What are the reasons for the reverse camera not displaying?
4 Answers
The reasons for the reverse camera not displaying are: 1. The reverse camera is damaged; 2. There is an issue with the display settings; 3. There is a problem with the wiring. The function of the reverse camera is: It allows the driver to see the situation behind the car on the display when reversing, avoiding accidents caused by the driver not being able to see behind the car, thus making reversing safer for the driver. The working principle of the reverse camera is: A wide-angle infrared camera device is installed at the rear of the car, and through the display inside the car, the driver can clearly see the situation behind the car. The steps for wiring the reverse camera are: 1. Disconnect the battery power supply connection; 2. Remove the small license plate lamp and pass the wiring harness through the position of the small license plate lamp; 3. Connect the adapter cable, with the red wire connecting to the positive pole and the black wire connecting to the negative pole, and connect the signal wire of the camera to the signal extension cable; 4. Connect the signal extension cable to the display; 5. After completing the wiring, restore the battery power supply.
I've been driving for over a decade and have encountered sudden reversing camera failures several times. The funniest was when bird droppings covered the camera – a quick rinse during car wash fixed it. Most cases are more complicated: aftermarket devices often have wiring scraped off under the chassis; OEM equipment might have loosened connectors from frequent trunk use; blown fuses are most frustrating as they're hidden in the steering column fuse box; screen freezes are common too – just disconnect the battery for ten minutes. Last time my friend's car had reversing lights but no image, it turned out to be a faulty trigger module needing replacement. During rainy seasons, be extra careful about water ingress and oxidation at wire connectors – applying protective grease in advance works wonders.
Last week my reversing camera suddenly went completely black, and after fumbling around I finally found the cause. First, I cleaned the camera lens but there was no response. Then I crawled under the car and saw that the wiring had its insulation rubbed off by the curb. Later, I learned that the modification shop hadn’t secured the wiring properly, and over time, the bumps caused the metal wires to become exposed, leading to a short circuit. When replacing the wires, the mechanic taught me how to use a multimeter to check for continuity: unplug the camera connector and measure the voltage—normally 12 volts; then check the resistance of the video signal wire—if it reads infinity, the wire is broken. Actually, the most commonly overlooked issue in daily use is powering on the system before the connectors are completely dry after washing the car, as moisture can cause poor contact. Now, every six months, I open the trunk trim panel and unplug and reconnect the connectors to remove oxidation buildup.
With twenty years of car repair experience, reversing camera failures generally fall into these categories. In 30% of cases, the camera lens is obscured by mud—simply wipe it with your finger. Wiring issues are the most common, especially where the harness repeatedly bends at the trunk hinge, leading to breaks. For oxidized or blackened connectors, use electronic cleaner spray. Check the reverse trigger signal by seeing if the reverse light illuminates; if not, inspect the fuse or reverse switch first. Rebooting the head unit resolves 90% of system crashes. Incorrectly installed aftermarket equipment power wiring can blow fuses. OEM camera replacements cost around 300, while aftermarket ones are over 100 but have shorter lifespans. Reminder to owners: during modifications, have the technician route wiring through waterproof sleeves and secure with cable ties spaced less than 20 cm apart.
