To Realign Cameras, or NOT?

[FirstFord]

So, I completed my side view mirror upgrade from power "standard" mirrors to power tow mirrors. For the most part, everything went well. While enabling the power telescoping in FORScan, I noticed a DTC: code B1578, "Digital Park Assist Camera Vision System" in the IPMA module. It is my understanding that there is about a 3" difference in where the camera is physically placed in the standard mirrors and the tow mirrors, so the cameras no longer being in alignment makes complete sense to me.

I began exploring what is involved to realign / re-calibrate the mirrors, and I didn't find very much on the subject. In my search, I did find some posts that indicated that mirrors could be realigned using FORScan, but also read elsewhere that this method doesn't work and is a "known issue" with FORScan - FDRS is required to realign the cameras. Further still, I have read where people tried to realign their cameras and the outcome was worse than when they started. So, this started me questioning if I even need to perform a realignment. I have no image quality issues, "stitching" issues, etc. I put my truck in a marked (painted lines) parking spot, put it reverse, and observed the image:

I got out and took measurements from the step-board to the painted line, which averages at 19". To me, that seemed like an acceptable buffer or clearance. So, I'm wondering if I really need to realign the cameras? Risk vs. reward? On the other hand, I'm not crazy about leaving a DTC either...

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[FirstFord]

Any input from anyone?

Anyone? Bueller?

 

[whizkidder]

When I swapped standard for tow mirrors, my side views were angled about 15 degrees. I attempted to use Forscan to calibrate them, but the process failed at about 55% (three times). However, after the failed re-calibrations, my 360 views were almost perfect (A bit of “seam” on each side between the front and side cameras isn’t “stitched” completely), so I declared victory and have been living with the ~98% solution.

 

[FirstFord]

When I swapped standard for tow mirrors, my side views were angled about 15 degrees. I attempted to use Forscan to calibrate them, but the process failed at about 55% (three times). However, after the failed re-calibrations, my 360 views were almost perfect (A bit of “seam” on each side between the front and side cameras isn’t “stitched” completely), so I declared victory and have been living with the ~98% solution.

Thanks for your feedback. I'm glad you got your cameras to a place that you are at least satisfied with. I'm interested in pursuing this further, and I have some follow-up questions.

- Prior to the camera alignment attempt, did you have any trouble codes (DTCs)?
- If so, was the DTC the B1578 :78 code?
- If so (and presuming that you cleared the codes afterwards), did the "98% solution" alignment keep the codes from returning?
- It is my understanding that the alignment procedure in FORScan is initiated through the wrench icon. I have not explored this yet. Are you given directions by FORScan through this procedure?
- Could you give a brief description or overview as to what is involved? I read somewhere that you need a long stretch of highway with with straight lines - implying that you go through the process while driving????
- This might be a reach, but do you know if there are there any alpha-numeric values assigned to any given camera positioning, i.e., a place where you can record the value, and return the camera position to the original value if not happy with the results? If so, what is the address where I can find it?

Your experience of the attempted alignment stopping at 55% echos what I have read elsewhere, and at least one post declaring that it is a "known issue". with FORScan

Although I don't have the severity of image quality issues that you had, I think I'm still interested in pursuing this, but my fear is that due to the FORScan issues, I might up with a worse image.

 

[whizkidder]

No trouble codes that I remember — before or after. When the process failed ~55% through, the error referenced a “parking camera” or something like that— I don’t remember exactly now.

Forscan tells you what to do once you start the process.

I used a large parking lot with a dark surface and well-defined parking space lines, and drove back and forth across the spaces multiple times at various angles (until the process failed…). Forscan tells you how fast to drive, etc. The program has a “thermometer” that tracks the progress as you go.

No knowledge of any memory location for capturing/restoring “before” data.

Hope this helps.

 

[FirstFord]

Thanks - it helps a lot. What you described sounded very similar to the process of configuring a new trailer into Pro Trailer. Ironically, another thread has opened on this very subject:

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/360-camera-images-not-aligned-normal.31931/

In a narrow sense, it kind of sounds like some systems are plagued with this error, while others are just fine....

 

[garyooicy]

Thanks - it helps a lot. What you described sounded very similar to the process of configuring a new trailer into Pro Trailer. Ironically, another thread has opened on this very subject:

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/360-camera-images-not-aligned-normal.31931/

In a narrow sense, it kind of sounds like some systems are plagued with this error, while others are just fine....

did you manage to clear the B1578:78-2F code after this far? well is my turn now and its such a pain in the ass to see that thing stored in, the 360 & rear calibration done several times with failed and success, won't help in clearing that DTC though, camera views get worse than before LOL, but keep doing the calibration will make it better and still, no luck in clearing that DTC

 

[FirstFord]

did you manage to clear the B1578:78-2F code after this far? well is my turn now and its such a pain in the ass to see that thing stored in, the 360 & rear calibration done several times with failed and success, won't help in clearing that DTC though, camera views get worse than before LOL, but keep doing the calibration will make it better and still, no luck in clearing that DTC

Shame on me - I should have provided an update, but it fell off my radar...

Update and recap: I was fortunate in that the actual image quality of the 360 cameras was not bad at all - I found it to be quite acceptable (I really didn't notice any difference between before the mirror/camera change and after!). What was bothering me was having the DTC. I guess I have a mild case of OCD, because just the fact that I had a DTC was bothering me, and I wanted it "cured". I believe some people have experienced success using FORScan to recalibrate the 360 cameras, but I had read far more posts of failures - and sometimes even worse imagery as a result. That coupled with reading some posts stating that this was a "known issue" with using FORScan for recalibrating, and that was enough to make me I shy away from even trying it. I didn't want to run the risk of degrading the camera image that was currently acceptable. My answer was to not to do anything. I just sat on it and tried to live with my OCD, knowing that the DTC was in there, hiding... Eventually, it bothered me less and less and somewhat just accepted that it was what it was.

Fast forward (initially, this may sound unrelated, but it IS related...): Unlike a number of other truck owners, I wasn't experiencing the severe issues with OTAs that some others had. I was getting them every rare now and then, but I WAS getting them. There were two more FORScan modifications that I wanted to make, and I figured I would probably be finished - I'd have my truck just the way I want it. I hadn't made the mods up until now because I needed the latest update for a module (I think it was the APIM, if I remember right) - otherwise the FORScan mod wouldn't work. From what I had read, there was no way to know when - or IF that update would be coming OTA. I wanted to get these FORScan mods done, and I knew that my truck was far from being up-to-date (although not egregiously out-of-date), I decided to get serious and use a Mongoose cable and FDRS to do a complete update. After a susscessful FDRS system update (that's a whole 'nother topic!), I remembered reading that there is a place in FDRS for recalibrating 360 cameras, and that unlike using FORScan for recalibration, FDRS is typically successful. So, I found the place in FDRS to do it and performed the recalibration. The recalibration was successful, and the DTC is gone. I'm a happy camper! (Interestingly, I didn't notice an improved image, but remember - the image was already satisfactory. To me, getting rid of the DTC was victory enough!) I don't think it is worth spending the money to go through the FDRS process just to recalibrate the cameras, BUT if you are doing an update for other reasons anyway, then that would be a good time to address the camera recalibration.

 

[garyooicy]

Shame on me - I should have provided an update, but it fell off my radar...

Update and recap: I was fortunate in that the actual image quality of the 360 cameras was not bad at all - I found it to be quite acceptable (I really didn't notice any difference between before the mirror/camera change and after!). What was bothering me was having the DTC. I guess I have a mild case of OCD, because just the fact that I had a DTC was bothering me, and I wanted it "cured". I believe some people have experienced success using FORScan to recalibrate the 360 cameras, but I had read far more posts of failures - and sometimes even worse imagery as a result. That coupled with reading some posts stating that this was a "known issue" with using FORScan for recalibrating, and that was enough to make me I shy away from even trying it. I didn't want to run the risk of degrading the camera image that was currently acceptable. My answer was to not to do anything. I just sat on it and tried to live with my OCD, knowing that the DTC was in there, hiding... Eventually, it bothered me less and less and somewhat just accepted that it was what it was.

Fast forward (initially, this may sound unrelated, but it IS related...): Unlike a number of other truck owners, I wasn't experiencing the severe issues with OTAs that some others had. I was getting them every rare now and then, but I WAS getting them. There were two more FORScan modifications that I wanted to make, and I figured I would probably be finished - I'd have my truck just the way I want it. I hadn't made the mods up until now because I needed the latest update for a module (I think it was the APIM, if I remember right) - otherwise the FORScan mod wouldn't work. From what I had read, there was no way to know when - or IF that update would be coming OTA. I wanted to get these FORScan mods done, and I knew that my truck was far from being up-to-date (although not egregiously out-of-date), I decided to get serious and use a Mongoose cable and FDRS to do a complete update. After a susscessful FDRS system update (that's a whole 'nother topic!), I remembered reading that there is a place in FDRS for recalibrating 360 cameras, and that unlike using FORScan for recalibration, FDRS is typically successful. So, I found the place in FDRS to do it and performed the recalibration. The recalibration was successful, and the DTC is gone. I'm a happy camper! (Interestingly, I didn't notice an improved image, but remember - the image was already satisfactory. To me, getting rid of the DTC was victory enough!) I don't think it is worth spending the money to go through the FDRS process just to recalibrate the cameras, BUT if you are doing an update for other reasons anyway, then that would be a good time to address the camera recalibration.

how was the FDRS recalibration done? driving around on a well clear marked line road? happy to know that, my cam got stitches im not really happy with, might try to do another recalibration for that, and of course with the goddamn DTC code

 

[FirstFord]

how was the FDRS recalibration done? driving around on a well clear marked line road? happy to know that, my cam got stitches im not really happy with, might try to do another recalibration for that, and of course with the goddamn DTC code

From what I've read (I seem to use that phrase a lot!), having a road or parking lot with very clearly marked lines seems to be important. I was lucky and found a parking lot that matched that description, and an area within it that had very few cars. I had my laptop in the truck, and was close enough to a retail store where I could pick up their Wi-Fi signal (free customer Wi-Fi), but far enough away that parked cars were not an issue. Initially I did it incorrectly - I drove perpendicular to the lines instead of parallel (yeah, I know - I'm an idiot!), and FDRS could not process the input info. After 45 minutes of waiting, watching it trying to process, I finally aborted. I got an ominous warning about files being permanently damaged if I continued with the abort, but I did. I restarted the process, this time driving parallel with the parking lines, and it literally took maybe 30 seconds. Fortunately, apparently no harm was done from my first hair-brained attempt, and all has been well ever since. This was about 3 months ago.

 

[jfalat]

I upgraded to tow mirrors and have the same DTC but other then that everything is acceptable to me.. i even installed the original mirrors back on to see if the dtc would clear out but no luck so at this point i am just letting it go till i have some time to mess around with it.

 

[FirstFord]

I upgraded to tow mirrors and have the same DTC but other then that everything is acceptable to me.. i even installed the original mirrors back on to see if the dtc would clear out but no luck so at this point i am just letting it go till i have some time to mess around with it.

When you put the original mirrors back on to test, I don't believe the DTC code would "automatically" clear on its own - I believe you have to actually manually clear the code. Once that task is done, I believe the DTC would likely not have returned (with the old original mirrors) is my guess.

 

[jfalat]

When you put the original mirrors back on to test, I don't believe the DTC code would "automatically" clear on its own - I believe you have to actually manually clear the code. Once that task is done, I believe the DTC would likely not have returned (with the old original mirrors) is my guess.

I did make several attempts with FDRS to clear and also rebooted the IPMA but the code did remain with original mirrors.

 

[FirstFord]

I did make several attempts with FDRS to clear and also rebooted the IPMA but the code did remain with original mirrors.

Oh! Well, that's completely different then.... (And to be clear, I claim no expertise in this subject - I have just been relating my own experiences.)

So, after you installed the new Tow Mirrors, you used FDRS to realign / recalibrate the cameras, and you still have the DTC code B1578? Man, I don't know what to tell you. I'm guessing you have some other issue. Like you, I was quite happy with the overall results of the install of the Tow Mirrors, but getting rid of the DTC would have been icing on the cake, so I'm glad I was able to do it. I had my mirrors on for 2 or 3 months before I used FDRS to realign them, although I'd be hard pressed to believe that that really had anything to do with it...

 

[garyooicy]

From what I've read (I seem to use that phrase a lot!), having a road or parking lot with very clearly marked lines seems to be important. I was lucky and found a parking lot that matched that description, and an area within it that had very few cars. I had my laptop in the truck, and was close enough to a retail store where I could pick up their Wi-Fi signal (free customer Wi-Fi), but far enough away that parked cars were not an issue. Initially I did it incorrectly - I drove perpendicular to the lines instead of parallel (yeah, I know - I'm an idiot!), and FDRS could not process the input info. After 45 minutes of waiting, watching it trying to process, I finally aborted. I got an ominous warning about files being permanently damaged if I continued with the abort, but I did. I restarted the process, this time driving parallel with the parking lines, and it literally took maybe 30 seconds. Fortunately, apparently no harm was done from my first hair-brained attempt, and all has been well ever since. This was about 3 months ago.

Guess what? The CODE Fxxking leave!! after i tried again and again for 3/4 time just now with the rear cam calibration Forscan LOL! I totally do those stupid calibration like over 10 times within 2 days.. goddamnit woohoo

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