VeryGoodBlackwing
New Member
Hi everyone — I purchased my 2023 CT‑5 Blackwing about six months ago and absolutely love it. Unfortunately, about two weeks ago I noticed that my Surround Vision Recorder front camera started looking blurry. When I checked the lens, I found moisture inside and some damage. My warranty claim was denied by both the dealer and GM, who said it was impact damage. The dealer quoted me $1.2k for the repair, and the part was backordered for two weeks.
I ended up installing a new camera myself and wanted to share the experience in case it helps anyone else. The GM part number is 84676845, and I found a brand‑new one on eBay for $60. It looks identical to the original, and no programming was required.
I removed all the bolts and push pins from the bumper. There are a couple of good bumper‑removal videos on YouTube. I didn’t have to take the bumper completely off — just loosen one side enough to reach behind it. The front camera is held in by three tamper‑proof Torx screws. I tried three different tamper‑proof Torx sets and none of them worked. Not sure if I was doing something wrong, but I eventually found a trick: using a tiny flat‑head screwdriver. So much for “tamper‑proof.”
To disconnect the camera, I pressed down on the tab with a flat‑head while pulling the plug away from the housing. It took a bit of force. I then removed the back cover of the camera casing by sliding it upward and out. The new camera plugged in the same way, and everything went back together smoothly. The bumper snapped back into place and aligned perfectly.
Camera quality from inside the car is the same — if not better. I plan on putting PPF over the camera lens so this doesn’t happen again.
I ended up installing a new camera myself and wanted to share the experience in case it helps anyone else. The GM part number is 84676845, and I found a brand‑new one on eBay for $60. It looks identical to the original, and no programming was required.
I removed all the bolts and push pins from the bumper. There are a couple of good bumper‑removal videos on YouTube. I didn’t have to take the bumper completely off — just loosen one side enough to reach behind it. The front camera is held in by three tamper‑proof Torx screws. I tried three different tamper‑proof Torx sets and none of them worked. Not sure if I was doing something wrong, but I eventually found a trick: using a tiny flat‑head screwdriver. So much for “tamper‑proof.”
To disconnect the camera, I pressed down on the tab with a flat‑head while pulling the plug away from the housing. It took a bit of force. I then removed the back cover of the camera casing by sliding it upward and out. The new camera plugged in the same way, and everything went back together smoothly. The bumper snapped back into place and aligned perfectly.
Camera quality from inside the car is the same — if not better. I plan on putting PPF over the camera lens so this doesn’t happen again.
