Honda Blind Spot Indicator (BSI) Dummy Sensor

Posted on 23 August 2024 Print

We’ve had technical inquiries that asked about Honda vehicles being equipped with dummy blind spot sensors.

The "dummy sensors" are used on vehicles not equipped with a Blind Spot Indicator (BSI) system. The dummy sensors are not actually sensors, but they take the place of the real sensor while the vehicle does a system check.

The wiring harnesses for a BSI system are on the vehicle but the functional sensors and indicators in the mirrors are not installed. When writing the repair plan, check the mirrors for blind spot indicator lights. If the indicator lights are missing, this is the first hint that the vehicle is not equipped with BSI.

Once the rear bumper cover is removed, you will see what appears to be blind spot sensors. However, when you remove the sensor and look on the backside, you will see the word "DUMMY".

You may also notice a weight difference between a real blind spot sensor and the dummy sensor. The dummy sensor weighs about half as much as the real sensor.

It is extremely important that when you order the parts, you must specify that this vehicle is equipped with dummy sensors. VIN decoding in the parts catalog does not filter out the two different part types.

If you accidentally install a real blind spot sensor on the vehicle, it will create false error messages and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) related to issues with the BSI system. These error messages and DTCs can be extremely difficult to remove once an operational blind spot sensor has been installed.

For additional Honda/Acura information, check out the following pages:
Honda OEM Information
Acura OEM Information

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