Hi All, I am new to this forum and I apologise if this topic has been covered previously. I tried looking through some of the issues here but nothing seems to quite fit.
I have a 2014 focus ST hatchback with a reverse camera that has been great up until just recently. Now, it seems to work fine at home in garage with power applied (engine not running) but I when I'm driving and wish to reverse, all I get displayed is the parking pilot with the sensor lights. If I turn the car off and try again, the camera seems to work once more. So the camera appears to work fine (I have removed the rear door lining and cleaned all of that area, gave it a good once over and reconnected the camera etc.). I'm wondering if there is an activation switch at the gear lever that may be intermittent or another known issue that I need to investigate?

Thanks
Phil.

HI just to add to the previous - It has deteriorated further now. When I select reverse gear, I no longer get any graphics displayed at all. The sensors still work with audible tones.

Try changing the battery

11 hours ago, Phil 717 said:

HI just to add to the previous - It has deteriorated further now. When I select reverse gear, I no longer get any graphics displayed at all. The sensors still work with audible tones.

This proves there is no fault with the reverse switch. The car knows you are selecting reverse.

I think this will end up being a camera fault. But charging the battery to rule out low voltage is worth trying first.

Ok I officially give up. I have spent far too much on this fault to get no result. I am posting for an update. I'm in Australia for reference and values are in Australian dollars.

• I ordered a replacement camera online and when it arrived I installed it. It didn't work though - No camera displayed, only the parking pilot. That was $75.

• So I took the car to an auto electrician to test if the wiring was all ok. He advised that it all checked out and that I had the wrong part number. The correct part number is BM5T-19G490-JC - see attached. the camera I ordered was missing the JC and that's important. He also said that Ford told him the part is now obsolete. So I needed to look at other options. That testing cost $150.

• I went to an auto audio visual shop to discuss options who tested some other similar cameras to see if they'd work. The only one they got going would not fit in the housing. They did have some after market systems that would require a new rear view mirror to display but they all priced in at over a couple of hundred, so I put that plan on the back burner. That testing cost $50.

• I then searched wreckers to try my luck. Most wanted to sell me the whole tailgate assembly for $200 plus and no guarantee that it had a camera or if it worked. I eventually found a wrecker that determined my vehicle was manufactured in Thailand (as opposed to South Africa and Europe - different part numbers apparently) and that out of the 3 cameras he had in the system he only had one that matched the part number exactly - in Tasmania (I'm in Queensland) and that would cost me $295 - again no warranty. I ordered it as it was the closest I had come and I was optimistic.

• It arrived, I fitted and initially it tested well - with power applied the camera worked. I was cautiously pleased. However, after going for a drive it initially worked on start up but after driving a short distance, it went to only displaying the parking pilot when reverse was selected. That is back to my original fault.

• So at $575 deep and just as frustrated, I'm tapping out. I guess I'm turning my head. I hope someone finds this information useful to them.