Credit: derekg1023

I recently decided I wanted to install a backup sensor in my car. I didn’t want to ruin the nice aesthetics of the bumper by installing any kind of system that required drilling holes. I came to choose the elecromagnetic kind, these create a field around the bumper. If the electromagnetic field is disturbed it will beep, the more disturbed the field is the faster the beeps get. Once you are very very close it produces a solid tone.

Here is where to get the backup system: I got the PD1-Rear

Here’s a great video from a Pontiac G8 owner that installed his:

To install it you have to remove the entire rear bumper cover. This is because you need to install a foil antenna along the inside of the cover. So whether you are installing the same system or repainting your bumper cover and need it removed here is how you do it:

1. Remove this clip from the interior of your trunk on the left and right hand side. This will give you access to the screws holding in your tail lights. Be careful with these clips, they break easily!

2. Unscrew these two screws here as I have aleady done. I just used some pliers.

3. Remove your tail lights, lift up in the direction the screws are pointed, there are three clips (along the left hand side in this pic) also holding the tail light so you will need a little force.

4. Next we go to the rear wheel wells, you will need a 10mm socket wrench. Peel back a bit of the carpet and remove this screw. There is one on each side of the car.

5. Now remove two clips on each side of the car. They may have sand and anything else you can think of in them (I suggest washing the sand out before replacing them in your car when reassembling). The first clip on the left secures the carpet to the bumper. The second clip secures the bumper to a metal hook type thing to keep the bumper fastened to the lower part of the car.

6. There are two clips also at the rear of the vehicle in between the mufflers. Here is the one on the right, remove both.

7. Remove this clip (1) on both sides and remove this screw (2) with the 10mm socket wrench. Don’t worry, while this is all the removable clips and screws, you will still need to peel the bumper off and it is NOT going to fall.

8. Peel both of the sides off from the car as depicted below, do as much as possible, you will get to the point seen here and you will want to grab the bottom of the bumper and the top in that corner to really tug on those clips, they are in there good!

9. You may notice top clip here where the bumper meets the end of the fender, here I tried to show you the clips on the corner but it is hard to see.

10. Once you have the sides unclipped keep pulling! Only this time close towards the back, there are some nice heavy duty clips in the back still holding it. You may also want to have a friend hold your bumper on the opposite side in the event you get all three clips from the back taken off in one pull because if you do, the bumper will fall off.

And thats it! Once the bumper is off you can do what you were going to do (install a backup sensor, paint your bumper cover, etc).

Here you can see I mounted the antenna for the backup sensor and routed the cables through the side trunk vent. The sensor works great and it’s fantastic at detecting, I highly recommend it. However, if you install it be forewarned, do NOT use excessive silicone. I used it to ensure it would stick to the bumper from all weather -bad idea. Utilize sticky foam tape every few inches or so. The silicone prevented any detection by creating an insulation around the wire. Although I figured the other side touching the bumper was all that needed to be bear, i was incorrect, both sides cannot excessive amounts.

For reinstallation, reverse instructions. Note, you may find it hard to hook the sides of the bumper (step 9) back into place. Be sure to only have done step 10, and have a friend hold the other side of the bumper while you push in the corner and clip it in. It takes some patience and this in my opinion the hardest step.

As always I do not take any responsibility for your car, assets, or anything else in the event that something goes wrong.

If you have any questions, let me know.

-Derek