Just a quick note: I just signed for a 1 week subscription on Carista and for the base price of $10 US they are now giving a full month. This gets you the Pro version with all diagnostics and customizations.

 

Well, after 8 1/2 years, something finally broke on my 2014 Lexus ES/UL. One of the parking sensor is going bonkers. Based on feedback from others, Lexus wants $900 to replace one bumper sensor. Wow! So I'm doing the other recommendation. I got a replacement sensor, same model #, on Amazon for about $20 ($200+ for OEM MSRP). Then I got the ODB2 module ($30) to plug into the car (actually, it's in the mail). Then I'm going to get the Carista App to find out which of the four sensors are bad. I have a car-buddy whose going to help me replace the sensor. All in all, < $100 for the replacement. Yea!

 

By the time you get the bumper cover off it is almost no effort just to try a new sensors on all four connectors - no need for Carista.

 

Well, I got the bumper off and replaced the sensor, FRONT-LEFT-CENTER, according to Carista. I turn on the car and diagnose and everything looks good. When I put the car into drive, however, the dash has a “red-line” in the front of the vehicle indicating something is VERY close and just continues blaring…and won’t go off.

I cannot find any sort of “reset” after replacing the park sensor. I tried resetting the maintenance light, but that didn’t fix things. My only assumption now is that the sensor is not a $250 “true” OEM sensor from some “Lexus parts bin”.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

UPDATE: (2014 ES/UL Original Owner)
I have a car buddy who helped me take off the front bumper. The video at helps a bit. There are some clips under the wheel well that aren't easily apparent. Otherwise, taking off the front bumper was fairly easy. If you feel you're a DIYer at all, you can do it. About 15 or so plugs to pop out (some underneath, some on top), three bolts on each side underneath w/ a metal bar, then a clip, bolt, and screw under each wheel well.

So, I got the Carista App. It said the Sonar system was bad (duh). So I get one month of detailed examination for free after buying the app. Then I used that to tell me it was the front-left-center sensor. Based on other advice in this forum, Lexus wants $900 to replace one sensor--I think that is outrageous. Based on other advice, I got a $20 sensor from eBay that looked reputable as best I could tell--in short, didn't work. So I bought a real OEM Lexus sensor for $200 (regularly $250). Today we took off the bumper, replaced the sensor, put the bumper back on in 45 minutes and verified its working when the bumper was off and when it was on. Works perfectly. So why is Lexus charging $900 for a 45 minute fix? Even x2 at 1.5 hours that's outrageous. I guess part+profit ($250+NNN) and $200/hr x 1.5 (labor) = $300 for a total of about $600. I can see that (not that I want to pay that) but $900 just seems too much.

Anyway, the Carista app paid for itself by telling me exactly what sensor needs fixing. Next time I need a diagnosis, I'll spend for "one month" of diagnosis cost for the app. Buy an OEM part, and replace it myself.

Thanks to all the folks on the forum. This was my first "fix" as the car has not had any "breaks" until now at 8.5 years old (other "me" problems, dings, bird strikes, etc., but nothing just "breaking" out of the blue).

 

You may want to get Techstream software instead - way more functionality than Carista.

Thanks for sharing your experience with aftermarket sensor. I had to replace one on our 2017 Rav4 and just got one for $14 shipped from Amazon. It seems to be working fine. It costs $8 now.

 

HA! Checked your link and saw that the sensor is now $7.33. Let us know if it works out for you...

 

HA! Checked your link and saw that the sensor is now $7.33. Let us know if it works out for you...

Sorry... don't know how I did this... Mods please delete dupe post...