How to reconnect a broken reverse camera cable?
3 Answers
It's best to use a soldering iron to reconnect both the copper wires (shield layer) in the outer sheath and the copper wires inside the white sheath separately. If you don't have a soldering iron, use a small knife to scrape the copper wires in both layers. The purpose of scraping is to ensure better contact when reconnecting the wires. After separating the broken wires, reconnect them accordingly and then secure them with insulating tape.
I accidentally pulled the wire of my car's reversing camera, which was really a headache, so I decided to fix it myself. The main thing is to see which part of the wire is broken. Generally, the camera wire includes a video transmission line and a power line. If the video line is broken, the screen will show distortion or go completely black; if the power line is broken, the entire camera won't work. Open the trunk's interior cover to locate the break point. If the break isn't obvious, use a multimeter to test for continuity. Before soldering, strip the broken wire ends cleanly, apply a bit of solder with a small soldering iron, and connect the corresponding colors carefully. The core wire of the video line is thin, so be careful not to cause a short circuit. After soldering, cover it with heat shrink tubing, heat it to shrink and fix it, then wrap it with insulating tape to prevent moisture. After completing the repair, reconnect the camera plug, shift into reverse gear, and test if the image is clear and normal. If there's no flickering, it should be fine. While driving, be careful not to let the wire harness be crushed by heavy objects, and regularly check the wiring inside the car to extend its lifespan. If your soldering skills aren't up to par, it's easier to buy a butt connector—just a few bucks to get it done.
As a car enthusiast who frequently does DIY modifications, let me explain in detail how to reconnect a broken camera wire. The tools required are simple: prepare wire strippers, a soldering iron, solder wire, and heat shrink tubing or electrical tape. After locating the broken section, strip about 1 cm of copper wire from both ends. The power wires are usually thicker and colored red and black—solder them securely with a soldering iron. The video wires are much thinner, so handle them carefully to avoid mixing up the colors. After soldering, wrap them properly with heat shrink tubing for waterproofing. If you prefer not to solder, you can buy solderless wire connectors on Taobao and simply crimp them for a quick and easy fix. The critical step is testing: after reconnecting, start the car, shift into reverse, and check if the rearview display shows a stable image without interference. Any noise or distortion indicates a poor connection. Safety reminder: disconnect the negative terminal of the battery to prevent short circuits while working, and ensure the wire ends are properly insulated to prevent oxidation and corrosion of internal car components. For daily maintenance, avoid frequently adjusting the camera position to reduce wire wear from pulling.
