Been lurking in here for years picking up tips. Thank you all.

Not sure whether to have backup camera replaced with OEM at dealership, or to change out head unit and backup camera both aftermarket.

Just bought a “new to me” low mileage 2011 F-150 Lariat with a 6.2l, and also own a 1956 F-100 driver.

Having a rear backup camera problem on the Lariat—image flipped (Sony NAV screen shows what is at left rear on the right side of my screen, not inverted) and the guidelines are gone—settings are inoperable and cannot get the guidelines

Dealer wants $135 to diagnose, and about another $500-$600 to replace with an OEM camera and calibrate it.

I really would be fine with just a camera replacement, but at the dealer cost for OEM camera replacement, I am thinking about adding some bucks and going aftermarket for a head unit and camera.

I park in some tight places and tow...I need the backup camera with true image and working guidelines.

No high end local shop here in Lexington, KY, will replace the backup camera with an OEM one. They all say it requires the truck to go to a dealer to have it done correctly ...”proprietary” is the word I keep hearing...unless...

If I change up the head unit from the old original first gen Sony Sync nav unit to a new one, they can add a unit matching new camera too...

So...rather than a new $635-$735 OEM camera install at the dealership, with Ford no longer supporting sync software updates on my original Sync nav system, I am looking at Pioneer for a solution.

I am thinking about having installed a Pioneer AVIC-W8500NEX unit with a matching backup camera..,

Thoughts? Opinions? Tips?

 

Sounds like you have one of the lower-quality aftermarket cameras. I would be surprised if any original cameras lasted this long. This isn't that tough of a job to replace it. A good source for the OEM camera is Tasca. There's another company that produces a good quality aftermarket unit called Camera Source.

Camera Source.

 

Thank you, V10...verified late yesterday afternoon it is a cheapie replacement camera in there and not the OEM one.

I appreciate the link too!