Active Park Assist

[Toz]

Was wondering if it is really any good in real life? I used it in my test drive and it was way cool, but I wonder how useful it will be in real word situations. Anybody have a chance to use it when they really needed to parallel park with actual traffic around them?

 

[fusionTX]

I've heard that there has to be a curb or it won't work at all. Also you have to pull forward quite a bit. That said, I think it works pretty well, from what I have heard.

 

You also get front sensors with the park assist, which can also come in handy.

[acdii]

I had it in my Flex, and the one time I had to actually park, I used it, and it worked like a charm.

[hybridbear]

There was some discussion in another thread about the Active Park Assist and the front parking sensors which didn't fit there and was hijacking that thread from Richard Goodwin...so I figured I'd try to move the discussion over here...

 

Our new white FFH front bumper has the front sensors as can be seen in the picture.

Do only FFHs with Active Park Assist have the bumper with the front sensors?

If I understand correctly, the Active Park Assist Package includes not only the ability to parallel park without touching the steering wheel, but also the front sensors that beep when you're too close in front just like how the rear sensors beep when you're too close in the back. Is this correct?

[hybridbear]

Others have commented that they find that the front sensors are too sensitive and that they beep "false alarms". I haven't found this to be true yet. I find that they're super useful when pulling in to or backing out from parking spaces to be able to get really close to cars alongside without concern about hitting them. It's also useful pulling into parking spaces to get close to the wall or the car in front without concern about misjudging the distance. I've found that they also pick up curbs and have protected me from running over a curb. Active Park Assist was one of the features that I didn't really place a lot of value on before when we were considering this white FFH, but now that we have it I'm really glad that we do!!

[Toz]

The biggest reason that I got the APA option was to get the front sensors. The APA is very cool, but I don't live in a area where I have to parallel park very often. The front sensors however, I can imagine using allot.

[jsolan]

Others have commented that they find that the front sensors are too sensitive and that they beep "false alarms". I haven't found this to be true yet. I find that they're super useful when pulling in to or backing out from parking spaces to be able to get really close to cars alongside without concern about hitting them. It's also useful pulling into parking spaces to get close to the wall or the car in front without concern about misjudging the distance. I've found that they also pick up curbs and have protected me from running over a curb. Active Park Assist was one of the features that I didn't really place a lot of value on before when we were considering this white FFH, but now that we have it I'm really glad that we do!!

 

I agree. Someone else mentioned their front sensors didn't pickup a recycling bin in front of them, but mine normally pick up the cement parking "logs" and save my bumper. I didn't realize the front sensors came with APA, I just assumed they came along for the ride with the rear ones. Now I'm really happy I have APA.

[B25Nut]

In case you missed it in the Ford News section, this is a good article on Ford's latest research. I don't know if I like the idea about vehicle platooning.

 

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2013/12/12/ford-reveals-automated-fusion-hybrid-research-vehicle--teams-up-.html

 

This link doesn't seem to work. Look it up in the Ford Super News section of this forum.

Edited December 12, 2013 by B25Nut

[hermans]

The biggest reason that I got the APA option was to get the front sensors. The APA is very cool, but I don't live in a area where I have to parallel park very often. The front sensors however, I can imagine using allot.

If you didn't want parking assist. but still want the front sensors - Fords sells them for $299.

 

http://accessories.ford.com/vehicles/fusion/2013/electronics/parking-assist-system.html

Edited December 13, 2013 by hermans

[Toz]

If you didn't want parking assist. but still want the front sensors - Fords sells them for $299.

 

http://accessories.ford.com/vehicles/fusion/2013/electronics/parking-assist-system.html

son of a gun those are pricey! hope I never break one!

[timf]

 

I agree. Someone else mentioned their front sensors didn't pickup a recycling bin in front of them, but mine normally pick up the cement parking "logs" and save my bumper. I didn't realize the front sensors came with APA, I just assumed they came along for the ride with the rear ones. Now I'm really happy I have APA.

 

I wonder if they are mounted differently on the MKZ vs. the Fusion. Are you talking about the curbs that are about 6 inches tall in the front of parking spots? Mine don't appear to pick anything up that low. As for the recycle bin, it's possible that the sensors detected it but since there is no visual indicator of where the object is being detected (which other cars with front parking sensors I have seen use), there's no way to know if it's something the corner is seeing or the front is seeing.

[jsolan]

 

I wonder if they are mounted differently on the MKZ vs. the Fusion. Are you talking about the curbs that are about 6 inches tall in the front of parking spots? Mine don't appear to pick anything up that low. As for the recycle bin, it's possible that the sensors detected it but since there is no visual indicator of where the object is being detected (which other cars with front parking sensors I have seen use), there's no way to know if it's something the corner is seeing or the front is seeing.

 

Yeah, the ones that are just high enough to scratch the bottom of the bumper. Today I parked in front of a wooden log that must've been slightly lower because it didn't detect that (though it was low enough that the bumper cleared it without scratching). Maybe they are mounted different? Or maybe when I thought it was detecting the cement one there was something taller in front of it?

[Riggo]

The last three times I've used active park assist I've had problems. The initial backup always ends up having my right rear tire hitting the curb. It'll then have to seasaw back and forth to park correctly. It's not like the size of the spot is extremely small either. The system used to work flawlessly. I wonder if there could be a calibration foul up that's occurred and is causing this. Has anyone else had this problem?

Edited December 24, 2013 by Riggo

[acdii]

Maybe it isnt seeing the curb.

[Riggo]

The curbs have been pretty high when it's having the problem so that shouldn't be it. It's worked on curbs like that before. So who knows what's going on.

[SteveB_TX]

One of these days I am going to have to try this feature. I know where the button is for it! :)

[Riggo]

One of these days I am going to have to try this feature. I know where the button is for it! :)

 

It's a really cool feature, especially for me in the city where I have to parallel park all of the time. I am a good parallel parker so it's not really needed, but it's great when the spot is really really tight and you aren't sure driving up to it if you'll fit. The park assist alerts you that your car will fit and will get you into the spot, even if it has to seesaw back and forth a bunch to do it. Not until recently have I had the problem of the back wheel hitting the curb when backing up.

[gkinla]

One of these days I am going to have to try this feature. I know where the button is for it! :)

 

It took me several months to get up the nerve to try this feature because I'm a good parallel parker and thought no automatic system could be better...wrong. The day I first tried this feature I couldn't believe how accurately it performed. I pulled out of the parking place twice more to go around the block to let it do its thing. It will pick out parking places that I might not have chosen and do a great job of parking. Sometimes it comes so close to the front fender I think it will make contact but never has. It was a bit concerning the first time letting go of control and let the system work. It took several times to get the feeling that it really knows what its doing. I now use it often and hope that it's like riding a bicycle and you won't forget how to parallel park.

[SteveB_TX]

The salesman demonstrated the feature on a test driver. I like it. I just have no need for it and have never used it. I don't even know if mine works! I guess I could park our other two cars in the street and give it a test. LOL ;)

Edited December 28, 2013 by SteveB_TX

[acdii]

My Flex has it, but no front sensors, so not sure how it works, but the 2010 Flex I had did have it too and i used it once. I havent parallel parked since.

[djminfll]

I don't have the Park Assist because I almost never have to parallel park. But I learned how to drive in NY and used to park along the sidewalks in NYC all the time when I was younger. Apparently, this is a skill you never lose, because earlier this week I had to park on the grass in front of someone's house, between two trees. I'm proud to say that in one swift move, I had the car parked with almost the identical amount of space between the front bumper and the tree and the back bumper and the tree!

[Waldo]

The last three times I've used active park assist I've had problems. The initial backup always ends up having my right rear tire hitting the curb. It'll then have to seasaw back and forth to park correctly. It's not like the size of the spot is extremely small either. The system used to work flawlessly. I wonder if there could be a calibration foul up that's occurred and is causing this. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

Have you recently put on snow tires? The system relies on knowing the correct diameter of the tires to do its calculations. Also it does not look for the curb at all, so that's not a factor. Try using it on the left side to see if it still works. If it works on the left but not the right, then it's likely a sensor issue. If it doesn't work on either side then it's likely a calibration issue.

[Riggo]

 

Have you recently put on snow tires? The system relies on knowing the correct diameter of the tires to do its calculations. Also it does not look for the curb at all, so that's not a factor. Try using it on the left side to see if it still works. If it works on the left but not the right, then it's likely a sensor issue. If it doesn't work on either side then it's likely a calibration issue.

Nope. No snow tires.

[Va2014HyTi]

Is there any way to adjust the sound level of the parking aid sensors? These old ears would like to have them a little louder.

[KLH]

I have it and like it. It's not a "must have feature" but definitely makes life a little easier. I do wish that the button were located in another position as passengers (especially while holding items) tend to unintentionally press the button.

 

What could turn this technology into a "must have feature" is "auto backup" that would back the car out from a parking spot with practically no effort. All the driver needs to do is select which way she/he wants the car pointing when the car is ready to go forward.

 

When combined with APA, this feature would cause serious excitement for buyers, IMHO.

Edited January 27, 2014 by KLH