Technology is wonderful (when it works). It can be incredibly frustrating to deal with troubleshooting the expensive and finicky gadgets that are in modern vehicles. If your Ford Explorer has a backup camera that is not working, here are the most common causes and how to troubleshoot them.
Troubleshooting Ford Explorer Backup Camera Problems
This section is presented to you in the order of likelihood that the particular issue is causing the back up camera problem with your Ford Explorer.
Bad Shifter Alignment– This is a really easy one to check. Have somebody stand behind your Explorer, and put it in reverse. Have them tell you if the back up lights come on. If the back up lights don’t come on that means that the vehicle is not getting that instruction from the shifter (unless for some crazy reason they are both blown). This can happen when things get out of alignment. Now that you are back there, go ahead and see if the reverse lights come on in any gear. It may have been a bigger problem than you realized
Blow Fuse– One of the most common causes of a bad back up camera in the Ford Explorer is a bad fuse. The first time that you experience a bad fuse, it should be cause for concern, but not alarm. Go ahead and install a new fuse, and if the problem goes away you’re good to go. If the problem persists, then it’s time to look at the possibility that you have a short-circuit.
Bad Camera– These cameras are exposed to the elements, which means that they have to be pretty durable. They certainly can go bad. With the Ford Explorer in particular, they can go out. Tap your inner Fonzie, and give it a flick. It very well could turn back on again. If it does come back to life, you know it’s going bad.
Short Circuit– While it’s not the most likely of causes, the a short-circuit can cause the reverse camera to stop functioning. Here’s a video on diagnosing a short.
This video is a great in depth look on troubleshooting the Ford Explorer backup camera for the 2011-2015 model. There’s a lot to learn from it in any situation where the backup camera may be giving you difficulty.
Good luck diagnosing your Ford Explorer backup camera not working. If you have any tips or want to add how you fixed your backup camera, please leave a comment below.