist off, it’s likely due to a temporary issue with the car. For example, if you drive through a puddle of water, it may temporarily disable the sensor. If this happens, a simple car wash should clear up the issue.
- If you’ve recently had work done on your vehicle, it’s possible that something got disconnected during the process. If this is the case, simply check your owner’s manual or dealership for instructions on how to reconnect wires or sensors.
- Another possibility is that there’s a problem with your vehicle’s sensors. This could be caused by anything from a loose connection to a faulty sensor module. Contact your dealer for assistance in diagnosing and fixing these types of problems.
How Does Park Assist Work?
The system uses sensors mounted on the vehicle’s front and rear bumpers to “see” what’s around it at all times. When you activate Park Assist, these sensors send information about what’s in front of the car to a computer that then tells the steering wheel to move accordingly.
While it might look like you’re doing all of the work, it’s actually your car that is controlling your steering wheel not you. The system can also be used with parallel parking situations by telling drivers when they’re too close to another object or when they’re about to hit something.
For example, if you try to back into a parking space but there are cars on either side of you, your car will tell you when there’s not enough room for an easy fit, giving you time to correct your mistake before damaging anything or anyone.
Park Assist isn’t meant as a substitute for good old-fashioned driving skills; it’s more like an extra pair of eyes that helps make sure everything goes smoothly while backing up or parallel parking.
How do I turn my Park Assist back on?
You can turn off the Park Assist feature by pressing and holding the button on the steering wheel until you hear a chime. The parking assistance indicator light on your instrument panel will turn off and you’ll no longer be in Park Assist mode.
If you want to turn it back on, press and hold the button again until you hear a chime. The parking assistance indicator light will illuminate again.
What to Do if You See Park Assist Off Message?
If you see a message on your vehicle’s dashboard that says “PARK ASSIST OFF,” don’t panic — it’s not a sign of impending doom. The message is simply telling you that your car’s parking sensor system is temporarily disabled.
Here are some things to keep in mind about Park assist off message:
- If the message appears when you’re driving, it may mean that one of the sensors is blocked by something in front of it or that there’s a problem with the sensor’s wiring. In either case, park as far away from other vehicles as possible and turn off the engine. Then check your owner’s manual for instructions on how to reset the system. If none are given, check under your vehicle for any loose wires or other obstructions before you try again. You may have to ask a mechanic or dealership worker for help if this doesn’t solve the problem.
- If you see the message when you’re parked, it means that one of your sensors has been blocked by something behind it most likely another vehicle that has pulled up behind yours. Check around your car carefully before you pull out into traffic again; make sure there’s nothing blocking any of your sensors!
Closing Thoughts on “Park Assist Off” Message
Parking is a particularly frustrating part of owning a vehicle. Park assist is one of several handy new technologies that can make it easier to park, and can be especially useful for those who find parallel parking particularly challenging.