Side Blind Zone Alert Description and Operation: Notes

The side blind zone alert system detects and reports "objects of interest" on either side of the vehicle, within a specified "blind spot" zone. The system is designed to alert the driver, with a visual display placed on the side view mirror, to the presence of objects of interest that may not be visible in the inside rearview mirror and outside rear view mirrors. Although this system is intended to help drivers avoid lane change collisions, it does not replace driver vision and therefore should be considered a lane change aid. Even with the side blind zone alert system, the driver must check carefully for objects outside of the reporting zone (e.g., a fast approaching vehicle) before changing lanes. In the event that the system senses a malfunction through its diagnostic routines, the system will be disabled and the driver will be visually notified.

When the system detects a vehicle in the side blind zone while driving forward, an amber warning symbol will light up in the appropriate outside mirror. This indicates that it may be unsafe to change lanes. If the driver then activates the turn signal, the amber warning symbol starts flashing as an extra warning not to change lanes.

Side blind zone alert is active when the vehicle is out of par, or the parking brake is off on manual transmission vehicles and at speeds up to approximately 140 km/h (87 MPH). If a vehicle is detected in the blind zone, the warning symbols will turn illuminate on the appropriate side. When the vehicle is started, both outside mirror displays will briefly come on to indicate that the system is operating. The warning symbols will vary brightness based on the ambient light conditions.

The side blind zone alert system is made up of the following components:

• B218L Side Object Sensor Module - Left
• B218R Side Object Sensor Module - Right
• A9A Outside Rearview Mirror - Driver
• A9B Outside Rearview Mirror - Passenger

B218 Side Object Sensor Module 

The B218L Side Object Sensor Module - Left and B218R Side Object Sensor Module - Right are located on each side of the vehicle behind the rear fascia and are not directly visible from outside the vehicle. The B218 Side Object Sensor Modules use radar to determine the presence of objects nearby. When an object is detected in the side blind zone, the appropriate B218 Side Object Sensor Module supplies voltage to illuminate the visual indicator on the appropriate A9 Outside Rearview Mirror. Each B218 Side Object Sensor Module is supplied B+ and ground. The B218R Side Object Sensor Module - Right receives an additional ground. Both B218 Side Object Sensor Modules communicate independently on the serial data line. The serial data enters the B218L Side Object Sensor Module - Left in a pass-thru configuration, that connects to the B218R Side Object Sensor Module - Right. The scan tool is able to individually communicate with each sensor.

A9 Outside Rearview Mirror 

The A9A Outside Rearview Mirror - Driver and A9B Outside Rearview Mirror - Passenger each contain an icon that is backlit with high intensity, amber-colored LED's located on the mirror surface. The display brightness adapts to day/night conditions. The side blind zone alert indicator icon in the appropriate A9 Outside Rearview Mirror is illuminated if the specific B218 Side Object Sensor Module detects a vehicle in the side blind zone to inform the driver that there is a vehicle driving in the blind spot zone.