Side camera calibration to align with front and back

Jim-GA · July 27, 2023

I've looked around the Forum and cannot find this discussed. Apologies if I missed it.

On my 2022 Silverado 2500HD:

When I have the forward-looking or rear-looking camera on, the "birds eye view" composite picture of the truck shows the lines or the edge of the driveway on the right and/or left of the truck with the segment next to the truck out of alignment relative to the lines ahead and behind the truck. See photos.

Has anyone figured out (or had their dealer figure out) how to calibrate the side cameras to line up with the front and rear cameras? It seems like it should be a pretty simple adjustment, either through software calibration or hardware adjustment (move the camera's aim and lock down with a little set screw).

My dealer tech has not been able to do anything to improve it.

Thanks!

Steve Boston · September 14, 2023

I have this same issue. Has anyone figured it out?

Jim-GA · September 14, 2023

I took my truck to my local Chevy Dealer. The single Tech they have there that is "trained" in "electronics" could not figure it out. He downloaded some software again into the truck (it took forever) and nothing changed. He tossed up his hands.

From the research I have done, it looks like GM purchased this camera system as a package from some European company. If the system has some way to calibrate the cameras (I'm sure it does) it looks like GM has not given their Techs the ability to tap into it. Or else my local Tech was out sick or asleep on "Camera Calibration Day", so he does not know how to do it.

This is pretty sorry. My wife's Toyota has the same sort of camera system and when you look at her "bird's eye view" display of her car, all of the lines match up exactly as they should.

This strikes me as another example of GM taking a very simple, lazy approach to the vehicle. It does NOT meet my expectations for what was a very expensive purchase. Either they need to train their Techs better in the use of the tools, or they need to GIVE the Techs the tools.

I am very disappointed in Chevy and GM over this. There is no excuse.

PhilB · September 14, 2023

Found this via Google:

https://www.vehicleservicepros.com/collision-repair/adascalibrationprogramming/article/21199110/break-down-repair-steps-to-get-a-better-grasp-on-calibrations

This is for a 2019 Cadillac CTS, but I think it should be similar for all GM vehicles with the surround view. Maybe print this off and show your tech.

Jim-GA · September 14, 2023

Thank you, Phil! This is EXACTLY what I expected the Camera Calibration procedure to look like. I knew it could all be done in software.

I have the extra camera on the back of my trailer. I set it all up and ran the Calibration steps for the trailer camera to work in "Invisible Trailer Mode". It calibrated right up and works great.

So I KNEW that there had to be a similar calibration procedure for the built-in cameras. It is beyond the capability of my local dealer Tech, I guess.

I have printed your article and will be stopping in to see the Service Advisor today.

Ben-C · March 20

On 9/14/2023 at 5:37 AM, Jim-GA said:

Thank you, Phil! This is EXACTLY what I expected the Camera Calibration procedure to look like. I knew it could all be done in software.

I have the extra camera on the back of my trailer. I set it all up and ran the Calibration steps for the trailer camera to work in "Invisible Trailer Mode". It calibrated right up and works great.

So I KNEW that there had to be a similar calibration procedure for the built-in cameras. It is beyond the capability of my local dealer Tech, I guess.

I have printed your article and will be stopping in to see the Service Advisor today.

Did you ever end up getting it fixed? I have the same issue on mine

Jim-GA · March 21

On 3/20/2024 at 1:56 PM, Ben-C said:

Did you ever end up getting it fixed? I have the same issue on mine

Sadly, no!

I brought it to the dealer. They could do nothing. I asked them to escalate it with Chevy. They did. The engineers asked them to collect some more info off of the truck. Heard nothing since.

My expectations are very low.

From the research I have done, it looks like GM bought this system from an outfit in Austria. I would be willing to bet that no one in GM actually KNOWS how to fix it. They bought a kit and installed it. It's not like they built it and understand how to program or reprogram it.

From further testing, I have determined that it is actually the FRONT and REAR cameras that need to be recalibrated to match the side cameras. The side cameras are correct. They show the lines and the curbs correctly. The front/rear cameras show the lines or curbs actually further away from the truck than they really are. It's bad because you think you have more space than you really do. You end up hitting the curb with the wheel.

File a complaint through your dealer. The more of us that do, the higher probability GM might actually look into it and talk to the vendor about it.

I'm not holding my breath.

The Mobile Tech · April 12

I feel the frustration! I am a Mobile automotive tech that recalibrates all types of ADAS systems and this one we still can’t figure out. That camera issue is a issue on ALL NEW GM vehicles not just trucks. According to GM, the system is supposed to “automatically calibrate” every time the ignition is cycled. This we have found is not true. Further more the system stores all the cameras initial learned values for the calibration but there is no option to reset the values or force the system into calibration mode, which is why you get the cameras not stitching correctly (out of alignment). One thing I have yet to try is reprogram the module as if the module was replaced to see if it forces a reset of the values and allows calibration. Ford and Mopar also have a similar system but they have a calibration function, GM does not which is ridiculous. If I find anything more out on this I’ll post it for ya. And post with I have the position statement from GM when a system needs calibrated, and they state that new surround view never needs calibrated… it’s truly ridiculous. That system is considered surround view- Digital. The old analog system has a calibration function.

GM Job aid.pdf

Edited April 12 by The Mobile Tech

Jim-GA · April 12

Thanks!

My translation of "No calibration required" is "No provisions for calibration provided".

My dealer's Tech actually DID reprogram the module, as if a new module was installed, but there was no change at all.

It is not doing any self calibration. The Tech told me that GM is downloading a fixed set of calibration numbers to the module and that's all that is used. Until GM updates those numbers, so that the Tech can download and install them, there is nothing he can do.

I have seen brand new 2500HD trucks on the lot, with no miles on them yet, show the EXACT same misalignment on their cameras that I see on mine. I suspect that they have used a single set of calibration numbers and applied them across the line to all trucks, assuming that they would be "close enough". They are not.

It's one thing for GM to screw up so badly and not provide any provision to calibrate... it's another thing to lie about it.

BTW, for comparison, the camera on the back of my trailer self-calibrates and stitches into the truck's rear-facing cameras perfectly to provide the "invisible trailer view" in the truck.