wlepse

Yeah, there really is no excuse for the high failure rate. So many vehicles have these without issues and I have had several outdoor cams operating for years without a failure. People should probably file complaints on NHTSA since they do consider this safety equipment. If there are enough reports maybe it will become a recall.

drpepper...I too have this change of ambient color but we have the other settings at default so I don't know if those somehow influence the "fix". I mentioned the issue to the dealer but got the typical response that they wanted money to look at it. Really frustrating when you know there is a TSB. But looking at the TSB, if they are just doing the install via USB, why doesn't Ford make these files available to customers to make the update? I would gladly do this myself rather than trying to get the dealer to address this.

Just checked the Audi tonight and I have basically 8/32" all the way around. Based on this thread I had these installed late November. Since I typically do 20k a year I probably have 15k on these so these are in the same ballpark as the Edge. Again not terrible especially given the price with rebates but at full price I would pass on these.

Not sure how sensitive Ford's AWD is to different rolling diameters but as mentioned above you do want to keep them close and the same model. A while back I was in a similar spot with my Audi and found out Tire Rack offered tire shaving. So if you do have to replace one give them a call and see if they still offer it. I think in my case I just ended up buying four new since the cost of shaving doubled the tire price.

Don't think the rotations would help much. Ours should have been rotated twice since installation since we had the "Works" done at Ford and wear front to rear is pretty much the same. There is just no way these will last to 60k. I think we will be hard pressed to get 40k. Really I will probably pull them before that since my wife hates driving in the rain and anything that makes her more nervous has to go. So typically I replace tires probably around 5/32" just so she has less to be worried about.

Figured I would post up another update. While these tires seem to perform fine in the wet, dry and limited snow I am concerned about the wear. If you buy these expected to get anywhere near the 60k treadlife they quote I think you will be disappointed. I probably have between 10-15k on these and I have 7-8/32nds left. I think typical wear band is around 3/32 and new depths are around 10/32". So 10/32-3/32 = 7/32 useable tread...10/32-7.5/32= 2.5/32" tread used...7/2.5(15,000)= 42,000miles. I think this is an over estimate since the wife typically does about 15k/year and we are sitting at 9 months. Anyway, for what I paid if I get 40k that is OK with me. Just wanted to let the rest of you know not to expect 60k out of these. I will have to get some measurements on the Audi to compare but just visually they look like they have similar wear. So I don't think this is an issue with one vehicle or driving styles since we rarely drive each others.

Never heard that...but someone posted on hear a diy for lubing the bamr when it starts to slow down. I know you say they lubed it already but they may have only done the track...the sounds I heard is more like rubber. In the video he also applied dielectric grease to the rubber. Maybe this is what you need. Also check to make sure the rubber trim is seated correctly, it could be bulging a little and depending on conditions swells just enough to cause interference.

I pulled out the invoice but it doesn't mention the TSB...sorry.

Trying to see if there are any IDS systems I can pick up for <$200. At around that price it is probably worth getting in case I have to change some other part in the future.

If that is the only issue I can handle that...my old machine for the audi software is XP. But the reviews I have seen seem to be hit and miss. I guess that is typical for Chinese knock off/clones.

Has anyone picked up one of these things? I have found a few that seem to be reasonably priced like this one but I have no idea if they actually work. Hoping someone here has first hand knowledge of these and what they can and can't do. Basically now that I replaced the rear camera I would like to program this into the car to get the lines back, from past experience the local dealers want $150 just to pull the computer out. So for a little more I could do it myself and be able to tackle other stuff later. I know in the Audi community there is a big list of people that have the VCDS program, works great because for the price of a some beer or something you can get someone to help you out...might be able to do the same with these.

Yeah, I think I got used to doing it the old fashion way since ours would often cut out. Now I see everything but it is difficult to really tell where the edges of the truck are. But it does work great to see how close I am to the work bench.

Ok...another update. Camera still provides an image but I am coming to the conclusion it is close to useless without the lines. It is very hard to tell how you are lined up due to the perspective it gives you...I still find myself turning around to line up with a space then when lined up I use the cam to tell when I am all the way in. I will give it some more time but I think I will be breaking down to get this programmed. So keep that in mind so you know the true cost to fix. For those that aren't handy you are probably better off letting the dealer do this. I was quoted $400 for the whole thing, right now I am in $100+ probably $150 to program so I will still save $150, but for some this might not be worth it.

Thanks for the feedback. I also found a few references to the PTU requiring GL-5, so make sure the gear oil you choose meets that. By the way what are you putting in the tranny? Doing anything for the RDU? The fluids are so cheap I think it is worth it to do fairly frequently. I am thinking about doing the PTU yearly which is basically 20k. Just thinking it is easier to put on my calendar for a yearly thing than rely on the wife reminding me when she has gone x miles.

I have been reading through the threads and am planning to do my first flush just prior to vacation. Hoping the long trip from NJ to SC will mix things up in there and help clean it up so when I return I can flush it again and be pretty close to clean fluid. Anyway, I have see the posts about the zip tie level check and I think I am all set with one exception. I see the PTU uses 75W140, but many of the gear oils I have seen listed also mention a friction modifier. I am not positive but I didn't think Ford added that to the PTU, I seem to remember seeing it being added to the RDU but that uses a different oil I believe. So to those that have done this; what oil did you use and did you add friction modifiers?

I hear you on money being tight...seems you never have enough especially when you have kids. I will double check the box but I am almost 100% positive it matched the P/N shown in the pic. There really aren't two part numbers, I think initially there was a version of this camera that was used up to a build date in 2012, then they revised it. So many of the sites have two listings but if you look at the Ford P/N they are the same. The camera I got had a mfg date of like 2 months ago, the original said it was S/N 0011. So I think I had a really early revision.

Wow...thanks to xK317Hx's method this was pretty painless. Took about 30 minutes. Hardest part was dremeling the screw. My initial mistake was not committing and the groove was too big initially. Once I manned up it was all good. The only change I made was a suggestion my wife made. I was struggling with my sausage fingers to get the screw back in...knowing some expletives were about to be used she suggested a zip tie. Worked perfect and next time it will be super easy to get out. Results were good, we now have a reverse cam again! As expected the colored lines and blocks are no longer present. Was going to try a master reset but from what I have read it needs to be reprogrammed by Ford. Really wish there was a diy programmer I could buy at a reasonable price. Anyway the good news is the beeps are still present, so between being able to see what is behind us and beeps we are good.

Cam was about $100 shipped from Levittown Parts. I too get the rear camera not available message, but sometimes it does other things too. This is why I had initially suspected it was the APIM flaking out but Ford tested it and said all was good. I got the camera yesterday and hope to get it installed this weekend if I get time. I will update with the results.

Just to update this thread I finally broke down and bought the replacement camera from Levittown Ford. Once I get it in and installed I will update everyone on the success or more than likely failure of my efforts. Still suspect something else is amiss but since others have had success changing it I will give it a shot.

Soryry to hear about the family issues and can understand your position. Unfortunately I have no concrete info to give you. But I would suggest trying to salvage it. Some people have had some luck with frequent "flushes." Since the fluid is cheap it might be worth a shot.

Ford dealer needs to reprogram the can to get back full functionality. But I had thought you just lost the lines and the boxes of color that pop up as you get close to something. If you lose the beeps too I may just have the dealer do this. Last time I asked about getting a BCM programmed I was told 200 bucks, plus 100 bucks for camera comes close what they quoted. Don't think I want the wife driving it without beeps, she is so used to using this I can see that being a problem.

You need to have it programmed to get the lines back...but thought you would have kept the alerts. When you say alerts are you referring to the beeps or the colored blocks? The beeps I thought were a separate system so I thought they would remain active.

I think it is covered to 150k but only one free fix in that time frame.

No explanation...said pressure test was good so they topped it off. Think they test by removing the overflow cap, so maybe I have a bad cap??

Ok..while I think there maybe something wrong with the cam I just noticed my parking aides are gone. Before the lines were present and green,yellow red boxes appeared if there was an image shown even if it was upside down. Now all I get are the beeps. Anyone else see anything like this? Suspecting I have more than one problem here.