NO camera image in Reverse
 

I have a problem with no image being displayed with backup camera. It is set to display an image during Reverse in the menu. When engaging the car into Reverse, their is no picture from the camera, just shows up black with the overlay message as seen in the picture. The car never did this prior to the last maintenance update where dealer updated the command system so I could stream bluetooth. As such, I'm wondering if it's related to command software.

The first two times this happened, I thought it was a fluke, so I reset the system (losing all my settings). Problem went away, fixed for good I thought but resurfaced today.

I was not able to see anything pulling out the garage, then 50 min later, without shutting the car off, I engaged the Reverse in a parking lot, and saw an image. I'm wondering if it could be a loose connection somewhere. :confused:

I never thought the camera was much use, but now that I can't see ANYTHING from the camera, I miss it!

It is not uncommon. Just go into setup mode and recheck backup camera setup to display check mark. Maybe you might want to reset it again. It will come back. Don't worry!

Sounds like a loose camera wire to me.

Did you remember to take the lens cap off? Joke, but seriously check to see if something might be obstructing the camera's lens.

It sounds software related to me since it happened after the update and it goes away, albeit briefly, after reset.

One thing I am sure of is that the update changes the order of the booting of various components. When I first got my car, the phone would pair almost immediately, but the camera took a long time to boot. I could be almost out of the garage before I got a picture. IIRC, the picture was blank, just like yours.

After my update, the camera is ready almost immediately, and the phone is ready sometime later, about 30 seconds or so.

So, it could be that your camera is not ready when you are. This might be because the camera is slow to boot, or maybe some other part of COMAND is somehow hanging or is slow. I don't really know what to suggest, other than to sometime leave the car in reverse for a while and see if the camera eventually comes on. That is why it might work after you have been driving around a while.

Of course, a loose wire is always a possibility...

It's definitely checked off in "Activate by R gear"

Thanks for the responses guys.

I think Arrie may be right that it may be loose wire. I couldn't reproduce the problem later this afternoon and evening on the drive home. It's not often that I would want to be reverse, and it's not like I can just leave the camera engaged in Drive. I'll start maintaining a log.

ttoE550, this is very plausible. I noticed that the system when resetting when I forced it, takes quite a while to reset before all functions are available. If its not displaying because it's busy, that is disappointing. As I'm in a garage and start the car, backing up is usually one of the first things I do, as I don't want to idle the car in the garage with all those fumes.

Mercedes, if you are following this thread, put some more processing power in your cars!!

Not likely to be a loose wire. We have discussed this on other threads. The update you got was probably done about three/four months ago or was done with update discs about that age. They now have an update-for-the update disc set that should correct the issue with the camera. It should also take care of another common issue after the update, that of having no sound at start-up and a "no device available" (or something similar) warning coming up on the command display.
Just go back dealer and tell them of your compliant(s) and ask for another update using the latest discs.

Next time your at the dealer have them update the software. I had the same problem. I was told it was a software issue.

Thanks GermanCars and TH22! Just a software update, it's relief.

I'll take it in middle of this month and report back results.

Mine is loose and I am taking it to the dealer next week. Try putting your car in reverse while your handbrake is engaged. Then go to the back of the car and try moving the lens gently. If you see it turn on and off in your car through the rear windshield then you will know it is a hardware issue.

I've been unable to repeat the symptom this week, but lost all sound/audio on drive to work. I think I have the command update problem for sure. That sounds like an idea to test it. I know the car need not have the engine running in order to engage the camera, but I'd rather have my spouse in the car with foot on brake to be safe.

DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!!!!
 

The parking brake is to keep the car from rolling when it is parked and engine is off. In fact, if you open the door, the transmission should shift to park anyway.

My 2010 does not shift into park when opening door

Mine does
 

Mine does and it has a build date of Oct. 2009. Actually if I turn off engine, it shifts to neutral and then when I open the door, it shifts into park.
BTW, I have had a black screen about 4-5 times over the course of 3.5 years. Only happened when backing out of garage and then not again for a long time. I think one thing that caused it a couple of times was that I was switching between radio and music register or nav and audio immediately after I put it into reverse.

My transmission does not put the car in 'P' when I open the door....at least not while the car is running.

Try opening the door while the car is on and in gear. It does not go to 'P'.

2011 E550. Engine running, in gear, stopped or moving (under ~9mph), open the driver door and it goes into Park. WHAM!

Not on 2010 E350's. I open my door all the time when getting in a parking spot.

There was a thread on this when the 2011s came out. My 2010 also does not go into P.

I wonder if some poor MB driver forgot to put it in Park, stepped out, and was run over by his own car (or somebody else was). So, starting in 2011, the lawyers told MB to put the car in Park if running and in gear and the driver door opened.

I'm waiting for the day it slams me into Park and rips the Park pawl out of the transmission.

What's the old saying? ''The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.'' Shakespeare, wasn't it?

Yes, if mine is running and in gear, and I shut the engine off, it goes automatically into Neutral. If I then open the car door, it goes into Park. That's great.

I remember a video of showing a woman hit by her own car because of not engaging P :crazy:

UPDATE. Dealer supposedly updated software in the car yesterday. Drive home without a problem. This morning got to work, and the problem is back (no image). Called dealer and scheduled to bring it in.

I still have not had the black screen issue since the software update, however, a weird thing happened yesterday. I started the car and turned off the radio by pressing the center "on" button. The radio turned off and the screen went black as it is supposed to do when command is turned off. Next, I put the car in reverse--the camera turned on (supposed to) and the radio turned back on (don't think it is supposed to).

I don't know if anyone else has had this happen. Seems like a bug.

UPDATE
Dealership replaced COMMAND UNIT P/N A2129002812. On work order it says that the they found error code C264 "Communication with backup camera has a malfunction".

I hope this is the end of it.

Kudos to your dealer and I believe this will fix it considering they went for a major replacement :y