Effect of aftermarket emblems on radar (1 Viewer)

[NY2LA]

Hi, guys. I'm working on having a custom emblem 3-D printed for my 200. Current plan is to keep the existing emblem in place and affix the new one on top with industrial velcro. Question is, will I obstruct the radar? Anyone have insights on this?

 

[mcgaskins]

A very think layer of snow causes the system to shut down (the instrument cluster tells you when it happens), so I’m sure anything besides a clear film would block it.

 

[NY2LA]

So I did a test today. Taped a 1/4" thick plastic mounting plate over the emblem using gaffer tape. Then taped a 1/8" thick prototype of the new emblem to the plate using more gaffer tape. Then went for a drive with the cruise control on. Amazinly, the radar worked through all these layers. Seems it will penetrate a 3/8" overlay just fine with certain materials.

 

[gaijin]

So I did a test today. Taped a 1/4" thick plastic mounting plate over the emblem using gaffer tape. Then taped a 1/8" thick prototype of the new emblem to the plate using more gaffer tape. Then went for a drive with the cruise control on. Amazinly, the radar worked through all these layers. Seems it will penetrate a 3/8" overlay just fine with certain materials.

I would still be reluctant to put anything in front of the radar sensor/emitter. I don't think the radar system/cruise/pcs/etc. performance is a yes/no proposition. In other words, I don't think it either works 100% or doesn't work 100%.

Based solely on your test, I'm not sure one can say that your test demonstrated complete 100% performance under all conditions for all systems dependent on the radar functionality.

Just my US$0.02.

HTH

 

[2021 LC200]

Hi, guys. I'm working on having a custom emblem 3-D printed for my 200. Current plan is to keep the existing emblem in place and affix the new one on top with industrial velcro. Question is, will I obstruct the radar? Anyone have insights on this?

Kind of confuses me why you would want to put a custom emblem in front of the Toyota one, other than perhaps sticking on Rudolph's Red Nose for a couple of days... in any case:
- Radar can go through certain materials, others not... Google search may enlighten you. Otherwise I guess trial and error
- I am sure you are aware the Dynamic Cruise Control and Pre Collision Systems use the radar, both quite helpful I would say

The manual is obvious clear about what the radar does, keeping it clear and not putting anything in front of it.

All in all I would not mess with that part of the car. If you do, good luck with it.

 

[NY2LA]

Thanks for the caution here, guys. The custom emblem is for documentary film work I'm doing, in case the vehicle appears in any shots. In lieu of having to gaff tape over the logo or avoid certain camera angles, it would be nice to have a different emblem entirely. But I will definitely take care now to apply it only temporarily when filming off road.