Anyone know what this sensor on my windscreen is for?

What is this?

 

That is the secret 007 villain self destruct sensor. It causes the vehicle to spontaneously combust when MI6 finally catches you.

JK ... have you tried tracing the wire all the way back? Its hard to tell where it is from your picture. I've never seen it...

 

It's a sensor that's part of the optional system that's operated by this switch.

 

Glass breakage detector???

 

Is this an ex-Japan vehicle fitted with the VICS (Vehicle Information & Communication System)?

Graham

 

It is ex Japan yes, don't know what a VICS is, will look that up, thanks!!

 

Wayne,

You're not alone in not knowing what VICS is.

I only suggested it could be VICS because the system is exclusively for the Japanese market and I've never seen a sensor like that.

Graham

 

VICS is like a proprietary version of Google Maps, where data from each vehicle is sent to everyone else to show where congestion areas are located. Google Maps uses location data from all the phones out there to do the same thing. It's a real-time location service for traffic.

 

From the Workshop Manual:

Vehicle Information and Communication System (VICS)]
The VICS system supplies the navigation computer with information to enable the navigation computer to re-route the navigation guidance or to inform the vehicle driver of traffic conditions in the vehicles vicinity. Information is provided to the system through three routes:
· RF transmission
· Infra-red transmission
· FM (frequency modulation) multiplex transmissions.

The RF transmissions are generally transmitted from road side beacons mainly on expressways. The information transmitted is as follows:
· Traffic congestion
· Travel time to next intersection
· Traffic conditions in surrounding areas and expressway turn offs
· Traffic accidents
· Speed limits
· Lane regulations
· Tire change
· Parking availability at expressway service areas and parking areas.

The Infra-Red transmissions are received by the beacon antenna mounted on the top of the instrument panel. Infra-Red transmissions are transmitted from road side beacons on major trunk roads. The information transmitted is:
· Traffic congestion and travel time
· Traffic accidents
· Breakdowns
· Road works restrictions
· Parking availability.

FM (frequency modulation) transmissions are broadcast as part of the normal RDS FM (frequency modulation) transmission. Information transmitted is:
· Traffic congestion and travel time for wide areas
· Traffic accidents, road works, speed limits and lane restrictions for a wide area
· Parking availability information.

FM transmissions are received via the FM antenna and split from the normal FM transmissions by the FM signal splitter.


Graham

 

I think it is actually for a toll card which is why it has ETC on it (electronic toll card?).

All of the Japanese import cars I have had have just had a little box somewhere for the VICS system.

This is the only one is in the parts manual:



And that matches what is in my '10 XKR (excuse the dust!)
:


Do you have one of those as well Wayne?

 

Can't see why an ETC transponder would have the Jaguar logo on it though. The ETCs are proprietary.

 

Well it has got the ETC logo on it so it is pretty obvious that is what it is. Perhaps someone just put a sticker on it or Japanese Jaguar dealers can fit them once the car is in the country

The way it is wired is not very factory either so does look like it was added at some point afterwards.

Most of that sort of stuff gets removed when the cars go through compliance when they reach New Zealand.

 

I completely missed that ETC molded cover. Well then, I guess that sorta makes sense, though I wouldn't think a car company would Logo something such as that. Maybe it's a sticker!

 

Some ETCs in Japan are factory or dealer mounted… thus maybe the logo.
Normally there should be a card reader somewhere also:
https://www.japanetccard.com/Learnin...VehicleDevices

 

Wayne,

Thierry's post and link indicate there are other components of the ETC unit that would have been installed in the car. Do you find any bits still in the car that would accommodate the insertion of the electronic toll card or are otherwise not part of the OEM setup of the interior?

This forum continues to be amazing. Before this thread I had no idea that there was such a thing as ETC!