[kinmanc]

I just bought a Car Reversing Aid from Poron USA

http://www.poronusa.com/index1.htm

This is a back up alert system that warns the driver (with audio pulses) of obstacles while backing up the truck. Since the MDX is my first SUV, and I have problem figuring out the exact location of the rear bumper, this should be useful for me, especially in parking.

The model I got is micro3LV. It is listed for $179.99. I got it for $129.99, since there is a $50.00 discount for the promotion period. I discoverd this only after I received the packet. That's a nice surprise. There's a note asking me to tell my friends about the promotion. So here it is.

The kit consists of 3 main components

1. the main control unit,
2. 3 sensors, and
3. a speaker.

The installation does not seem to be too complicated. My main concern is to keep most of the components out of sight, especially the wirings. This is a reason I didn't get mini3LV models, since I don't want to have a LED display unit on the windshield. I am taking my time to investigate installation alternatives careful, for fear of making unrecoverable mistakes.

The main control unit can be placed in the compartment in the cargo floor. Thatway it is close to the reverse lamp wire, to which it needs to make a connection.

I am thinking of placing the sensors underneath the rear bumper, maybe recessed by 2-3 inches. This way they are not too conspiguous. The MDX bumpers are quite tall, so this should work, I hope.

For the speaker (quite small, about 1.5 X 2 in), I am thinking of mounting it with doubly ahesive tape on the pillar behind the driver, may be close to the floor.

My main problem is to figure out a way to connect the sensrr wires to the main unit. I don't want to drill holes if I can avoid it. I might have to take out the pastic sill for the tailgate. I also haven't decided yet on how to hide the wire connecting the main unit to the speaker yet.

If aynone has installed this or something similar, I'd appreciated sharing the experience. I'd also report more later, once I got it working, and maybe post some pictures.

Happy long weekend!

 

[kinmanc]

<B>grathke</B>

You got it at a good price. Did you installed it yet? I checked Poron site, and they seem to have discontinued mini2S.

<B>TheWorm</B>

The volume on the speaker is adjustable in the main unit. I tried it out this afternoon, and it was very audible from the driver's seat, with the speaker on the cargo floor. It was in fact, too loud. However, I wouldn't put it in the cargo area, for it may be damaged accidentally, though the speaker is housed in a hard plastic case, and is pretty sturdy. I may place it on the tailgate pillar, near the ceiling. If it is loud enough, I may even put it under the 2nd row seat, completely out of sight. I'll also like to find a way to turn off the whole thing (the kit does not let you do that, other than unplugging the speaker) from the driver position, so running wires to the front may be necessary.

I fooled around with it this afternoon, and suceeded in connecting the main unit to the backup light wires. I also attached the sensors to the plastic clips, and tape the clips (with making tapes) underneath the rear bumper. The kit seems to work as advertized. I'll need to experiment with the placements for the two outter sensors, so that they won't give false alarm when I back out of my garage, and are yet sensitive enough to warn me of real dangers.

I'll report more later, and will post some pictures if I can find a cheap digital camera.

 

[kinmanc]

I installed the Poron kit on my MDX on the President's weekend. So far, everything works as well as I expected. The installation also went well. In fact, it was easier than expected. I probably spent about 8 hours on installations, mostly on poking around my MDX, figuring out the best places to put sensors and the speaker, and the best routes for the wiring etc. If I were to do another installation, I can probably do in 1 to 2 hours.

If I have time, I'll take some pictures this weekend and post them here.

Now I don't have to worry about backing my MDX into objects I can't see! Happiness

 

[kinmanc]

Worm, I have just posted some pictures for Poron, with some notes about installation. It answeres most of the question you have. I'll be glade to answer question if you still have more. Go ahead and order it, and make sure to ask about the promo.

 

[kinmanc]

mogur

I don't think it matters too much where you put the sensors. If you look at the first and second picture, the right sensor almost "touches" the outer exhaust pipe. It is hard to say how far it is away from the bumper edge, since there is no sharply defined edge. It's round.

I'll say the sensors are a couple of inches from the back edge of the bumper, maybe less for the center one, because the plastic there under the bumper is much shorter. I put the ceneter sensor as far in as I could, and decided that it's OK.

I did drill 6 tiny holes (2 each) to screw in the hangers. It's very thin plastic there, so that's easy. I didn't use the tape provided because I think it's not secure enough, and I may need to adjust the sensor orientation (around the vertical axes) afterwards. I also didn't use their metal screws, but I used screws with washers and nuts. I placed the outsider sensors slightly tilted to the sides, so that I can detect objects that are closed to the side too. That seems to work out well.

As to the wire routings, you'll need to first find two holes. After you remove the plastic tailgate sill and look at the the back wall of the cargo compartment (where you put the head rest), you'll see 3 grommets (black plastic about 1.5 in in diameter) covering 3 holes. Remove (ply carefully with a screwdriver) the left one covering "the big hole". See picture 6.

Go under the SUV, you'll find more grommets on the underside of the SUV. There's a smaller one (about 1 in in diameter) near the bumper on the left (driver) side that you need to remove. I found it easier to do that by pushing it out with a stick from the big hole above. This is "the small hole". See picture 10.

The three sensor cables and the 2 backup light wires all go into the small hole and out of the big hole. I used a straighten coat hanger to help me get the cables through the holes.

You'll want to put back the grommets afterwards, to keep the wires in place, and to seal off dust and water.

BTW, I also hid most of the unused cable in the space between the small and big holes.

G'luck!