Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) Questions

I'm about to start researching the BSM system here on the forum, but in the mean time...

Driving along a BSM warning appeared and they stopped working. It had snowed that morning and the truck was filthy from road grime - I thought that might be the problem so I gave her a warm bath when I got home.

I also turned the BSM feature off and on a few times.

It appears to be working again. But I don't trust it anymore and will have the Dealer check it out when I go in for the 20,000 mile service next week.

Question - where are the sensors for the BSM system, are they on the rear bumper (the same ones as the back-up warning system)?

Could a build up of road grime cause the warning?

Anything else I should know?

 

The radar sensors are behind the rear bumper in the corners....it "sees" through the bumper. I believe road shit and shush took mine out. The dealer replaced the left sensor and a piece of wiring harness..... Left sensor failure is fairly common from what I've found. More so than the right.
Good luck with it..

 

The BSM error code should be stored in the computer. Have the dealer perform a system health check and they should find the code.

Mine popped up with "Check Blind Spot Monitor" within a month of owning the truck. They ordered and changed the drivers side monitor (Master Module) (updated part also) and it's been fine ever since.

 

You should never trust one anyway. It's a system and systems fail. Use it as supplementary assistance only.

 

This is why I didn't want BSM and LD on my truck, too many extra issues that could come up.

hopefully Lockers and CRAWL wont give me issues so soon.

I hope you get it fixed bro.

 

OH, I forgot to mention... In my case, I had no warning light on dash...the whole system seemed to "power" down, ie: there was no power to the switch/no light on switch....Just died..!!

 

I thought I had seen a setting to increase the volume level of the BSM and Rear Cross Traffic Alert a few days ago. But tonight I can't seem to find it.. I can only find volume level for the Back Up Sonar audible. Am I mis-remembering what I thought I saw before?
(I've only had the truck since Wednesday afternoon)

 

If you find it, let us know... maybe it will be the same beeper that I have for CTA and cannot hear worth a shit... I'd love to increase the volume ..

 

Mine stopped working a couple weeks ago after driving through a snowstorm. It is currently at the dealership being fixed, I'll let you know what they say when I get it back.

 

Mine stopped working with an error message at about 500 miles. No snow or abnormal conditions. I still need to make an appointment to take it in. There is a TSP for the BSM.

 

There's no audible alert for the BSM. Rear Cross Traffic Alert seems to be the same as the backup sonar.

 

I read in another thread that the BSM sensors are incredibly touchy. They have to be positioned just right, down to a specific degree, in order to function properly. They also send their (sonar?) waves through the plastic end caps on the corners of the rear bumper, and I'm sure that any accumulation of dirt will negatively affect them.

+1. It's no replacement for shoulder checks or proper 360-degree scanning when backing up. I do love mine, but have a fear in the back of my mind that one day I'll grow reliant on this thing, it'll fail, and I'll end up in an accident.

I even find myself constantly "testing" the BSM system as I drive: checking that the button's light is on (system turned on), and that the mirror's indicators light up when cars enter my blind spots. It does make me wonder whether life would be simpler without it (or without my OCD ).

 

Properly adjusted mirrors help greatly also. Takes a bit of getting used to but definitely cuts down on blind spots compared to the traditional way of having a small amount of the side of the vehicle visible from the normal driving position.

 

Mine doesn't work too well when it rains.

 

Dealership said my rear bumper is misaligned too high, so they're having to realign the sensors...Odd that it worked fine for 10 months if that is the issue.

 

Yep. I find most people don't know how to properly set up their side mirrors. If you can see the side of your vehicle without leaning you don't have them set properly.

With very slight overlap between my rearview and side mirrors I have virtually no blindspots. Stuff transitions from my rearview to side mirror smoothly, and the rear of a car/truck next to me is still in the side mirror as its nose is directly visible.

Here's a decent graphic:


More instructional discussion: http://www.wikihow.com/Set-Rear‐View-Mirrors-to-Eliminate-Blind-Spots

No need for convex mirror addons if you get the mirrors set up right.

Not that any of that reduces my need to turn my head, but it's good for general situational awareness.

 

Yup, I didnt want them but my wife veto'd it. If I got a truck she at least got BSM, park assist and heated seats out of it.

 

Same here. Im growing less impressed with toyota every new one i get. Seems like the premium cost of the vehicle and lower fuel efficiency isnt being compensated any more by reliability and design...

 

See attached