Today, while backing up into a parking spot, the PDC started beeping, as it should. I decided to not take that spot, and began to drive around the block. The PDC was still beeping ... from the left rear ... a constant pattern, maybe 60 or so beats per minute. I stopped the car and shut it off ... I even got out of the car and locked it up. Nothing blocking the sensors on the bumpers. The beeping kept on, even with the engine off. I unlocked the car and restarted the engine, and still the same beeping. I estimate that the beeping was continuous for about 10-15 minutes.

Then all of a sudden, the beeping stopped. The PDC has worked fine since. Does anyone have any idea what this was all about?

 

You backed over the invisible man???

 

Anyone have a helpful suggestion?

 

That sounds quite odd, especially for the lenght of time you describe. Did you try just to deactivate the PDC? Did that shut it off. I know mine sometimes beeps after I change from reverse to drive, but it only last maybe 10-15 secs and then shuts off automatically. Maybe disconnect the battery or take it to the dealer if under warranty.

 

Unless it keeps happening, I'd just forget about it. It could've just been some software hiccup...

 

CTRL + ALT + DELETE..

Just some software hiccup.

Unless there was some ice on one of the sensors (tried that once during the winter).

However the PDC should disable when you're above 10 mph (or so).

 

Possibly a sensor on its way out, something similar happened intermittently for a few months until a sensor failed. since ive replaced the sensor its been great.

 

Just so you know this happened to me ONCE about 6 months ago and was exactly what you described.

In my case, I chose to ignore the 'just before you hit something' rapid beeping -- honestly can't remember why, but it was an empty box or something in my garage I wasn't worried about. It seemed to go haywire, almost one constant 'beeeeeeeeeeping' noise and wouldn't shut off. I also turned off the engine and it kept going anyway. I worried about it hurting the battery if it continued, but figured that a 'sound' can't drain that much from it. I went inside (had to get away because the sound was painful); came back out in about 10 or 15 minutes, and it had stopped.

Sound familiar?

I have never had it happen again, nor have I had any problems with the PDC system in any way since.

 

That's exactly what happened to me. Maybe it's an opportunity to get a progman update.