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Backup Camera upgrade with active Gridlines


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I have a 2011 Ford Edge Limited and the original backup camera is dim, fuzzy and gets "blown out" when there's too much white in the picture. For instance, trying to back down my concrete driveway trying to use the camera is useless, it's just a big white blob on the screen.

 

I thought it may by the old SYNC2 screen but it's not. I have recently switched our SYNC2 with SYNC3 and the capacitive touch screen. The difference is amazinfg and well worth it but it didnt do much for the camera.

 

So I've decided to replace my OEM camera and while I have found the part number for the original cam, does anyone know if there's and OEM camera with active gridlines (ie, they move when the sterring wheel is turned) that will natively fit my Edge. I'm not sure where the cam gets the steering info from but I was hoping that the upgrade to SYNC3 may satisfy that.

 

I am pretty sure the newer Edge's and/or Explorer have the active gridlines, I just dont know if one of those cameras will fit my Edge.

 

Thanks in advance

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  • 4 weeks later...

I'm sure it gets the active line info from your steering wheel location. I haven't been able to get this to function on the 2011 edge or my 2013 f150 both with sync 3. On my 2013 it shows the lines on the sample image under vehicle but not on the actual camera. The 2013 raptor has these lines on the front and back so I was more hopeful with it but still wasn't able to get it to work. Since it wasn't there on the MFT with the edge I didn't spend much time on it.

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The gridlines on my '11 LTD disappeared about 4 months ago. Just up and went one day. Camera still functions fine, the lines just went away, Tried a few things to fix it but nothing has worked. I'm living with it as its really not that big a deal and I certainly don't need a $1200 repair bill from the dealer just to get gridlines back.

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I'm sure it gets the active line info from your steering wheel location. I haven't been able to get this to function on the 2011 edge or my 2013 f150 both with sync 3. On my 2013 it shows the lines on the sample image under vehicle but not on the actual camera. The 2013 raptor has these lines on the front and back so I was more hopeful with it but still wasn't able to get it to work. Since it wasn't there on the MFT with the edge I didn't spend much time on it.

 

From my experience, the "Active" guidelines, which turn with the steering wheel, are only present when when the vehicle is equipped with active park assist (auto park). At least that was the case with the Explorer.

 

The gridlines on my '11 LTD disappeared about 4 months ago. Just up and went one day. Camera still functions fine, the lines just went away, Tried a few things to fix it but nothing has worked. I'm living with it as its really not that big a deal and I certainly don't need a $1200 repair bill from the dealer just to get gridlines back.

 

Is it is enabled in the camera settings screen in MFT? If it is on, then you need to calibrate the camera. a Dealer can do it, or alternatively, if you a compatible adapter, ForScan can do it. It is a very simple software process. a few minutes worth.

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I assume that it is enabled in the camera settings in MFT. I mean, I assume it was when it was working ok and I did nothing to change that. Might MFT just decide one day to disable gridlines? I'll check it tho.

 

What do you mean my 'calibrate the camera'? The camera function is working fine but the gridlines have disappeared. I don't have a ForScan adapter however I know they are reasonably cheap. If it really gets irritating I might consider it but for now its now that big a deal. Thanks for the info.

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It is known to have happened before, so double check that it is enabled in the Camera settings.

 

Calibration of the camera, in this case, is simply a software thing that is done to the camera. My guess is it writes some detail from the vehicle to camera itself. In real life, you connect ForScan to the vehicle and click the button to calibrate the camera & after a few seconds it is done. There is no real "calibration work" being done.

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Omar, thanks for the info here. Really helpful. What ELM327 device do you use or suggest? I was just on the Forscan site and they stated that some of the ELM327 devices on like Ebay and Amazon are clones and don't support the full functionality of Forscan. Do you have a particular one that you use and might recommend?

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The best as far as I know, and currently use, is the OBDLink MX Bluetooth. About $70.00. The best thing about it is that it connects & switches automatically between MS & HS CAN modes and it is wireless, so you can easily connect your Android phone to check on data like Tire Pressure. with iPhones i think you'll need the wifi version. But to make the calibration and any other mods, you'll do it with a Windows PC/Laptop.

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I have a cheap $10 adapter I use and another that has the switch. Both I got on Amazon. I 99% of the time use the $10 adapter. Though to be honest I've only done a few things outside of APIM setup (Disable tpms, set turn signal behavior, enabled high beam with fogs, read door lock code). There's definitely pros going to a wired adapter especially if they work out the bugs with the firmware programming but if you aren't planning on doing forscan mods all the time you may not need it.

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