Front Camera Temporarily Not Available in Ford – Why?

Superior pre-collision system and also traffic detection, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and many other functions are possible thanks to the introduction of the additional camera to your Ford vehicle. This camera is located in the area of the mirror in the interior of your car.

Front camera temporarily not available message highlights

• Common reasons:camera overheated, low battery, faulty radar sensor
• How to fix:let the car cool down, check the radar sensor, check the battery
• Possible consequences:cruise control may not work, collision warning may not work
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Yes
• DIY repair:Possible
• Repair price range:$0-$200

In this article, I will tell you more about the reasons for this problem and possible fixes that you can apply!

Also, I've written and posted articles about trailer lighting module issues and the weird message telling you to check for rear-seat occupants in Ford cars. You may want to have a look!

Front camera issues - what happens when it doesn't work?

If you see the "Front Camera Temporarily Not Available" message in your Ford car, some safety functions will not be working to their full potential. Although it may only mean a limited functionality of the camera, it may also mean that the car safety system can't rely on the camera data at all.

In this case, the following options won't work:

• the pre-collision warning;
• the automatic braking to avoid collisions;
• lane assist;
• adaptive cruise control features;
• traffic alerts;
• road signs detection;
• pedestrian alerts.

You may be surprised to know how many things in your Ford rely on the camera. Anyway, this is not something you can just ignore. Firstly, because the annoying error message will pop up regularly if the problem is not solved. And secondly, because you certainly don't want to drive around without the safety features that you are used to.

Let's figure out what exactly you can do to solve the problem!

What are the reasons for this message?

Before you understand what to do, you need to know why this happens. So, the camera in your Ford may not work because of several important factors:

• the lens is fogged - in this case, you may need to turn on the AC for some time to defog the glass surfaces in your car or just let some fresh air come in;
• the camera view is blocked - if you have made some modifications to your car's interior, make sure that nothing blocks that view of your camera;
• the window is frozen - in winter, you may see a layer of ice or snow on the windshield, right where the camera is located;
• the temperature is super high - this is possible if you park your car outside and the sun heats up the interior to enormous temperatures, for some time the camera won't work;
• there are issues with the software - it's not uncommon for Ford vehicles to develop some problems with software, they are solved by rebooting the system (disconnecting the battery);
• the battery or alternator is bad - this will cause unstable voltage in the system and some units like the camera or control units may malfunction;
• wiring issues - this is exactly noticeable in the Ford Mustang Mach E where the coaxial cable is faulty and needs to be replaced if the camera fails;
• there are other camera-related issues - of course, some less common issues have to be considered.

So, not a short list we have here. While some possible factors are easy to check and solve, some others require professional help. So, later in this article, I'm going to tell you how you can try and fix the camera issues in your Ford on your own.

What are the DIY fixes for this message?

Whenever you see the "Front Camera Temporarily Not Available" in a Ford car, you may try the following DIY fixes that will cost you about zero dollars:

1) Fight with fogged glass in your car

A fogged lens is a pretty common reason for this message. This is especially possible when you see other glass surfaces fogging in your Ford. You may open the windows for a while. Or you may turn on the AC to dry the air in your car. This will help you deal with fogging and the camera may come back to normal.

2) Check if there is something blocking the camera

The camera is located near the rearview mirror, so check if there is something blocking its view. Maybe, there is a layer of ice on the windshield that you need to scrap off. Or maybe you made some modifications to your car and now the extra equipment blocks the camera view.

3) Cool down the air in your car

If the vehicle has been having rest outside under the sun, the camera may have just been overheated. In this case, you need to wait. Let some cool air from outside come into the car. Alternatively, use your climate control system to cool down the interior of your car. Usually, after about 10 minutes the camera will start working again.

4) Check the battery voltage

You may want to check if the battery and the alternator are working properly. When the engine is off, the battery should show about 12.5 volts. When the engine is on, the battery will start charging and should show up to 14.5 volts on its terminals.

5) Disconnect the battery to reset the systems

Some control units may have malfunctioned or there may be another type of glitch. In this case, you may need to disconnect the battery to reset the vehicle's systems. Keep the battery disconnected for some time. First, disconnect the negative terminal, then the positive. When connecting it back, hook the positive terminal first, then the negative.

When will you need professional help?

If after all DIY fixes your camera still doesn't work, you will most likely need professional help. The camera itself may be malfunctioning or there are issues with wiring.

If you are the owner of the Mach E, you should check if your car is eligible for the TSB 23-2137 bulletin. In this case, Ford will replace the coaxial cable and the camera should work well after that.

Issues with the camera are pretty rare but not impossible. If you tried everything but the camera doesn't work and throws the error message, you may need to have the camera checked in the dealership. In some cases, it will have to be replaced.