SD-61-4933

®

BENDIX™ BLINDSPOTTER® SIDE OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION
The Bendix™ BlindSpotter ® side object detection system is
an aid to help professional drivers with vehicle blind-spots,
by alerting them to large metallic objects within the range of
the radar sensor(s) mounted on the side(s) of the vehicle.
Sensor

10 ft.
(3 m.)

Approximate 12 ft. (3.6 m.)
Detection Zone

Operator
Display
Unit
(ODU)
Radar Sensor
Figure 1 - Bendix™ BlindSpotter® Radar Sensor and
In-Cab Operator Display Unit (ODU)

Examples of Sensor Locations

Used in conjunction with rear view mirrors and other
instrumentation to maintain safe operation of the vehicle,
the radar sensor(s) provide an approximate ten foot by
twelve foot detection zone. See Figure 2.
The Bendix BlindSpotter side object detection system can
be installed on one or both sides of the vehicle. The system
is comprised of up to four radar sensor(s) – located on one
side of a vehicle along with a driver display unit, located on
the windshield pillar on that side – to warn the driver when
an object is detected.

Figure 2 - Bendix BlindSpotter Radar Sensor Detection
Zone and Example Locations

Key Index
1.0

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.5 What To Expect When Using The
Bendix™ BlindSpotter® System . . . . . . . . .6
1.6 Alerts And Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
1.11 Radar Clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
2.0
3.0

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
3.1 Troubleshooting Overview . . . . . . . . . . 9

1

WARNING
The driver is always responsible for the control and
safe operation of the vehicle at all times. The Bendix™
BlindSpotter® radar system does not replace the
need for a skilled, alert professional driver, reacting
appropriately and in a timely manner, and using safe
driving practices.

WARNING
Any audible and/or visual alert by the system means
that a vehicle has been detected by the Bendix
BlindSpotter system and the driver must immediately
act to potentially avoid, or lessen the severity of, a
collision.
Improper use of the Bendix BlindSpotter system
could lead to a serious accident. Read this entire
Service Data Sheet before operating the Bendix
BlindSpotter system. Pay particular attention to the
safety messages below. This guide should be used
in conjunction with proper training.
Limitations of Collision Warning Systems
The Bendix BlindSpotter side object detection system is
intended solely as an aid for an alert and conscientious
professional driver. It is not to be used or relied
upon to operate a vehicle. The system should be
used in conjunction with rear view mirrors and other
instrumentation to maintain safe operation of the vehicle,
ground personnel, and adjacent property. A vehicle
equipped with the Bendix BlindSpotter system should
be operated in the same safe manner as if the system
were not installed. The system is not a substitute for
normal safe driving procedures. It will not compensate
for any driver impairment, such as drugs, alcohol, or
fatigue. Should the system become inoperative, it could
jeopardize the safety or lives of those who depend on
the system for safety.

WARNING
The system will not sense objects if the sensor view is
obstructed. Therefore, do not place objects in front of
the system sensor. Remove heavy build-ups of mud, dirt,
ice, and other materials.
Proper installation and placement is critical to correct
operation of the system.
Testing and inspection of the system in accordance with
these instructions and record of the results should be
listed on the daily maintenance report. The units on
operating vehicles must be tested each day (see the
Testing System Operation section) prior to the vehicle’s
operation. Results of this test must be recorded in the
maintenance log. People operating this equipment MUST
2

check for proper operation at the beginning of every shift
or safety inspection period.
People’s lives depend on the proper installation of this
product in conformance with these instructions. It is
necessary to read, understand, and follow all instructions
shipped with the product.
Failure to follow all safety precautions and instructions
may result in property damage, serious injury, or death.
The Bendix BlindSpotter system is intended for commercial
use. Proper installation of this system requires a good
understanding of truck electrical systems and procedures,
along with proficiency in the installation.
Store these instructions in a safe place and refer to them
when maintaining and/or reinstalling the product.
Some of the tests in this manual require the technician to
use a test meter to measure the voltage and resistance of
the vehicle’s electrical circuits. If it becomes necessary to
temporarily connect the test meter leads to wire harness
terminals, be sure to:
•
Never insert anything, including test lead probes, into
the vehicle harness connector terminals, as this can
distort or damage the wire terminals.
•
Never pierce the wire insulation to test circuits, as
this can result in damaged wires and wire corrosion.
•
(When making resistance checks on circuits...) Make
sure the vehicle ignition is off to prevent damage to
test equipment and vehicle components.
Consult the vehicle operator’s manual for any applicable
details regarding the use and operation of this system.
Federal Communications Commission
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC (Federal
Communications Commission) rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not
cause harmful interference and (2) this device must
be able to accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation. Any
interference that may be caused should be reported to the
local FCC field office or to the Federal Communications
Commission; Enforcement Bureau; 445 12th Street S.W.;
Room 7-C485; Washington, DC 20054.
Any changes or modifications made by the user to this
equipment that are not expressly approved by Bendix
Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy
of all information in this SD Sheet. However, Bendix
Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC makes no expressed or
implied warranty or representation based on the enclosed
information. Errors or omissions should be reported to:
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
901 Cleveland Street, Elyria, OH 44035
or 1-800-AIR-BRAKE (1-800-247-2725).

GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES
WARNING! PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS
TO AVOID PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH:
When working on or around a vehicle, the following guidelines should be observed AT ALL TIMES:
▲ Park the vehicle on a level surface, apply the
parking brakes and always block the wheels.
Always wear personal protection equipment.
▲ Stop the engine and remove the ignition key
when working under or around the vehicle.
When working in the engine compartment,
the engine should be shut off and the ignition
key should be removed. Where circumstances
require that the engine be in operation, EXTREME
CAUTION should be used to prevent personal
injury resulting from contact with moving,
rotating, leaking, heated or electrically-charged
components.
▲ Do not attempt to install, remove, disassemble
or assemble a component until you have read,
and thoroughly understand, the recommended
procedures. Use only the proper tools and
observe all precautions pertaining to use of those
tools.
▲ If the work is being performed on the vehicle’s
air brake system, or any auxiliary pressurized air
systems, make certain to drain the air pressure
from all reservoirs before beginning ANY work
on the vehicle. If the vehicle is equipped with a
Bendix® AD-IS® air dryer system, a Bendix® DRM™
dryer reservoir module, or a Bendix® AD-9si® air
dryer, be sure to drain the purge reservoir.
▲ F o l l o w i n g t h e v e h i c l e m a n u f a c t u r e r ’s
recommended procedures, deactivate the
electrical system in a manner that safely removes
all electrical power from the vehicle.
▲ Never exceed manufacturer’s recommended
pressures.

▲ Never connect or disconnect a hose or line
containing pressure; it may whip and/or cause
hazardous airborne dust and dirt particles. Wear
eye protection. Slowly open connections with
care, and verify that no pressure is present. Never
remove a component or plug unless you are
certain all system pressure has been depleted.
▲ Use only genuine Bendix® brand replacement
parts, components and kits. Replacement
hardware, tubing, hose, fittings, wiring, etc. must
be of equivalent size, type and strength as original
equipment and be designed specifically for such
applications and systems.
▲ Components with stripped threads or damaged
parts should be replaced rather than repaired.
Do not attempt repairs requiring machining or
welding unless specifically stated and approved
by the vehicle and component manufacturer.
▲ Prior to returning the vehicle to service, make
certain all components and systems are restored
to their proper operating condition.
▲ For vehicles with Automatic Traction Control
(ATC), the ATC function must be disabled (ATC
indicator lamp should be ON) prior to performing
any vehicle maintenance where one or more
wheels on a drive axle are lifted off the ground
and moving.
▲ The power MUST be temporarily disconnected
from the radar sensor whenever any tests USING
A DYNAMOMETER are conducted on a vehicle
equipped with a Bendix® Wingman® system.

▲ You should consult the vehicle manufacturer's operating and service manuals, and any related literature,
in conjunction with the Guidelines above.

3

1.0 OPERATION

Operation Section Index

OPERATOR DISPLAY UNIT
The Bendix™ BlindSpotter ® radar system assists the driver
by giving audible and visual alerts.
•

A visual warning: The side object display unit uses
two (2) LED indicators to display the status of the
side radar sensor. The yellow LED indicates the
system is active, but no objects are detected. The
red LED indicates the system is detecting an object.
See Figure 3.

Volume Control Button

Yellow LED: Standby;
No Object Detected

LED

Indication

Red Indicator

Object Detected

Yellow Indicator

No Object Detected

Red and Yellow (at power-up)

Self-Test

Red and Yellow (constant)

Sensor Diagnostic
Trouble Code (DTC)

Figure 3 - Bendix BlindSpotter Driver Display Unit LED
Indicators

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

1.1

Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

1.2

Sensor Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.3

Sensor Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.4

Operator Display Unit Mounting . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.5

What To Expect When Using The
Bendix BlindSpotter System . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

1.6

Alerts And Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1.7

Bendix BlindSpotter System Diagnostic
Trouble Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1.8

Radar Sensor Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1.9

Alert Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1.10 Potential False Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Red LED: Alert
Ambient Light Sensor
(Automatically Dims LEDs)

1.0

1.11 Radar Clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

•

An audible warning: When the vehicle’s turn signal
is active and the sensor detects a large metallic object
alongside the vehicle, the side sensor display emits
an audible warning tone.

•

Volume Control: Steps the volume level of the alerts
between low, medium, and high (and back through the
sequence). The most recent selection is stored in the
memory.

•

An Ambient Light Detector: Automatically adjusts
the brightness of the LEDs.

If the system detects a failure and becomes inoperative, the
display unit will warn the driver by continuously illuminating
both the red and yellow LEDs at the same time.

14"
(355.6mm)
22"
(558.8mm)

48"
(1219.2mm)

18"
(457.2mm)

Figure 4 - Recommended Installation Location (Single Sensor Systems)
4

1.1 RANGE
The effective range is approximately ten (10) feet out from
the vehicle and the detection zone extends approximately
six feet forward and backward from the sensor. See
Figure 2.

Parallel with
the Ground

1.2 SENSOR LOCATION
The Bendix™ BlindSpotter® Side Object Detection Sensor
must be mounted on the side of the vehicle, between 22
and 36 inches from the ground and at least 18 inches rear
of the side view mirror. See Figure 4.
Note: To reduce the possibility of the sensor detecting
objects mounted to the vehicle – like the steps or fuel
tanks – make sure the face of the sensor extends out a
minimum of 5/16 of an inch further than any other object
within six (6) inches of the sensor’s body.

1.3 SENSOR ORIENTATION
The Bendix BlindSpotter Sensor should be mounted on a
vertical surface and oriented so that the embossed logo is
parallel to the ground – you may use the lower two mounting
holes as a guide – see Figure 5. Orientation is crucial for
proper operation due to the radar’s polarized beam profile.

Figure 5 - Sensor Installation

1.4 OPERATOR DISPLAY UNIT MOUNTING
The Bendix BlindSpotter Operator Display Unit (ODU)
should be mounted on a windshield pillar for the side of
the vehicle being monitored. See Figure 6.
Mount on
Windshield
Pillar

Figure 6 - ODU Installation
The Bendix BlindSpotter Operator Display Unit (ODU)
has a bracket that is designed to be bent up to fifteen (15)
degrees in order to optimize the angle for the driver’s view.

5

1.5 WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN USING THE BENDIX™ BLINDSPOTTER® SYSTEM
Tables 1 and 2 illustrate what to expect from the Bendix™ BlindSpotter ® system in various driving situations.

POWER-UP TEST

What to Expect at Vehicle Power-Up

Situation

Typical System Indication/Alerts

At vehicle power-up (with no metal object within
the sensor’s detection zone).

1. Both the red and yellow LEDs illuminate for a half-second as
a system self-test, followed by
2. The red LED remains on for a further 5 (five) seconds as a
sensor self-test, followed by
3. The yellow LED illuminates and stays ON
(Note: if, instead, a metal object is within the sensor’s detection
zone, the yellow LED will extinguish, and the red LED will illuminate.)

Table 1 - Power-Up Test Sequence

What to Expect During Vehicle Use
Typical System Indication/Alerts
Situation

Yellow
LED

Other Indicators

Normal driving (no other vehicle present
alongside).

ON

None.

The driver passes a vehicle, or a vehicle enters
the sensor detection zone alongside the vehicle.

OFF

The red LED will illuminate.

A guard-rail, or similar large metallic object, is
detected by the sensor.

OFF

The red LED will illuminate.

The driver passes by any non-metallic object or
person (e.g. pedestrian, wooden structure, etc.).

ON

None; radar technology only detects metallic objects.

The driver activates the left turn signal, and the
sensor on the left side of the vehicle detects a
large metallic object.

OFF

The red LED will illuminate AND the alert tone will