Chevy Backup Camera

[jeffrefrig]

Does anyone know of something I can check in my car when the backup screen or camera doesn't work? (Not sure which part is bad, or something in between.) It's intermittent, nothing I know of triggers it and all the best swearing I could muster up doesn't fix it. Maybe somebody knows something here about these things that might be as simple as a loose wiring harness connection? Any ideas appreciated. (As stated earlier, swearing doesn't work.)
Thanks for any help.

 

[Tom S.]

Your best recourse would be to seek out a forum for your specific vehicle and search there for similar problems. For example, on the Colorado/Canyon truck forums, there are posts noting a specific potential problem with the camera's connection plug between the tailgate and the truck body. There are similar posts there where people using LED replacement taillights caused problems with the camera. I'm not saying either of those are the cause to your problem, but going to a forum for your specific vehicle may reveal owners with the same problem and resolutions to the issue.

 

[Bullet Bob]

It's also helpful. at least to me, if the model and year of the vehicle are listed.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Sorry! It's a 2020 Chevy Malibu.

 

[Breakaway500]

The only times I have had to replace a rear camera have been due to cloudy or distorted images. If no image at all it is usually a connection issue or a bad neutral/reverse switch. See if your backup lights are coming on when you don't see an image. If lights are not on, its a bad switch.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Since it is Winter and you are talking about a tail gate camera: Check that the wire from the tailgate isn't unplugged by snow packing around it when opening and closing. Check for a possible kink or short. Lastly, make sure the lens (by the tailgate handle) isn't covered. [I once found a black target dot over my camera!]

Ivan

 

[yaktamer]

Run a search on You Tube.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Does anyone know of something I can check in my car when the backup screen or camera doesn't work?

The rear view mirror???????? Just a thought.

 

[SMSgt]

The rear view mirror???????? Just a thought.

I was thinking turn your head and look. But that would be facetious, which it was.

 

[glenwolde]

My Ford truck did that. I started at the camera and traced the wiring back. I removed and reconnected the wiring connectors as I found them. #3 did the trick. Intermittent is a loose connection usually. Also common to the Ford trucks was a connector by the parking brake that gets hit by feet all the time. If you check with a forum specific to your vehicle there might be something similiar specific to your vehicle.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I did find something regarding Malibus which my year car falls into, but I can't understand a word that guy says. After I "turned the channel" I remembered about the closed captioning feature YouTube has. I'll look at it later. Of course, I could take it to the Chevy dealer; they might know something.

 

[WR Moore]

And, you'll be paying them $150/hour to trace the wiring harness and check connections. OTOH, they might know where the harness/connectors are. There might also be a common "bug". If you go that route, make them show you where they found the problem so you can DIY if/when it happens again.

 

[LVSteve]

I can tell that those who say "look in the mirror" and "turn your head" haven't driven a sedan designed in 2010 or later. All cars have low noses and high tails with narrow rear windows for aerodynamics, and you cannot see jack out of the back. You certainly cannot achieve any kind of "down angle" to judge how far you are from a car behind you.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I can tell that those who say "look in the mirror" and "turn your head" haven't driven a sedan designed in 2010 or later. All cars have low noses and high tails with narrow rear windows for aerodynamics, and you cannot see jack out of the back. You certainly cannot achieve any kind of "down angle" to judge how far you are from a car behind you.

This is the main reason for my concerns about the camera. It's become a necessity. Rear window view is totally out, the side mirrors give a pretty good idea. A real bumper would be nice instead of a nicely painted body panel, which is like a woman's nylons that get ruined by touching a tiny twig.

 

[jeffrefrig]

Okay, I’m onto something here. I dropped Angel off for grooming and when I left, no view, just black. Someone up above suggested to check my reverse lights when this happens. The lights worked until the car hit the guard rail across the lot. Park brake would have been a good idea in hindsight. Also, I smacked the camera and areas around it. That made the picture come on. Another hindsight, I guess I shouldn’t have used a hammer. Especially after the spoiler broke, but, hey, I can pull out those plastic things that hold the material off the inside of the trunk lid with the special tool I bought. So, after $2600 estimate for body work I should have a working reverse camera. Yeah, it’s tough being me!