How to Turn On Parking Assist When It's Off?
4 Answers
Method to turn on parking assist when it's off: In cars equipped with parking assist function, the system will automatically activate when shifting into reverse gear. It will automatically deactivate when shifting into drive gear and reaching a certain speed. Of course, you can also manually toggle it by pressing the P button near the gear lever. The parking assist function is an auxiliary feature that helps during parking. It uses radars and cameras on the front and rear bumpers to analyze objects around the vehicle and determine their distances, then displays this information on the central control screen to assist the driver in parking. This feature significantly enhances convenience for car users and improves parking safety.
Last time when my parking assist mysteriously turned off, the quickest solution was to locate the 'P' button either on the left side of the steering wheel or on the center console – a long press reactivates the system. If your car has a touchscreen, you can also navigate to the parking menu in vehicle settings to toggle the option. Never overlook the cameras and radar sensors in front of the windshield – mud splashes can easily trigger automatic deactivation. I once forgot to clean the sensors after a car wash, resulting in alarm failure. Modern car electronics are complex, so keeping the manual on your phone for quick reference is handy. A quick tip: sharp steering during reversing automatically disables the assist function, requiring you to stop, shift gears again, and restart.
My car had a similar issue addressed last month. First, confirm if it's truly disabled: after starting the vehicle, check the dashboard for a yellow P icon with a slash warning. The simplest solution is pressing the physical reset button, usually located near the gear lever or on the steering wheel control panel. Many modern models also allow voice activation of assistance systems—try saying "enable automatic parking." Note that rainy conditions can trigger automatic deactivation when sensors are obscured by water film; activating wipers to clean the windshield is recommended. For routine maintenance, wipe the rear radar sensors monthly with a damp cloth, as metal probes covered in mud are prone to false alarms.
The specific operation depends on your car model. From my experience, most models can toggle the function by pressing the P button near the gear lever while the engine is running. For vehicles with electronic gear selectors, try looking for the parking assist option in the vehicle function menu on the central display. Once after a system update caused malfunction, I had to reinstall the software at the after-sales service center to resolve it. If the button doesn't respond, first check whether the vehicle's electronic stability system is functioning properly, as these two modules share data linkage. Lost sensor calibration may also cause the assist to deactivate - try driving straight at low speed for three minutes to let the system auto-calibrate.
