Front Camera Problems - Am Amazed There Is Not More Discussion On This

[Jim Lewis]

With the exposure of the front grille camera to road dirt and road dings, I'm amazed there hasn't been a ton more discussion about the grille camera.

I've only found a few not-very-long threads on the matter:

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/front-grille-camera-replacement-part-number.18936/

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/front-camera-washer.13554/

I seem to have developed a phantom spot in my front grille camera based on where the gunk appears in my field of view (and it's also in the 360° view):

One might think the spot is caused by the following bit of debris. The debris is in ~the right spot. Still, I didn't notice it when I first tried to clean the grille camera lens with a microfiber cloth of ~that bluish color, so I'm wondering if that debris is a red (or purply-blue) herring and my actual problem is road tar or a scratch on the camera lens. Has anyone actually replaced their grille camera lens yet, and at how much time and cost?

 

[Zaptor]

I see signs of an impact from another vehicle (or something else) below the camera; there are scratches and paint below that match the color of the camera smudge. The camera is pretty cheap and removal and reinstall is relatively straightforward, and a couple of hours tops. There are threads here about how to swap your grill for one like mine, which include removal and reinstall of the camera, and there is a YouTube video of the install of the illuminated Ford badge. Either or both would be helpful toward your goal.
Cheers
Zap

 

[Jim Lewis]

there are scratches and paint below that match the smudge.

There's a lot of bluish stuff floating around. It's been a while since the truck has had a bath (it lives a sheltered life in a garage). Whatever bluish residue there is on the grill might be left over from the Meguiars detergent that I used in cleaning; that's bluish, too (IIRC, I only waxed painted Al surfaces). I've had an accident or two in my day with past vehicles, and you usually do not find residue on ~concave recessed surfaces with the more prominent outer convex surfaces unscathed. I don't see any evidence of a collision looking at the front of the truck. I have heard dings quite a few times from road debris thrown up by vehicles in front of me. That's why I wonder how well the grille cameras will survive as vehicles approach 100K mi, etc.

I seem to remember that Ford advises using only a gentle water spray on the camera lenses, but I'm wondering if there is some other cleaning solution that will remove bug debris and road tar without screwing camera lenses?

 

[Zaptor]

There's a lot of bluish stuff floating around. It's been a while since the truck has had a bath (it lives a sheltered life in a garage). Whatever bluish residue there is on the grill might be left over from the Meguiars detergent that I used in cleaning; that's bluish, too (IIRC, I only waxed painted Al surfaces). I've had an accident or two in my day with past vehicles, and you usually do not find residue on ~concave recessed surfaces with the more prominent outer convex surfaces unscathed. I don't see any evidence of a collision looking at the front of the truck. I have heard dings quite a few times from road debris thrown up by vehicles in front of me. That's why I wonder how well the grille cameras will survive as vehicles approach 100K mi, etc.

I seem to remember that Ford advises using only a gentle water spray on the camera lenses, but I'm wondering if there is some other cleaning solution that will remove bug debris and road tar without screwing camera lenses?

Not doubting your experience or eyes; I only have the one picture of the front to go on, and I imported it into Photoshop and used a selection tool with the appropriate tolerance to select most of the camera 'blob', then had it show me where else those colors appear. You can see the results, colors match in the areas that look like scuffs to me in the picture. Maybe it is just residual detailer as you suggest, but from the image posted, it sure looks like something bumped you there. Doesn't have to have been another car, and obviously not a major impact. Either way, if the lens of the camera is indelibly scuffed, you could try something like Novus plastic polish, but if that fails, you'll want to follow the replacement steps recommended above.
Good luck
-Zap
PS- If you hit something and are posting here for us to cover for you with your partner or boss, just let me know and I'll change my story

 

[bmwhitetx]

Isopropyl alcohol and vinegar are solutions used to clean plastic and glass eyeglasses. Camera lenses should be no different. Buy lens cleaner or make your own. I always start with just alcohol first.

 

[RickLightning]

Try picking it off with your fingernail. If it's paint (which it looks like) it should come off that way before you use chemicals.

Something clearly hit/rubbed on the front of the truck.

 

[subseavet]

With the exposure of the front grille camera to road dirt and road dings, I'm amazed there hasn't been a ton more discussion about the grille camera.

I've only found a few not-very-long threads on the matter:

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/front-grille-camera-replacement-part-number.18936/

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/front-camera-washer.13554/

I seem to have developed a phantom spot in my front grille camera based on where the gunk appears in my field of view (and it's also in the 360° view):

One might think the spot is caused by the following bit of debris. The debris is in ~the right spot. Still, I didn't notice it when I first tried to clean the grille camera lens with a microfiber cloth of ~that bluish color, so I'm wondering if that debris is a red (or purply-blue) herring and my actual problem is road tar or a scratch on the camera lens. Has anyone actually replaced their grille camera lens yet, and at how much time and cost?

I've got 16,000 miles and several very long trips on my 2023 F-150 Lightning Lariat and my grille camera is in pristine condition. I've had to have my windshield repaired due to a rock chip so I've had road debris problems. I don't think this is posted more commonly because I don't think the camera gets damaged easily or often. As others have suggested gently cleaning with lens cleaner or alcohol is a great start. Use a fingernail if it's really stuck on. A good bug and tar remover may also work. You can also use goo gone or similar though that could fog the lens if applied with any pressure so do so at your own risk. Good luck!

 

[chl]

It seems strange to me that the same 'blob' appears on the 'aerial' image.
Since the is no built-in drone w/camera, I assume it is a made up image/view, so one might wonder, why is the 'blob' there too?
I guess the computer generated aerial image uses some of the camera input to generate it.

I don't know the details of the camera, but any lens could easily incur a rock/gravel impact out on the highway that could leave a pit/chip in it, which is what it looks like to me, having seen a similar looking pit/chip in one of my vehicle windshields after a dump truck threw a rock at me out on the highway one time.

In case it is a blob of some substance on the lens and not a pit/chip, some (many/most) types of lenses should not be cleaned with alcohol, it can damage the coating!

Instead, use a diluted dish washing liquid like Dawn in warm water, a lens cleaning fluid, or a microfiber cloth, to be safe.

Good luck.

 

[CD4TNF]

Would a clay bar and clay bar lubricant take off the contamination?

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