Hey all,

My backup camera does not come on when it is night time (well at least when there is no ambient lighting around). Both of my backup lights work so I don't think that is the reason. What is funny is that when I played with it, my friend shined a flashlight on the autolamp sensor located at the center of the front dash and the backup camera worked in the same conditions. Is this supposed to be like that? I would really like to at least attempt to see whats happening when I'm backing up at night, even if the camera can't give me a clear picture. The manual does not say anything about it not operating in darkness.

On the plus side I did get my remote start to work properly (stay on despite opening doors/putting key in ignition) so thats one less trip to the dealer!

-Sean

 

Sean, I have a new 2010 KR that I have had less then a week now. Just over 600 miles on it now. My backup camera works in a pitch black parking lot because I tested it out of curiousity the first night I picked up the new truck. Most of its light is obtained from the exterior cab light that shines over the bed, but it also picks up light from the tail lights as well. I should note that I have the Sony DVD navigation system, so if yours is in the rear view mirror that may be the difference. In the Sony nav screen, I can touch a settings button in the lower left corner of the screen to adjust the camera. After goofing around with the settings I reset back to defaults except I turned on the delay so that when I start driving forward I can look back at the boat (when I start towing) to see that it is trailering okay for like the first 5-7 seconds of towing before it changes back to my home screen.

I am very impressed with the nav system and rear camera, and feel that I could back down a boat launch in pitch black darkness if the boat launch did not have any type of street light nearby.

Kevin

 

It is suppose to work at night.

 

I do have the in-mirror/non-navigation backup camera. I will attempt to play with it some more tonight. KD, do you have the 5.5ft bed or the 6.5 ft bed? I have the 6.5ft bed. Would the longer bed obscure more light from the cab light? I will try to find out if there is a way for me to adjust the settings despite not having the nav unit. Thanks for the info, greatly appreciated!

-Sean

 

Make sure your tag lights are working. If they aren't on the camera won't work.

 

From your owner's manual: "Night time and dark area use
At night time or in dark areas, the camera system relies on the reverse
lamp lighting to produce an image. Therefore it is necessary that both
reverse lamps are operating in order to get a clear image in the dark. If
either of the lamps are not operating, stop using the camera system, at
least in the dark, until the lamp(s) are replaced and functioning."

If your camera isn't working at night, something is wrong - go see the dealer.

 

Sean, I have the 5.5ft bed on my 2010 KR.

Kevin

 

I have a 6.5' bed as well. My camera works fine at night with just the back-up lights. I have never turned on the cargo bed light when using the reverse camera. It may provide additional lighting, I'll have to try, but as I said, mine works well with the back-up lights.

 

My 2010 XLT's camera works great in the dark..........my cargo lamp comes on when in reverse, too.

 

So I brought the truck in to the dealer for them to look at the camera system. They had to keep it overnight, however they were able to replicate my problem in that it does not come on in complete dark. My dealer says it may take a couple of weeks to receive the new unit as Ford is doing a quality check on them before they ship out. He said that Ford has been experiencing problems with the cameras and thats why they have to check each one beforehand. Has anyone else heard of this problem....if it is a problem? I don't mind waiting for the part as long as it gets fixed and works as stated

-Sean