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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 10 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 44 found the following review helpful:
Not recommended Feb 09, 2010
By B. Harris
After extensive online research, I decided to purchase this unit. The idea of installing a bar on my license plate was much more appealing than drilling four holes in my bumper. And I figured an audible beep warning would be better than a camera/video screen that I would have to look at to see if I was going to hit something.
Before I purchased it, I visited the manufacturer's website (Wagan Tech). I submitted an email asking if the unit would work if mounted only 14 inches above the ground (I have a small, low car and the sensor bar would only fit on the lower side of the license plate). I also asked for a manual for the Model 2456. In two days, someone emailed the manual (pdf) and said they had forwarded my question to the "tech support" department. 2 weeks passed and no reply. I should have then to not purchase the product.
But, alas, I did.
The product arrived, it looked pretty decent. Good wires, good connectors, etc. Instructions were awful - mostly drawings and 3 or 4 word sentences. . . far too simplistic for this type of operation. But I installed it all anyway. I had to drill a large hole (with included bit; about 3/4 inch diameter) not only through my bumper cover (the plastic painted part), but through my license plate and plate frame as well. Note: you should check if your bumper cover has the steel/aluminum bumper just behind/under your license plate because if you do, you will not be able to mount this unit as you will not be able to drill a hole through the metal).
I was able to install the unit (electric, etc) in about 6 hours. Much of that time was determining exactly where to run the wires, where to pick up electricity for the "brains" and the display, and drill all the holes. The installation went okay, and looks okay. I put the brains/transmitting unit in the back wheel well, just under the back up lights. I put the display just behind the passenger seat so that when I turn to look toward the back, I can easily see the display. In total, the Wireless Display is only 3 feet from the transmitter.
How does it work? Well - that's where the problem comes in.
It will, indeed, go "beep" when you get near something. *Most of the time*. And thus the reason I can't recommend you buy this product. When I put my car in reverse, the unit powers up (it's connected to the backup light power wire), the display turns on (with a --|-- on the screen), and chirps. It will pick up the sides of my garage as I back out and as I approach the fence, it picks it up, too. But it also picks up the road if on an incline and often time is too slow to respond. If you s-l-o-w-l-y creep back, it will give you warning before you hit anything. But you cannot back up at a normal speed like with our Nissan's factory-installed radar unit. Plus - the display often goes black while I'm backing up. So in short, I CAN"T RELY on the unit to be accurate. So what's the point of getting it in the first place??
I did write Wagan Tech and asked a few simple questions such as "should the display ever appear "off/black" when engaged? or is my unit faulty?" and "is there a way to hard-wire the brains to the display (so as to not depend on the slow wireless connection" Wagan never answered. I wrote a week later, then a week after that. Told them I was going to post a review on AmaZon and was waiting to hear from them. Never got answers.
So in all, my advice is don't buy this (or any other Wagan Tech) product. There is NO support after the purchase. A shame, because I bet there is a good market for this type of product - but only if it works!
9 of 10 found the following review helpful:
No support from Wagen Dec 08, 2009
By R. Kanno
"rk4runner"
The product is a good product and it lives up to my expectations. But, unless you install electrical equipment in cars, its hard to install the receiving unit. The sending unit was a snap. The hookup was to the 2 ea. cables to the rear backup light. The problem is the electrical hookup to the receiving unit. All the instructions say is to hookup to the "ACC" and "ON". Take a look under the dash for a 2001 Camry. Where are those wires? As I said, if you don't do electrical hookups in cars, its a total mess. I emailed Wagen and asked them where can I make a connection to ACC and ON and that didn't do any good because they won't answer you because they probably don't know the answer. If a company sells a product, they should be able to at least show you on an electrical diagram where the hookups should be. The instructions that came with the product is no help at all. It is as if a small child put together the instructions. Finally gave up and had a car stereo/alarm company install the one wire for $65. Yes, the unit works but the instruction is useless.
8 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Wagan Wireless Rear Backup Safety Sensor Jul 12, 2009
By R. J. Moss
[ Wagan Wireless Rear Backup Safety Sensor]]
Easily installed if you are handy with tools and wiring (about 2 hours). I installed the system about a month ago on a Tundra pickup. The license frame mounting was very simple. The range is very short like all of the after market sensors but it is a great help in parking and connecting to a trailer. With a canopy it is difficult to see behind. For the price I think it is well worth it.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
No good when wet.. Oct 26, 2011
By Ankron
The products works well at finding what ever is behind you about 6 feet out in dry weather, and I like the three levels of beep it gives, and minimal about of wiring. however, should the sensor bar gets wet, the sensors will think you are 0.0 ft from an object. This combined with the fact that the sensor bar sticks out like a sore thumb... I'd say if you can find one that works even when wet/doesn't stick out so much go for it. Other wise it works, and works well.
 Wagan Backup Sensor system Apr 10, 2012
By Kenneth Beer
Don't waste your money. Very difficult to install. Never worked after installation. A full fledged video system installed by a professsionla is a better choice but very expensive.
See all 10 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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