Front camera fault fixed?

[A-A-Ron]

So back in December, I wrote about my 12v battery dying in the middle of having my windshield replaced. Not really a surprise, it was nearing 3 years old and 60k miles, they had the doors open (and cabin lights on), and it was cold, and that was that.

What's interesting is that I was wanting to get the windshield replaced so that I could have the front camera fault TSB addressed by the dealer. I'd been getting random camera faults for over a year - it started out just once every month or so, and slowly became more consistent. By last fall, it was multiple times per day, usually any time I went over a significant bump (and that was before I took a rock to the bottom of the windshield). Only thing is: I haven't had a single fault since replacing the windshield and battery and it's been 6 weeks now.

Honestly, not sure exactly what fixed it - was it a sign of a dying battery? Was there a pit or nick on the windshield that interfered with the camera's fov? Neither of those make sense with the faults most often occurring when hitting bumps. Did removing the camera housing from the old windshield and installing it on the new tug on the cable and release some of the pressure where it was pinched? I don't think the windshield tech tightened the coax inside the assembly. Was the original adhesive seal poor and reinstalling it the solution? No clue. But it's been nice not getting errors every time I hit a bump.

Sponsored

 

[eStang]

Here's my theory: The connection of the coaxial cable to camera (which is mounted to the inside of the windshield) was probably loose. Windshield replacement likely resulted in the connector being securely reconnected by the installer.

 

[A-A-Ron]

Here's my theory: The connection of the coaxial cable to camera (which is mounted to the inside of the windshield) was probably loose. Windshield replacement likely resulted in the connector being securely reconnected by the installer.

Could be, but I’d be surprised if they tightened it. They just yanked it off and left it dangling, don’t believe he checked it before gluing it back up.

 

[eStang]

The connector is plastic and has a built in spring clip. You can't actually tighten it. It's a matter of fully engaging it.

 

[jay1122]

The connector is plastic and has a built in spring clip. You can't actually tighten it. It's a matter of fully engaging it.

Do you happen to know how to remove that connector? I tried to pull it off but it does not come off. Can't find any obvious unlocking mechanism.

 

[eStang]

Do you happen to know how to remove that connector? I tried to pull it off but it does not come off. Can't find any obvious unlocking mechanism.

I do not. I have looked at it and also am unsure how it works - and did not want to risk breaking it so didn't try to remove it.

 

[Wallie]

So back in December, I wrote about my 12v battery dying in the middle of having my windshield replaced. Not really a surprise, it was nearing 3 years old and 60k miles, they had the doors open (and cabin lights on), and it was cold, and that was that.

What's interesting is that I was wanting to get the windshield replaced so that I could have the front camera fault TSB addressed by the dealer. I'd been getting random camera faults for over a year - it started out just once every month or so, and slowly became more consistent. By last fall, it was multiple times per day, usually any time I went over a significant bump (and that was before I took a rock to the bottom of the windshield). Only thing is: I haven't had a single fault since replacing the windshield and battery and it's been 6 weeks now.

Honestly, not sure exactly what fixed it - was it a sign of a dying battery? Was there a pit or nick on the windshield that interfered with the camera's fov? Neither of those make sense with the faults most often occurring when hitting bumps. Did removing the camera housing from the old windshield and installing it on the new tug on the cable and release some of the pressure where it was pinched? I don't think the windshield tech tightened the coax inside the assembly. Was the original adhesive seal poor and reinstalling it the solution? No clue. But it's been nice not getting errors every time I hit a bump.

Sounds like you had a loose connection.

 

[Bdsmith10]

i’m glad you’ve posted this. I’m having the same exact issue right now. I had my window replaced about a year and a half ago. But I also know that my 12 V battery is around 60% and probably needs to replace soon.

 

[eStang]

I do not. I have looked at it and also am unsure how it works - and did not want to risk breaking it so didn't try to remove it.

@jay1122 - fwiw - I found this post from @AndyR who used foam to protect the cable, and presumably also maintain pressure on the coax connector - saw him say he is +4K miles since doing that and still no front camera error - (5) Front Camera Fault & Pre-Collision Assist Not Available Errors | Page 55 | MachEforum - Ford Mustang Mach-E News, Owners, Discussions, Community

 

[AndyR]

@jay1122 - fwiw - I found this post from @AndyR who used foam to protect the cable, and presumably also maintain pressure on the coax connector - saw him say he is +4K miles since doing that and still no front camera error - (5) Front Camera Fault & Pre-Collision Assist Not Available Errors | Page 55 | MachEforum - Ford Mustang Mach-E News, Owners, Discussions, Community

I found it, your post.

I’m now up to almost 4 years and 58,000 miles with my foam still working perfectly

 

[GT-Papa]

I'm having this problem at an increasing rate on my 2021 GTPE. At one point last summer, I pulled the lower cover off of the camera mount and straightened out the coax cable connected to the camera. Once put all back together, no more faults for about 3 weeks. But now the problem is back and getting worse. It may work for an hour but then fault when gong over railroad tracks, it may fault 3 times and clear itself in quick succession while taking a 10 minute drive to the store. This is literally the only thing wrong with the car. Very frustrating.
So in an effort to take another look at it and perhaps try the foam sandwich fix, I attempted to remove the cover again. This time, the plastic piece that is glued to the windshield broke off completely. So now I need to reattach that piece before I can proceed. I need to say here that my windshield has been replaced 2x.
@Mach-Lee perhaps you can answer a couple of questions for me.
I ran across a video of a MME windshield replacement. In the video, a picture of the new windshield showed that the plastic piece that holds the camera and a couple of other sensors was pre-attached to the windshield. Is this true?
I am debating trying to reattach this piece myself (3M Extreme double sticky tape or Epoxy putty), or taking the car to a glass shop and paying them to do it with some super-dooper adhesive. If it is true that all new windshields come with this plastic piece already attached, perhaps the glass shop has never had to remove and reattach this piece and would not know how to do this operation. Advise please.

Question number 2: How does the coax cable attach to the camera? Like many others here I've tried pulling on it with moderate force with no success. The metal termination of the coax cable rotates freely in the camera body but is tightly surrounded by plastic bits. Is there a way to unlock the coax cable by removing a plastic clip or must one simply pull on the coax real seriously? If this is a plastic locking clip, how does is come apart? Being an electronics technician for 20 years and a Quality Engineer for 20 more leaves me very comfortable with coax and connectors and electronics in general but I've never seen a connector like this one. How does this thing come apart?
My reason for wanting to disconnect this piece is to look it over for any possibility of an intermittent connection, either in the center conductor or the shield. Signal integrity being a key point here, many including myself, report that hitting bumps, temperature changes, strain on the cable and whatnot can cause the fault. All of these things smack of intermittent connection and fluctuating signal integrity.
Any suggestion you might have greatly appreciated. Thx in advance.

 

[someone22]

Found this thread quite late, but there is a small clip that you need to press before pulling on the camera connector.

Sponsored