How do I get rid of Backup camera dimming?

jeffreydc · July 24, 2015

I would like to know if its possible to get my rear back up camera to stop dimming when in the dark. I park my car in the garage and when I back out in the sunlight I can barely see the Bup camera screen for a minute or longer until the dimming feature goes away. I cannot for the life of me find where I can turn this off or if its even possible.

ember1205 · July 24, 2015

Not sure I'm following your issue. The camera has an automatic aperture adjustment in order to be able to function in everything from bright daylight to only the light from the tail and reverse lights. In your garage, the camera should actually have the aperture OPEN and show the brighter light from "outside" as washed out (not dimmed). Once you get the camera into the bright light, the aperture should close and it should dim THEN.

bdbake01 · July 24, 2015

Whereas that SOUNDS logical, yeah that's totally NOT how it works. I'm with the OP on this one. My camera is totally useless in the morning when I leave. I'm headed down the street before I can see a thing.

Specifically, I think it's the dimming of the dash screen not the aperture adjustment. That has to work as you described.

ember1205 · July 24, 2015

Try this:

Start truck and disable Auto headlights. Wait a few seconds and THEN put it in reverse. See if the problem persists.

tnchevy · July 24, 2015

Same problem here and I too think it is the truck thinking it is dark outside and dimming the screen. I still don't use the back up camera though, hard to not use my mirrors after 20+ years of using them when backing up.

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · July 24, 2015

Same problem here and I too think it is the truck thinking it is dark outside and dimming the screen. I still don't use the back up camera though, hard to not use my mirrors after 20+ years of using them when backing up.

After getting my CDL class A 10 years ago I don't use my rearview mirror on the windshield and got where I only used my side mirrors when backing up. Since getting my '14 I use both my side mirrors and the camera since the camera shows what's actually behind you where the side mirrors you have to guess how close you are. Even when parking in a parking lot and 2 spots are open that face each other and pull through so your'e facing out, I put it in reverse for a second just to make sure I'm far enough pass the middle line in case someone parks behind me. I've also backed into parking spots where a vehicle is behind me so the camera helps that. Hell the other week I was parallel parking (which I can do), but it was a tight spot so I used the camera to get as close as I could to the vehicle as I could. Without it it would have taken a little longer since I would have to guess and hope I don't hit the vehicle. Plus having a tri-ball receiver in the hitch that sticks out a lot it's important to have the camera. It just makes life a lot easier and I prefer a camera over parking sensors so I can see actual distance. As long as you don't rely on just the camera and use it with your side mirrors you'll be fine.

Britt Lifsey · July 24, 2015

Back into garage so you can just pull out in the a.m. :-)

I use all 3 mirrors when backing. Primarily use the windshield mirror just to be sure it is clear behind me and then use side mirrors for backing. Now, with camera do similar but the camera shows much better view. Also use it to get close without hitting objects like SSGuy85 described.

Luster · July 24, 2015

I'm in complete agreement with the OP. A lot of kids in my neighborhood so I always use the backup camera. I just take it very slow. But still dim screen all the way back.

I'll try turning off the auto-headlight feature before backing next time to see if that makes a difference.

(Yes, it's me, Luster, founding member of the "Perfect Truck Club", and I've actually found something I'm not thrilled with!!! But I can still live with....) Love this truck!

ember1205 · August 21, 2015

I wanted to add a follow-up here because this "sort of" happened to me, and I believe I was correct in my thoughts that it was headlight-linked.

Last night, I was backing into my driveway as I always do and the ambient light was right at the cutoff between the auto lights turning on or not. When I started backing in, the lights were off and everything looked fine / normal. When I got about 30' in, I passed under the large tree and the end of my driveway and it blocked enough ambient light to make the headlights come on. As soon as the lights came on, the screen / camera dimmed significantly and it was a bit difficult to make out detail.

So, it seems that the OP's problem is being caused by the truck turning on the headlights while in the garage (at startup) and this impacting the brightness setting on the camera / screen when in reverse.

I have long griped about auto headlights activating "immediately" when the light level drops off as pulling into your garage turns the lights on every time and that can shorten the overall life of the bulbs and such (more important with HIDs than halogens, but still). This is yet another situation where I would prefer there to be a time-delay built in before the lights would activate, giving you a chance to get out of the garage before the lights would pop on.

Luster · August 24, 2015

I wanted to add a follow-up here because this "sort of" happened to me, and I believe I was correct in my thoughts that it was headlight-linked.

Last night, I was backing into my driveway as I always do and the ambient light was right at the cutoff between the auto lights turning on or not. When I started backing in, the lights were off and everything looked fine / normal. When I got about 30' in, I passed under the large tree and the end of my driveway and it blocked enough ambient light to make the headlights come on. As soon as the lights came on, the screen / camera dimmed significantly and it was a bit difficult to make out detail.

So, it seems that the OP's problem is being caused by the truck turning on the headlights while in the garage (at startup) and this impacting the brightness setting on the camera / screen when in reverse.

I have long griped about auto headlights activating "immediately" when the light level drops off as pulling into your garage turns the lights on every time and that can shorten the overall life of the bulbs and such (more important with HIDs than halogens, but still). This is yet another situation where I would prefer there to be a time-delay built in before the lights would activate, giving you a chance to get out of the garage before the lights would pop on.

Thanks... I suspected this was true. When I back out of the garage on a super bright day, the screen might as well be black! Completely useless. Now I have to remember to switch off auto headlights, then switch 'em back on!!!!

HMMMMMMM....... I wonder if there's a HACK for this?

ember1205 · August 24, 2015

Thanks... I suspected this was true. When I back out of the garage on a super bright day, the screen might as well be black! Completely useless. Now I have to remember to switch off auto headlights, then switch 'em back on!!!!

HMMMMMMM....... I wonder if there's a HACK for this?

I suspect only half of that is necessary...

If it's really bright out when you back out of the garage, I would expect that to mean that you're at a point in the day with plenty of daylight. So, unless you're going to be on the road for a few hours, the need for the auto lights is probably pretty low.

What you need is a light in the ceiling of the garage that will provide a reasonably bright and focused beam that will shine down onto the ambient light sensor on the dash. That light needs to be connected to some sort of sensing panel on the outside of the garage. During daylight, that light will be shining on the sensor making the lights in the truck stay off.

Either that, or install a bunch of windows on the south wall of the garage (or skilights).

Should work for pulling into the garage as well.

Luster · August 25, 2015

I suspect only half of that is necessary...

If it's really bright out when you back out of the garage, I would expect that to mean that you're at a point in the day with plenty of daylight. So, unless you're going to be on the road for a few hours, the need for the auto lights is probably pretty low.

What you need is a light in the ceiling of the garage that will provide a reasonably bright and focused beam that will shine down onto the ambient light sensor on the dash. That light needs to be connected to some sort of sensing panel on the outside of the garage. During daylight, that light will be shining on the sensor making the lights in the truck stay off.

Either that, or install a bunch of windows on the south wall of the garage (or skilights).

Should work for pulling into the garage as well.

Do you know where the auto-headlight sensor is?

chuckl1218 · August 25, 2015

Do you know where the auto-headlight sensor is?

Bill, it is the button in the middle of the dash at the edge of the windshield...

Automatic Headlamp System

When the exterior lamp control is set to AUTO and it is dark enough outside, the headlamps come on automatically. There is a light sensor on top of the instrument panel. Do not cover the sensor, otherwise the headlamps will come on when they are not needed.

The system may also turn on the headlamps when driving through a parking garage or tunnel.

ember1205 · August 25, 2015

There are a lot of threads for previous gen trucks to pop that sensor out, swap in some resistors, and effectively disable the auto headlights. Personally, I don't want that. But, I -do- want a time-delay that prevents them from turning on immediately when low light is detected. 20-30 seconds would be plenty to allow for pulling into and out of your garage, for example. If you're leaving when it's dark, let the truck idle until the lights come on.