Back up camera not working...

[Dante2004]

Working fine until about a week ago. When you shift into reverse the nav display switched to a blank screen. Not "off", but as if there is no video feed.

Any fuses or connections I should check right off the bat?

Any ideas of how to troubleshoot? What to look for?

I bought the vehicle used so I don't know if this is stock or aftermarket.

[TerminatorX5]

since the screen goes blank, it means that the switching unit (the TV module, or other device) is getting the reverse signal but there is no video signal.


check the camera - it is either dead, or gets no power

[Dante2004]

How do you "check" the camera?

Not trying to be dumb. Visually it doesn't look broken...nothing hit it, broke off, etc.

[TerminatorX5]

it is hard to tell you what to do not knowing your skill level. do you have factory headunit? or aftermarket. if factory nav system, do you also have factory tv unit? where is the camera mounted? do you own a multimeter? you might own a test monitor or maybe an old camcorder with video input, to test video feed?it seems a set of pictures might be helpful - it is rather hard to go by verbal descriptions

[Dante2004]

Factory head unit
Factory nav system. Not sure about "factory tv system". I can watch DVD's on the screen if that answers your question. The feed comes from the DVD players and monitors in the head rests.

The camera is mounted on the tail gate right next to the license plate (I'll get a photo).

Yes, I have something with a video input that I could use the test the feed, just need to know where to access the connections. I have a multimeter.

I did notice over the weekend when I was looking at it that there is a small drop of water in the lens - on the inside of the clear dome. Not sure if this is just condensation or somehow water go into it when I was washing the vehicle.

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by Dante2004

Factory head unit
Factory nav system. Not sure about "factory tv system". I can watch DVD's on the screen if that answers your question. The feed comes from the DVD players and monitors in the head rests.

The camera is mounted on the tail gate right next to the license plate (I'll get a photo).

Yes, I have something with a video input that I could use the test the feed, just need to know where to access the connections. I have a multimeter.

I did notice over the weekend when I was looking at it that there is a small drop of water in the lens - on the inside of the clear dome. Not sure if this is just condensation or somehow water go into it when I was washing the vehicle.

factory headunit - check
can watch DVDs from headrests - how do you activate AV in the main screen?
from MENU in the main screen, you have NAVIGATION, DSP (maybe not), AUX VENT - do you have TV or TELEVISION?

If there is a TELEVISION in the main menu, youhave TV unit in the trunk.

If not, i'd like to know, how you get the video feed to the main screen - you might have an aftermarket device

Water in the camera - is not good, regardless, if it condensation, or rain, or carwash...

chances are, the camera is not getting the power any longer...

you might need a few test items, a test monitor, a multimeter, a camera...

[Dante2004]

Yes, I can watch DVD's from the headrests. I activate that with a small switch under the dash (aftermarket).

No, I don't have a TV option in the menu


Yes, I have DSP if that matters.

[TerminatorX5]

So, no TV module...

the aftermarket units could be hard to troubleshoot.

Lets establish, what you already know about this setup -

do you know where the unit is located? (I would suspect, in the trunk, but is it there?)

if you can locate the unit, you can disconnect the video feed from the reverse camera and connect your test monitor to the camera feed to see if there is any video coming from the camera.
then, you can connect your test video camera (or, could be video feed from your headrests), into the reverse camera input going to the monitor, to see if the video is passing that way.

in doing so, you will be able to cut in half the troubleshooting - either the camera is not working, or the feed into the front...

so... do you know where your aftermarket unit is at?

[TerminatorX5]

any news?