Front view camera port steamed up causing loss of function of all camera safety features

[dwoop]

So, I first noticed that the auto beam wasn’t as reliable as it always has been over the last few days. Then, today, suddenly a full set of errors for all of camera related safety features (lane assist, emergency stop etc) and now none of these systems is functional.

Initially, I assumed it was dirt on the windscreen, but once home I checked and the windscreen is clean but it turns out that the inside of the screen (or maybe the camera module) in front of the front view camera is steamed up (see photo). Some how moisture has got in. This is new, it’s always been ok since new.

I tried demisting for a long time. I tried heating for a long time. No change. It looks like the air does not affect / can’t get to the piece of glass steamed up in front of the camera port.

I will book it in to be looked at, but in mean time any suggestions for a remedy? Is this a known problem, anyone else have a similar problem? Is there a plastic or glass window built in to the front of the camera module?

David B

 

[siteguru]

Maybe a silly suggestion, but ... have you tried blowing a hairdryer on low-medium heat onto the outside glass at that location? (Will take a while, but the heat should transfer through the glass and maybe demist it).

 

[Kithmo]

Try parking facing the sun if possible.

 

[dwoop]

This happened as I was driving not when parked. It’s not the immediate problem of it being steamed up now that concerns me (it cleared after sitting in the sun for a while). It’s that it can’t be right that moisture is getting in there in the first place, given that it is the camera lens housing, it should be vapour sealed. That’s why I was wondering if anyone else experiences this problem… or is it just my camera?

 

[crl84]

I think similar happened to me on Sunday after about 90mins of driving. I thought it was just dirt on the windscreen as it was snowing a bit, and lots of spray coming up from the road.
Warnings cleared after about 15mins.
I did notice the car was getting a bit steamy inside (despite aircon being set for fresh air, not recirculated air), so I opened the window and the steam cleared. Can't remember if the camera warning cleared after that, or if it was before, as I wasn't really thinking about steam/condensation being inside the housing.

The windscreen has been heavily steamed up several times recently when I got into the car, with the cold weather outside, compared with what i presume is the warmer air inside overnight.

 

[Matt x power]

Happened to me this morning on the way to work went Haywire

 

[Macadoodle]

It’s that it can’t be right that moisture is getting in there in the first place, given that it is the camera lens housing, it should be vapour sealed. That’s why I was wondering if anyone else experiences this problem… or is it just my camera?

The camera clips into a plastic holder that's bonded to the windscreen, there's a 2 piece plastic cover that clips over the camera/ holder .
The cover is fairly easy to prise off but a little fiddly to reinstall as the mirror gets in the way .

There must be data processing happening within the camera as it has an aluminimum heat sink type casing which gets pretty warm when it's trying to force you off the road

Warm air holds more moisture so maybe this mini hot spot condenses more vapour against the screen ?

 

[dwoop]

The camera clips into a plastic holder that's bonded to the windscreen, there's a 2 piece plastic cover that clips over the camera/ holder .
The cover is fairly easy to prise off but a little fiddly to reinstall as the mirror gets in the way .

There must be data processing happening within the camera as it has an aluminimum heat sink type casing which gets pretty warm when it's trying to force you off the road

Warm air holds more moisture so maybe this mini hot spot condenses more vapour against the screen ?

Useful, thanks.

 

[Konia2008]

Hi did you ever get to the bottom of this? My car is having the same issue?

 

[Georgie]

I have the same camera fogging issue on MG5 trophy FL reg 2023 with all the warnings and the LKA randomly engaging/disengaging.
First winter the PTC heater died. This winter is the front camera fogging.

I have my suspicions around the way it happens. In the summer I noticed a drip of sticky fluid from the area under the mirror (on the passanger side) only to learn that this is the gel used to seal the rain sensor. I wiped it several times. Since cold weather it didn't leak again.
From various other forums this fluid leak appears to be a problem with other brands and the unit needs replacing and resealing.
I guess that the whole ADAS unit is disloged from the windscreen and it allows cabin air to get into inside. Once moisture is trapped it is unlikely mist will clear during cold or humid weather.
There are several other threads on this forums with the same theme of camera fogging. I will book it for service.
Another user here reported the whole camera disloged on an MG4 (Front facing camera dislodged )