Poor Back Up Camera at Night

[AndyC362]

I am not sure if its my camera or of anyone else feels that the back up camera at night is very poor, splotchy looking and hard to see. I suspect it may be related to the light output from the reverse lights not producing enough output for the camera to be effective.

Is anyone else experiencing this and has anyone changed out the reverse lights to brighter bulbs or even LED without error codes?

Thanks!

Sponsored

 

[Dude]

Try these:

site:broncosportforum.com “reverse lights”

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/anemic-reverse-lights.10013/

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/replaced-all-rear-lights-with-leds.4582/

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/rant-against-the-engineers.7374/post-131567

 

[Escape2Bronco]

I am not sure if its my camera or of anyone else feels that the back up camera at night is very poor, splotchy looking and hard to see. I suspect it may be related to the light output from the reverse lights not producing enough output for the camera to be effective.

Is anyone else experiencing this and has anyone changed out the reverse lights to brighter bulbs or even LED without error codes?

Thanks!

The Ford backup cameras do not seem very good. Even my full-size Bronco is about the same. My 10 year older Lexus is much better as is my wife’s 6 year older Honda HRV.

it’s a little better when absolutely clean but still not great. Fortunately I’m an old fart and still can backup using mirrors.

 

[jkernitzki]

Compared to the last-gen Souls, the BS camera is studio quality. It’s pulled me away from mirrors more often than not.

 

[Just a guy from Alberta]

Try these:

site:broncosportforum.com “reverse lights”

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/anemic-reverse-lights.10013/

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/replaced-all-rear-lights-with-leds.4582/

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/rant-against-the-engineers.7374/post-131567

What is involved in replacing the bulbs? How much of the back end do you have to disassemble?

 

[jkernitzki]

What is involved in replacing the bulbs? How much of the back end do you have to disassemble?

Open the hatch, it’s just two screws and the entire rear light assembly pops out. The bulb holders are standard twist to release.

 

[gstalnaker]

Before you buy anything, try this (which I learned on the F150 forum when I searched about its too dark backup camera and i found a forum post that lead me to an acceptable solution)

When backing up, you technically don't need your forward lights, so turn them off, manually, with the switch. Don't accept Auto-off here, you have to manually turn the switch to off. This worked for my F150 and it also works for my Bronco Sport. The image on the screen is almost night-and-day in brightness difference.

I park in a condo garage and have to back into the spot because there's a big concrete support column next to my spot. Backing in puts the vehicle between the lights that are along the center of the garage, and the wall behind the spot I'm backing into. Turning off the headlights does the trick.

When you next turn on your Bronco, it will revert to Audo mode, so you don't have to redo that every time as well.

 

[AndyC362]

Before you buy anything, try this (which I learned on the F150 forum when I searched about its too dark backup camera and i found a forum post that lead me to an acceptable solution)

When backing up, you technically don't need your forward lights, so turn them off, manually, with the switch. Don't accept Auto-off here, you have to manually turn the switch to off. This worked for my F150 and it also works for my Bronco Sport. The image on the screen is almost night-and-day in brightness difference.

I park in a condo garage and have to back into the spot because there's a big concrete support column next to my spot. Backing in puts the vehicle between the lights that are along the center of the garage, and the wall behind the spot I'm backing into. Turning off the headlights does the trick.

When you next turn on your Bronco, it will revert to Audo mode, so you don't have to redo that every time as well.

Going to try this, I came from a 2021 Tahoe and even with the incandescent back up lights it was night and day compared to the BS. I may also upgrade to the LED lights if this idea doesn't work out.

 

[AndyC362]

Compared to the last-gen Souls, the BS camera is studio quality. It’s pulled me away from mirrors more often than not.

I have no issues with the 360 cams during the day, the back up though just isnt very good at all after dark. I had a 21 Tahoe before this and the difference in cameras was night and day even with the larger screen in the BS.

 

[jkernitzki]

I have no issues with the 360 cams during the day, the back up though just isnt very good at all after dark. I had a 21 Tahoe before this and the difference in cameras was night and day even with the larger screen in the BS.

Yeah, the low-light performance leaves something to be desired. Still, it's better than my Soul was. Better reverse lighting is needed, to be sure.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Great Halloween prank

 

[gstalnaker]

I am not sure if its my camera or of anyone else feels that the back up camera at night is very poor, splotchy looking and hard to see. I suspect it may be related to the light output from the reverse lights not producing enough output for the camera to be effective.

Is anyone else experiencing this and has anyone changed out the reverse lights to brighter bulbs or even LED without error codes?

Thanks!

Here's a Dropbox link to a 15 s video of what happens when I turn the lights off manually while in reverse & the camera is on. The freaky flashing is the cell phone camera software adjusting to the brightness change. But I hope you can see there is an overall brightness increase ...

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/05hnksv0nnv1e6n17vide/FordBroncoBackupCamera.mp4?rlkey=w5jm1jqmqr2as65nqrnyf7l73&st=8zzd262k&dl=0

 

[Quashish]

been discussed on the forum before but Baja designs has a tow hitch inserted S1 pod light for reversing. sometimes isn't in stock though.

i have a revere boost bar from Morimoto that bolts to the top of the license plate wired to reverse power. rear bumper removal not necessary. i was doing some other wiring at the same time.