Car Wash Troubleshooting Guide #6 – Sensors and Vehicle Detection

Stop guessing at sensor problems. Prove what the control system is actually seeing.

Vehicle detection and equipment sensors are critical to proper car-wash operation. A dirty lens, poor alignment, damaged cable, incorrect sensitivity setting, missing common, or failed receiver can make equipment appear to have a much larger control problem.

Inside this guide: • Photo-eye and vehicle-detection troubleshooting

• Transmitter and receiver diagnosis

• Alignment and sensitivity checks

• Testing sensor outputs

• PLC input verification

• Wiring, power and common problems

• Intermittent sensor failures

• Dirty lenses and environmental problems

• Practical bypass and isolation techniques

• Field troubleshooting procedures

• Step-by-step diagnostic flowchart

• Troubleshooting worksheet

SENSOR → INPUT → CONTROL LOGIC → OUTPUT → PHYSICAL RESULT

Follow the signal, determine where the sequence stops, and prove the failure before replacing parts.

12-page practical field guide by Loyd Smith.