Front Camera Fault + Level Kit

[techobrien]

2021 F-150 Lariat 502A w/ 360 Camera and Pro Trailer

Like many other posts, I too have a Front Camera Fault after a windshield replacement, however unlike other posts pretty much every fix that is reported to work hasn't in my case.

Here's the sequence of events:

Windshield Replaced by Dealer A at time of purchase (3 yrs old, 40k miles)
Fault occurred after about a hundred miles and continues to return on each drive. Usually it's accompanied with a forward-collision detection unavailable, lane assist unavailable, and cruise control unavailable.

Taken to Dealer B closer to my hometown for warranty repair (ESP). The dealer performed TSB 23-2146 (the latest calibration and parameter TSB, updated IPMA module) and while the calibration did succeed and no faults existed for approx. 20 miles, the fault did return.

When that didn't fix the issue, Dealer B performed TSB 23-2040, replacing the front facing camera, coaxial cables, and IMPA Module. After performing the TSB they were unable to get the system to calibrate. They checked for a leveling kit and lo and behold there is a ~2" leveling kit on the truck. As soon as they saw this they were unwilling to do any further warranty work without first removing the leveling kit (at a $1200 cost to me). They stated that the LHS vs RHS ride right was off approx. 1/2" (Left: 39 1/4 inch, Right: 38 3/4 inch) which was causing the calibration to fail.

I have a couple thoughts:
1) I measured the ride height in my driveway, and although not 100% level, I only see about 1/8" difference between LHS and RHS ride height. I think it's BS that it could be that sensitive to ride height mismatch, but can't really confirm that without taking the leveling kit off the truck. Perhaps it's a compounding factor with another issue?

2) I think it's likely the Dealer A windshield replacement caused a misaligned front-facing camera, and led to the fault and subsequently being unable to calibrate the unit based on its position. It's non-OEM glass (Fuyao). Is there any reason Ford glass would be better than the aftermarket?

I'm considering taking it back to Dealer A for them to make it right, but it's about 200 miles from home so it will be an ordeal to get it there for a few days while they troubleshoot.

How consistent is the ride height LHS vs RHS with leveling kits installed? Could the offset be due to a bad spacer and should it be replaced? I can't really see how they would fail, unless it was extremely poor quality and has disintegrated over 40k miles. Any recommendations for other leveling kits?

Is there a way I can check the front-facing camera alignment on the glass? Any marks, indicators, or diagnostics I can run?

Any other troubleshooting suggestions I can do myself? I haven't yet tried removing the leveling kit, or tried calibrating the system myself with ForSCAN, although I do have the cable and could try both. I would really like to maintain the leveling kit, or at least replace it with something of better quality if that's an issue.

Any input or advice is appreciated!

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[HammaMan]

You can set the camera's height in the IPMA by changing the front fender height. Use the values from a tremor and re-run the calibration and all should be well.
I believe it to be

It's also in the 'easy' section.

In FDRS it will ask for the distance if you have FDRS. Can also be done in forscan.

 

[techobrien]

You can set the camera's height in the IPMA by changing the front fender height. Use the values from a tremor and re-run the calibration and all should be well.
I believe it to be

It's also in the 'easy' section.

In FDRS it will ask for the distance if you have FDRS. Can also be done in forscan.

Thanks! This looks promising. I don't have FDRS but I do have Forscan so I'll give that a go.
Is it worth finding a nice level surface and taking an accurate measurement myself, or should the Tremor values be close enough?

Are the Tremor values built into FDRS or Forscan or do I need to hunt them down?

 

[HammaMan]

Thanks! This looks promising. I don't have FDRS but I do have Forscan so I'll give that a go.
Is it worth finding a nice level surface and taking an accurate measurement myself, or should the Tremor values be close enough?

Are the Tremor values built into FDRS or Forscan or do I need to hunt them down?

You can measure it and enter it directly. asbuilt can be pulled from ford, use autotrader to find tremor vins.

 

[techobrien]

So, yesterday I went out and found a flat parking lgot and a couple ood roads to perform the calibration and alignment.

Wheel Arch Height 706-25-01
As-Built: L,R = 978mm
Current : L = 997mm, R = 985mm (presumably done by the dealer)
Measured L = 987mm, R = 982mm

I'm not 100% how the factory measurements are done, but mine are only a few mm off from the as-built values which is interesting. I've seen similar reported in other forums.

Also as far as DTC's, I've got:

IPMA DTC B1578:78 Alignment Or Adjustment Incorrect
IPMA DTC C1001:54 Missing Calibration

360 View Camera Calibration

I tried to perform the 360 Calibration, however after following the prompts on the screen and as soon as I enter Calibration Mode, the car kicks me out of the 360 camera view and I'm unable to bring it back up until the procedure is stopped. Steps to reproduce

- Start the car, connect Forscan
- Select Calibration Procedure, click play
- Follow instructions (put car in drive, press 360 camera button)
- Click "ok" to proceed with the calibration. The procedure "starts" and Forscan is showing progress, however the car immediately boots me from the 360 camera and does not show me the progress on the infotainment screen.

I never get the screen as shown here: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/thr...when-upgrading-side-mirrors.15293/post-314750

I tried the same with the Pro Trailer Backup Assist Camera calibration and the Rear Camera Calibration all with the same effect.

Is Forscan potentially not compatible with the latest version of the system software or something along those lines? I've seen reports of the Forscan calibration "not working" but not a lot of detail past that. Do I need to pull the trigger on FDRS?

Lane Departure Warning System Camera calibration

Moving on to the Lane Keeping Alignment procedure, I was unable to get this to go past ~80%. I retried several times and each time would get stuck at 79%, 80%, 82%, etc. I did find another forum post which mentions not clicking the "ok" box on Forscan after the 40 second time - I plan on testing that next, as well as pushing the lane keeping assist button to try and view the green bars during calibration.

Other things I plan to check:
1) Front Camera mounting - seen a few reports of it not being fully seated (https://www.f150forum.com/f118/new-ipma-calibration-issue-512423/#post7075298)

Any tips on getting this trim off?

2) Front CCM alignment. I'm pretty sure this is completely unrelated, but I did see it mentioned in the install procedure for M-18000-F15B

3) Saw reference here to reset learned values on the IPMA. Might give that a go: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/360-camera-calibration-with-forscan.20764/page-2#post-441175

 

[techobrien]

Todays update:

I checked the CCM - it seemed pretty dead level. No adjustments made.

I'm still unable to get past ~82% on the calibration. If I follow the prior advice of not clicking the "ok" button, ForScan doesn't update the progress bar, but the alignment does seem to be progressing in the background. Like before, it creeps up and halts around 80%

Final Screen: If I click "OK," progress is shown. If I do not click "OK," alignment is running, but no progress shown.

I checked the fitment of the front camera. Unlike the Gen13, the camera is stand-alone in the trim behind the mirror and uses a coaxial cable to pipe the signal back to the IPMA in the drivers footwell. It doesn't snap in front-back like the Gen13, and instead snaps in Left-Right. It's pretty hard to get wrong, and indeed looked like it was installed correctly. For shits and giggles, I unplugged the camera and sure enough received a DTC for "no signal" and the alignment never progresses past 0%.

Is there a sequence you need to run the calibrations? I.e. 360 first, then alignment? Most of the TSB's (like 22-2109) reference alignment first, then 360 Calibration:

@HammaMan Anything else you can think of that I should try?

 

[fordtruckman2003]

If Forscan isn't working you might need to run the calibration from FDRS. Cost you more money that route but you can avoid dealers throwing parts at the problem and not fixing it. ?‍

 

[techobrien]

Update for those who are curious. I bit the bullet and drove it all the way back up to the dealer I purchased the vehicle from. They were pretty confident that the leveling kit did not need to be removed in order to get the truck to calibrate. Instead, they replaced the windshield with OEM glass. Camera calibrated right away and I've had zero issues since.

Photos below of the two windshields and their part numbers. It looked to be the "correct" type of windshield for the Lariat (factory tint + acoustic lamination), but did not have the ford logo at the top of the windshield. Like others have reported, the OEM glass is slightly more clear versus a slight blue tint on the Fuyao glass.

Non-OEM replacement glass from FUYAO (note, my sun visor is a shade of blue so the effect is amplified here):

OEM Glass from Carlex:

So if you're chasing your tail like I was, and the windshield isn't OEM, replace the glass!

 

[Hyfly11]

Update for those who are curious. I bit the bullet and drove it all the way back up to the dealer I purchased the vehicle from. They were pretty confident that the leveling kit did not need to be removed in order to get the truck to calibrate. Instead, they replaced the windshield with OEM glass. Camera calibrated right away and I've had zero issues since.

Photos below of the two windshields and their part numbers. It looked to be the "correct" type of windshield for the Lariat (factory tint + acoustic lamination), but did not have the ford logo at the top of the windshield. Like others have reported, the OEM glass is slightly more clear versus a slight blue tint on the Fuyao glass.

Non-OEM replacement glass from FUYAO (note, my sun visor is a shade of blue so the effect is amplified here):

OEM Glass from Carlex:

So if you're chasing your tail like I was, and the windshield isn't OEM, replace the glass!

Just following up here. Similar issue. Quick rundown:
I had a leveling kit installed and when they 'calibrated' the cameras the pre collision assist error came up and they can't get it figured out. They said it is the leveling kit.
In trying to find this we discovered there is an aftermarket windshield on the truck. Is it possible that is the issue even though it was working fine before the leveling kit was installed?

 

[Johnlar]

Just following up here. Similar issue. Quick rundown:
I had a leveling kit installed and when they 'calibrated' the cameras the pre collision assist error came up and they can't get it figured out. They said it is the leveling kit.
In trying to find this we discovered there is an aftermarket windshield on the truck. Is it possible that is the issue even though it was working fine before the leveling kit was installed?

I had this same exact issue, was unable to calibrate with either FDRS or Forscan after having my windshield replaced (2" level). A facebook group member suggested that I measure and update the wheel arch height in the IPMA module and the moment I did that I was able to run the calibration successfully and clear all the messages.

 

[techobrien]

@Johnlar beat me to it. That's one of the tings I tried (unsuccessfully) but that might allow a successful calibration if your window will allow it. See post #2 in this thread for the entries to do that.

 

[Hyfly11]

@Johnlar beat me to it. That's one of the tings I tried (unsuccessfully) but that might allow a successful calibration if your window will allow it. See post #2 in this thread for the entries to do that.

Thank you,
I have tried that already. No luck with that either.
The weird thing is it was working fine after the level was installed. Once they tried to recalibrate it with the level it stopped working.
The dealer thinks it is either the level or the windshield. I just don't get how it worked fine with the windshield before the level was installed and now not... Perhaps when they tried recalibrating the cameras it changed them and now the windshield is causing issues at the new angle.

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