Reverse Camera - why can't it stay clean?!

[bpang1]

In bad weather like many of us are getting right now, my rant is that everytime there is rain, snow or even just damp roads, my reverse camera gets covered with water, muddy water or mist and it is useless. I use the sucker to reverse into my garage and by the time I get home all I see are blobs and have to use my mirrors instead.

It sucks, why couldn't Audi have come up with a better way to mount it?

[adamazing]

#FristWorldProbelms

[torinalth]

I use rainx on it. helps a little, but not a lot.

[Lbsigman]

...have to use my mirrors instead.

/thread

[Szemenyei]

I use rainx on it. helps a little, but not a lot.

I just did the same thing today.

[StealthBlackA4]

/thread

What he said^^

[AKPS4]

Quick wipe with glass sealant should help. Similar to rain x but better.

[pfft]

It's barely the size of a dime. A qtip, a drop of water, and half a second should take care of it.

[VenturiRS]

It's barely the size of a dime. A qtip, a drop of water, and half a second should take care of it.

I just use my thumb to wipe it and get back in the car because it's easier than looking at my mirrors (it's 2016 guys!), but I'm gonna try squirting some RainX on it now.

[JoshDub]

Is this really a thread?

[Moto One]

What someone needs to do is come up with a solenoid flap (and I'v been looking at RC Servo's also) control to open when the reverse lights come on.
By the way it happen to all, except BMW that hide the camera in the Rondel on 6 series and we had a Q5 loner that seem to stay clean or cleaner.

Mark

[amz]

I hit it with a bit of Sonax PNS when I'm sealing the paint and it works well to repel dirt. Eventually it does get dirty though, when this happens a bit if spit or snow on the finger and a quick wipe cleans it right up.

A bit of spit can solve a lot of problems...

[Difference]

Wish we could steal something from VW :( Some come stock with the reverse camera hidden behind the emblem and pop out in reverse

[HeymyAudi]

I use my thumb and clean it.. My G37 was horrible...

[jamin_00]

Where is the camera located on the 4? I have mine on the 5 located where the boot button is and thats ok for the most part but I have covered it with something called Glass Freezer which is like Rain X on steroids lol.

[Johnnycash]

[boro92]

Honestly, it's how aerodynamics work.
Air buffets and curls up behind the car because it is no longer attached and flowing over the body panels. It's the same reason why the back of the car is also the dirtiest over time--especially after driving in the rain. There is no real solve for this other than the VW solution of hiding the camera during use.

[agent47]

Where is the camera located on the 4? I have mine on the 5 located where the boot button is and thats ok for the most part but I have covered it with something called Glass Freezer which is like Rain X on steroids lol.

I used aquapel and it works great. Unless there is just a drizzle of rain going on making for some terrible muddy mist on the roads.

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

[bpang1]

LOL the replies on this thread...some of them made me LOL and I am at work.

I'll try the rain-x or if I can find them, use one of the other "better" ones. Thanks!

[jsh139]

I just use my thumb to wipe it and get back in the car because it's easier than looking at my mirrors (it's 2016 guys!), but I'm gonna try squirting some RainX on it now.

+1

[PerimeterJones]

+1

I used OptiCoat and it doesn't make a difference, you're right the lens is really prone to getting dirty no matter what you do

In bad weather like many of us are getting right now, my rant is that everytime there is rain, snow or even just damp roads, my reverse camera gets covered with water, muddy water or mist and it is useless. I use the sucker to reverse into my garage and by the time I get home all I see are blobs and have to use my mirrors instead.

It sucks, why couldn't Audi have come up with a better way to mount it?

[GT-R & S4]

What someone needs to do is come up with a solenoid flap (and I'v been looking at RC Servo's also) control to open when the reverse lights come on.
By the way it happen to all, except BMW that hide the camera in the Rondel on 6 series and we had a Q5 loner that seem to stay clean or cleaner.

Mark

+! to this! Why not? Also, the rear end of the S4 gets pretty grimy. It reminds me of the rear of my previously owned Cadillac CTS-V wagon. You drive through the rain one time, and the next day there is dirt and grime everywhere, while the rest of the vehicle can look relatively clean.

[MrFunk]

#FristWorldProbelms

Thread.

[jokingjimmy]

Mini windshield-wiper style blades. Gogogo

[hotleadsingergu]

Ever car I've had that had a camera (this is the third) has had the problem. There's just no way around it, based on aerodynamics.

As for the servo/solenoid thing...not sure it would be a good idea. Anytime it's cold that kind of stuff generally loves to break. Today when I got home I used my windshield wiper sprayers to just clean the windshield before putting her away for the evening (since it snowed and iced for the first time this year), and one of the headlight washers didn't go back in. It's only 6 months old, but everything was so cold the little flap stayed a little closed, so the arm stuck on it. Just tapped it and it flipped back in, but still.

Less moving parts = better.

[purelife]

Would be cool if they made the camera come out the same way the headlight washers do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5s43y3GBL0

[chaos2984]

Well anytime the camera is on the "rear" of the car. Its going to happen when its exposed due to low pressure being formed right there behind the car. That spoiler doesn't help things either. It creates more of a low pressure and the air swirls back there. That's how you get exhaust on your rear bumper and such. Would be cool to have one that just pops out.

[Moto One]

I'm thinking that I'm going to pick up a camera off of Ebay and see how a flap cover can be fitted and if there is room for a servo to open and close it.

Mark