[NG329]

My 2021 ZLE has the rearview camera option on the roof. For the last two months since I bought it, the camera did not work. It would turn on but the image was white/cloudy. I would check the camera periodically and noticed that gradually the image would start to come back. It started at the edges and finally worked its way toward the center. At one point, it looked as if there was a drop of water on the lens which distorted the image.

Finally after 8 weeks, the camera started working again and the image is clear. This is the weirdest thing I've seen with the car. My guess is that there was some trapped water in the camera. I wonder if water infiltrated the camera unit and perhaps if one uses a pressure washer to wash the car extra caution should be taken.

In any event, I wanted to throw this out there and see what you guys thought or if anyone experienced anything similar.

[SATINSTEEL1LE]

Mine in my 21 never worked. I've been putting off taking it back to have them warranty it.

[mariojas]

Could be. Weird that lens isn't glued in to the sensor. Wiring wouldn't do that - digital signal I presume - would either work or not at all..

[clyde]

I was on a long freeway drive a few weeks ago that ended with a couple hours in the rain. While using the camera for mirror, the image eventually showed some water dripping, but I had no idea if it was inside or outside the lens.

The next day, the camera displayed an unusable white/gray image as if it were all fogged up. A couple days later, it was still like that. I dropped the headliner, removed the sharkfin, and disassembled it. It was clear that there was residue or something inside the camera's lens in a lattice like structure. Since there was nothing I could do, I put it back together.

A few days after that, the displayed image started to slowly improve to the point where about a week after the initial rain, it was as if nothing ever happened.

Since then, I've washed it a few times and it's been a little bit of rain a couple times, but none as heavy or sustained like when the problem started. No further issues so far.

[NG329]

Originally Posted by clyde

I was on a long freeway drive a few weeks ago that ended with a couple hours in the rain. While using the camera for mirror, the image eventually showed some water dripping, but I had no idea if it was inside or outside the lens.

The next day, the camera displayed an unusable white/gray image as if it were all fogged up. A couple days later, it was still like that. I dropped the headliner, removed the sharkfin, and disassembled it. It was clear that there was residue or something inside the camera's lens in a lattice like structure. Since there was nothing I could do, I put it back together.

A few days after that, the displayed image started to slowly improve to the point where about a week after the initial rain, it was as if nothing ever happened.

Since then, I've washed it a few times and it's been a little bit of rain a couple times, but none as heavy or sustained like when the problem started. No further issues so far.

This!!!!! Mine took 2 months to resolve. I would avoid pressure washers and also I might even recommend using clear silicone in the gap between the fin and the roof. I think I'm going to do that over the weekend.

[ctrlz]

Without seeing the board, I would suspect connection or chip failure as opposed to water intrusion. PCB's in these locations typically get conformal coating. The connectors usually have silicone sleeves to help against water intrusion. Failure is possible, but unlikely. I would go for a parts swap at the dealer under warranty.

[NG329]

So we had heavy rain today and voila! The camera had a little image distortion. Fortunately the rain was transient and once it dried I carried good speed for the remainder of the trip home. By the time I arrived home the image had cleared up.

So it's definitely water damage. I think I might recommend silicone at this point to avoid this in the future.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by NG329

So we had heavy rain today and voila! The camera had a little image distortion. Fortunately the rain was transient and once it dried I carried good speed for the remainder of the trip home. By the time I arrived home the image had cleared up.

So it's definitely water damage. I think I might recommend silicone at this point to avoid this in the future.

If you try to move the sharkfin on the roof, is there much play? Or does it feel very secure? Mine always seemed kinda looser than I would have expected, but I didn't have a frame of reference for how loose/tight it should be. When I reattached mine, I tightened the bolt that clamps the assembly to the roof a little tighter than it was originally. Car has not been exposed to similar conditions as during the initial failure, so I don't know tightening helped.

I'd probably try that before considering silicone.

There is a rubber pad on the bottom of the sharkfin assembly that runs almost for its entire circumference, but leaves a small gap at the rear directly under the camera. The pad is the contact point between the sharkfin and roof.

However water is getting to the camera, it first has to get into the sharkfin. Silicone all around could well stop that, but it may make sharkfin removal more difficult and potentially cause paint damage if the sharkfin ever needs removal in the future.

Best bet is probably to take it to the dealer and have them replace the assembly. Out of warranty, I'd try to find the camera itself and just replace that part (since it's probably a $10 part if you can find it on aliexpress or somewhere similar), but it looks like GM only sells it as part of an entire sharkfin assembly at $300+

[Blu Ray]

mine has worked flawlessly since day 1

[Z OH 6]

Originally Posted by Blu Ray

mine has worked flawlessly since day 1

Same here. Most likely the majority do too since I've never heard of this.

[Mac7504]

Originally Posted by Z OH 6

Same here. Most likely the majority do too since I've never heard of this.

I'm in the group. Although I just got delivery in March, I exclusively use that cam since pretty much day one and no issues.