Error: Camera Not Available

[Greg_Emerick]

I just bought a brand new 2017 Ford Expedition XLT. Everything works great, except for this weird delay in the backup camera.

Always happens after the vehicle has sat for a few hours. Start it up, put it into reverse & I get a black screen & an error message saying "Camera Not Available" on the Sync3 screen.

Try again after letting it run for a few minutes and the backup camera works as expected.

Is anybody else seeing this issue? What does the fix entail? It's ridiculous that it doesn't work when you first start & want to back away from the garage to go somewhere.

thanks,
Greg

 

[Clemson82]

My 2015 fusion (fleet car, very base model, but with backup camera) does something similar. If you get it, start it, and immediately put it in reverse, the screen goes completely blank. If you start the car, wait for the splash screen to go away, then put it in reverse, it works fine. Not sure why they have the delay or if it's related to the issue you're seeing though.

 

[Greg_Emerick]

Thanks for the reply. Do you get the same error message too? Have you ever talked to Ford Service about it as an issue?

 

[Clemson82]

Nope, no error message, just a blank screen.

 

[Greg_Emerick]

Interesting.... It's pretty annoying to have this feature not function right off the bat. I'd be interested if any other Expedition owners out there are having the same problem on the 2017's.

 

[stamp11127]

Sounds similar to an electronic system going through the boot sequence - give it time to boot and it works fine. Rush it and you spend more time waiting for it to function correctly.

 

[jeff kushner]

I have never seen the same message as you have however the software is clearly booting up as Stamp noted but it's only a 2-3 second process. I have attempted to play music from my phone before the system has a chance to connect and get a similar message but a few seconds later, it's good to go.

I drove a company 2013 or '14(?) Fusion that was loaded to the gills and I'm VERY happy that the sync system in my truck is worlds faster than that one was. It took nearly 10 seconds to be ready to drive.

I typically start it before getting in my truck but if I can remember today....I'll wait until I'm in it then immediately put it into reverse and let you know....

Also, I went into my setup to enable the rear camera delay so it will stay on until I begin moving forward at 3 or 5mph. I like being able to know what's behind me while transitioning from reverse to forward.....you might want to check it out.

jeff

 

[Greg_Emerick]

Hey guys, thanks for the input. I had a similar hypothesis and so I used my remote start to give it a few minutes to boot up this morning. Still got the same error message. Frustrating.

Greg

 

[Clemson82]

Sounds like a defect then. I would make a video of the error message on my cell phone before I bring it in for service. Otherwise, if they can't duplicate it, they'll just tell you everything is fine.

 

[jeff kushner]

Hey Greg,

I just had to leave the office to go to pick up contract docs and both times(leaving and coming back) I waited until I was in the truck then as SOON as the engine started, I slipped it into reverse and BAM, the camera was on screen. No hesitation at all....it was instant.

I think that maybe you should chat with your service manager and/or do a wifi update of your Sync3.

I'm not sure what's going on that you have that minor delay but I'll check it again when I leave today and will again over the weekend and see what happens.

jeff

 

[Greg_Emerick]

Thanks Jeff, I have noticed that once it starts working, I can key off and so long as I restart fairly soon, the camera works instantly. But let it sit parked for hours, then I have the problem.

Greg

 

[jeff kushner]

I was sick like a dog over weekend but had presence of mind to remember to tell my GF about your issue when she asked for my key to take me up to the urgent care place on Sat. This was actually a remarkable feat given that my o2 levels were well below 90% and I found out the hard way that the first thing "to go" when you have o2 deprivation is your cognitive abilities, even before balance and other motor skills. Never knew that before..but all better now.........ANYWAY:


It had sat overnight before this trip. We got it, she started it and immediately when it caught, put it into reverse and the camera was on, no wait, no delay!

I did it again this morning while coming to work after taking yesterday off so it had run in two days and like always, the camera was on.

In all of these instances, Sync3 had not hardly started booting much less completed booting but the camera was on anyway.

good luck buddy,

jeff

 

[GalaxyPilot]

Loose connection of come sort maybe, or one of the devices is failing. I've never had the issue and we definitely don't wait for anything to boot in this house.

 

[Greg_Emerick]

Okay guys thanks for the feedback. I've tracked the issue for several days and have noticed an interesting trend. If I have my iPhone's bluetooth turned off, the backup camera works immediately upon startup. If I have the bluetooth on my phone active when I start the vehicle; I consistently get the issue. I can only conclude that the act of initially syncing with the phone is occupying the computer enough that it doesn't support the camera immediately. Weird.

So for the past few days, I've just turned the phone's bluetooth off before starting up the vehicle and have had no issues. Once the camera is working I can quickly turn on the bluetooth and the camera continues working.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I have an iPhone and I have not noticed that with my 17 Expi. I'll check it out in the morning and see if I have that issue.