Backup Camera Issue

[X5inOz]

Hi all, can anybody shed some light onto this problem for me. I have a 2004 E53 with the reverse camera fitted as standard. The problem is that when in reverse the camera is intermitantly showning on the screen, as it would if you were to move the car in and out of reverse. The problem seems to be quite random, and can sometimes stay on with no problems, other times not at all.

Any ideas on where I should be looking?

Thanks in advance.

[BrianX54.4is]

Check if the reverse lights are also intermittent in operation - in this case the shift selector switch could be the fault. Try to jiggle the shift when in reverse to see if it causes the loss of image.

Does the screen revert to the previous screen (OBC, Radio or NAV) or does it just go blank? If it just goes blank then the problem could be on the video signal from the camera.

Check this post and the links within for tips on where to look. The system causes the nav screen to display the backup image by applying a ground signal to pin 17 on the TV module when in reverse. You may have a bad connection somewhere on this line. You could tap the line and ground it to test if the image comes up everytime and thus eliminate everything forward of the TV module. The TV module is located under the spare wheel to the rear of the battery beside the PDC ECU. See page 10 of this PDC retrofit guide for how to get at it.
Here are the TV module pinouts:


If you have NAV without TV then the camera setup is somewhat different with it's own video unit.
Hope all this helps.