Most modern vehicles are equipped with rear-view cameras. But not all of them work the same way. Some cameras can be turned on intentionally when needed while in most cases they turn on automatically once you shift to the reverse gear. So, the question is can you turn on the rear-view camera when driving forward?
Electrical circuit problems highlights
- Level of urgency:high
- DIY inspection:possible but very complicated
- DIY repair:mostly impossible
- Can you drive?yes
- Price for repairs:$150 - $350
- Symptoms:all kinds of different symptoms with all possible equipment
- Ways to solve:diagnose wiring and connections, inspect electrical equipment
Why would you want to turn on that camera when driving?
The reason for using the rear-view camera when driving backward is quite obvious - you want to see everything that is behind your vehicle including small objects, other cars, pedestrians, especially kids.
But why will you want to turn this camera on when driving forward? We could come up with just some possible options:
- just for fun - you just want to check and are curious if it is at all possible;
- for looking at the vehicle that drives too close to your car;
- for evaluating the road conditions when maneuvering in a restricted area;
- for looking back when off-roading before making any decision about the hard terrain.
Well, not a bad list, we should say. So, car manufacturers have to pay attention to these ideas and allow car owners to turn on those cameras when needed. Or they mustn't do that because of safety?
Is it at all possible to turn on that rear-view camera?
In most OEM infotainment systems the rear-view camera can only be activated automatically when the reverse gear is in action. Manufacturers just don't allow to activate it manually using the infotainment settings or some special buttons. This is made for the sake of safety to not allow you to look at the screen rather than look at the road.
But in some aftermarket infotainment systems, you can change the settings and use the rear-view camera when needed. Just check it when purchasing the system. Although most manufacturers will still not allow you to do that, some of them offer this function. It may still be limited by the speed of your vehicle or by some other restrictions.
Also, some car electronics magicians may code everything for you even if you don't want to replace the OEM infotainment system or have one of those systems not allowing you to turn on the rear-view camera. All you need to do is to find the specialist who will change the settings and make it possible.
What to do if the rear-view camera is always on?
There is also another problem that many car owners deal with. Their rear-view cameras may go on at the wrong time or just be on all the time. This is very distracting and it also blocks the infotainment system for you. So, you just can't turn on some music or change the temperature by adjusting the AC.
In this case, you will need to have your car diagnosed by a specialist. The most likely reasons for this are the following:
- a bad sensor that indicates to your ECU that the stick shift is in the reverse position;
- bad electric connection between the ECU and the infotainment system or between the ECU and the sensors in your stick shift system;
- bad infotainment system - something went wrong in its brain, so it started glitching;
- other software or hardware problems that unexpectedly led to this issue.
Actually, a lot of things may have gone wrong, so you should have the vehicle diagnosed and repaired by a professional. Unfortunately, in modern cars, nearly any DIY repairs are possible unless you are a qualified car mechanic.
Also, you may make things worse if you try to repair the problem by yourself. Even taking that infotainment system screen out of the place it sits in is a risk because you can damage the tender plastic and then spend hundreds of dollars to replace the damaged part.
Conclusion
We don't recommend turning on rear-view cameras when you drive. It may distract you from the road and lead to dangerous road conditions. But if you badly need this, you may try to code this option or replace the OEM infotainment system to have this possibility.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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