OEM backup camera RF interference

So I posted this months ago on another forum and did not receive any help.

So I have a weird problem that I have only found one other person to have. My back up camera for two years would get the blue screen and shut off from time to time. Recently it has started to not work at all. I pulled that camera out of the tail gate and connected it to a TV with some AA batteries and a cut up RCA cable. The camera worked fine. When replacing the camera I noticed that it would work when my tailgate was down but as soon as started to move the tailgate the image would go blue. I started by replacing the wiring harness from the camera to the frame. No change. I then bought a camera from Camera Source. With the new camera installed I had the exact same problem. So with a multi meter and a friend we started trying to trouble shoot the issue. I noticed that the camera would go out even when my hand was close but not touching it. I read a post that someone was told by the dealer that the shielding of the video wires was poorly done in the dash and that person had a similar issue. With that in the back of my head I put the camera in a steel pipe while still connected and the video was on and worked flawlessly. Remove from pipe and the video goes off. So...I have some type of interference/poor shielding going on. Has anyone else had this issue? How do I go about figuring out where I need to shield the wire with out going along the entire harness from rear frame to mirror? I may just run two new video wires from connector on the frame to the mirror. Maybe additional grounding?

 

Sounds like broken wire shielding. I could be wrong, but with CATV, aluminum braided cable is used to shield out noise. If a cable exceeds it's bend radius, the shielding can stretch or break. Unless you strip back the jacket, you won't know. Un-shielded or broken shielding is a major source for ingress.

 

I think you are probably right, I just don't where to start? Is there some type of filter?

 

It may not be what you want to hear but I would assume you will find your problem to be in a connector or in an area that may cross a frame rail(rubbing or extreme bend radius like mentioned above).
I’m not sure about in video but in shielded wire a short between the center conductor and the shielding will cause problems too.

The thing that I am not positive is that if you put the camera in your steel pipe(faraday cage) and it works then that should mean your problem is in that area.
Also is that harness grounded anywhere on the frame or back of the stereo or tailgate?
Hopefully somebody with more knowledge can help you narrow it down a little better.

 

You can take that DMM in Ohms function and with sharp tipped test leads, poke one lead through the insulation at the base of the camera. Just enough to hit the cable shielding. Do the same at the other end connector. Should read a "short". If the DMM reads infinity....."open". Bad shielding.

 

I work with RFID and access control systems. Yes video lines will have shielding just as RF antenna cables do but it is very minimal. The pipe may or may not be the trouble area as the pipe is giving "more" shielding if that makes sense to compensate for the lack of. Sounds like a break at or near the tail gate area as you move the tail gate and it messes with signal or shorts it out.

 

Yep^^^^ I'd be willing to bet if the cable was replaced...camera worky.....

 

OP you certainly have done your fair share of troubleshooting!

I wish I could be of more help.

Do you think you could rewire the camera to the rearview and still retain full functionality? I would assume if you bypass the factory wiring between the tailgate/rear bumper and the camera, you would need a relay to turn it on, maybe from the reverse light?

 

I have no f’ing clue what you guys are saying, but sounds legit. Glad there are folks like y’all here that have this knowledge

 

This is what I was thinking. I actually ordered the harness that goes from the camera through the tailgate from Toyota...no change. As crazy as it sounds I tried to wrap the camera in aluminum foil. It only worked if I covered the lens. MotoTundra on this board had a buddy who had this problem and was repaired by the dealer after multiple visits. He was told that the shielding issue he had was a section of the harness in the dash. I don't have trust any dealers near me find this issue quickly.

The harness that runs up the frame and into the cab is next. I haven't done anything with that yet. It seems like that will be invasive but maybe necessary. The other option I guess is to get an aftermarket Head Unit and camera and just not use the factory stuff. I just like that factory camera, it works perfect to hook up my trailer as well as backing up. Also I have no problems with the factory radio/bluetooth/steering wheel controls.

 

Behind the dash issue is scary because there are no pivot and/or stress points there like there would be at the moving part(s) like underneath the truck as mentioned between frame rails or components that flex and could see movement or the tail gate. If its a behind the dash issue that means someone unduly stressed the harness and/or wiring or it got pinched, bound, etc and is more of a QC and potential wide(r) spread issue. I'm real curious to see if it is indeed a behind the dash issue. @TundraTex has done a ton of work with the FRAC harness behind the dash and interfacing maybe he can shed some light.

 

Is the FRAC only for 3rd gens though? If so, the setup is different.

 

EDIT - This diagram is for 3rd Gen trucks. See the next post for 2013 camera wiring...

First of all... EMI sucks! and it's hard to troubleshoot. But based on your description of the problem, I would start by looking at the XR1 connector. Its a connector that serves as the disconnect should you wish to remove your tailgate. It's located under the bed just forward of the rear bumper.

The 4 pins of interest are Power (CB+), Video +, Video -, and Ground. The shielding on the harness run is connected to the ground pin (pin 5). See diagram.



You said the camera works fine when the tailgate is down (i.e. less "stress" on the harness) so I would first check the harness slack with the tailgate open and closed. There should be no tension on the harness in either position. Then check to see that the pins are properly seated in the XR1 connector; especially the ground pin. Then finally, check the shielding continuity to XR1 Pin 5.

That's where I would start based on your description. Good luck!

Lou

 

Aghh.. Just realized you have a 2013 truck. The troubleshooting approach above will work but there are 3 different 2013 camera configurations; No Nav, Nav with internal amp, and Nav with External amp. They all have different connections at the HU/Mirror Display but the camera end of the Video harness is pinned the same in all three configs. This pic is for a Nav system with external amp. The shield is tied to V- (XR1 - Pin 3 or camera pin 2) in the 2013 trucks.

 

Thanks for the diagram. I don't have NAV or JBL. I will check continuity on from the connector to pin 2 for my truck. I can tell you with the camera unbolted from the tailgate but still connected to the XR1 I see no change when I move or or flex the wire harness.

I do appreciate all the help, as soon as it gets above freezing here I'll be in the garage and try these suggestions.

 

OK. So that means your camera display is in the mirror? If so, your diagram is below. You might also try checking the continuity or resistance between CGND and CV-. And check the continuity from the cam to the mirror for the ground and CV- lines.

 

Has anyone found a solution to this? My 2013 is doing the same thing. I noticed when backing in the garage, the camera comes on at a certain point then back off. I don't know it the garage door opener is doing something to the signal or what.

 

Thank you TundraTex. The wire schematic was helpful to understand the breaks in the harness. I am seeing the same issue on my 2013 Tundra. When I put in reverse, I get the blue screen, a flash of camera, then disappears. If I put the truck in reverse and move the tailgate up and down, I get some response but it doesn't stay on. I figured it was the harness that ran through the tailgate to the connector just ahead of the back bumper so I ordered one from Toyota, no luck. I found an aftermarket camera on ebay for $100, cleaned all the connections in the back of the truck, installed, same result. Truly sounds like a grounding issue or perhaps a broken wire/interference. Since this problems is repetitive with several other postings, I'm wondering if anyone found the smoking gun? Any insight on where to go next is appreciated.

 

Follow up to my earlier post regarding the backup camera. I took the truck to a Toyota dealer and they were able to track the issue down to a ground wire in the harness. Replacing the full harness would be thousands of dollars so I ran a jumper wire from the tailgate to the wire cluster under the hood. Basically the blue wire in the tailgate, along the frame, up the engine compartment, into the plastic box on the passenger side and clipped a black wire to patch the new connection. Camera works great again. Took about an hour and half to tie everything up properly but way cheaper than an aftermarked setup.