Front assist - snow

[acer]

I needed to do a short journey in snow for the first time this morning. I had a yellow warning after a couple of minutes, “front assist unavailable sensor impaired”.

Having now looked at the manual I suspect that snow was covering the sensor. It’s not practical to stop to clear the sensor every mile, so when the system is arguably at its most useful it can’t be used. Of course, there might be another explanation for the fault.

Does anyone else have this error in the snow?

 

[WelshGas]

I needed to do a short journey in snow for the first time this morning. I had a yellow warning after a couple of minutes, “front assist unavailable sensor impaired”.

Having now looked at the manual I suspect that snow was covering the sensor. It’s not practical to stop to clear the sensor every mile, so when the system is arguably at its most useful it can’t be used. Of course, there might be another explanation for the fault.

Does anyone else have this error in the snow?

I have a feeling the sensor is heated so might well cope with falling snow BUT not if it is covered with snow to start with. Normally such systems activate after a short time/distance. If the snow covering the sensor has not melted before that interval then the system switches off and won't be reset until the next Ignition Off/ On cycle.

 

[WelshGas]

I have a feeling the sensor is heated so might well cope with falling snow BUT not if it is covered with snow to start with. Normally such systems activate after a short time/distance. If the snow covering the sensor has not melted before that interval then the system switches off and won't be reset until the next Ignition Off/ On cycle.

Just had this on my new Multivan Hybrid in heavy falling snow. I can see why Front Assist and ACC would be disabled for safety reasons in such conditions. When the snow stopped everything reset without having to Switch Off/On Ignition.

 

[dspuk]

As per replies. It's just a radar sensor on the front of the van. If it's covered the radar does not work. Cannot penetrate the snow. Clean it off before trips, especially if you can see it has snow on it, or wait till you go fast enough for the water/snow to be blown off. On very odd occasions I have had on the motorway and it's been dirt or mud on it.