Help - 2014 OEM Factory Rearview Backup Camera On All the Time

2014 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab Pre-Runner V6 Automatic with factory original (Panasonic?) head unit (no navigation)

About a year ago I was driving home from a road trip on the highway and the radio started intermittently showing the camera rear view with a lot of flickering and lines across the screen. It stayed that way for the remaining 4 hours of driving and a few days later went away.

It's started up again a few days ago in my daily commute. It simply does not matter what gear the truck is in - it's intermittently/mostly on. Making matters worse - we have an unexpected death of a family member and a 12 hour drive each way to attend services in a couple days.

The reverse backup lights work perfectly when this occurs - only lighting up white when the selector is in REVERSE and off in all other positions.

Nevertheless I checked underneath and found 4 harness connectors going into the transmission - all appear snug and tight. I didn't disconnect any (yet) as they are tight and need to be squeezed to unlatch - and I can't figure out the one w/ the white plastic 'handle' on it.

Moving the transmission selector thru PRND... has no affect or impact. It's on in every position. And it sometimes flickers - even in the R position.

There are no software updates available for this year of radio.

Just in case... I removed and checked the camera connector (very clean). When disconnected could duplicate the issue just with a black screen instead which indicates to me the camera cannot be at fault if it still happens w/o the camera in the circuit.

So I know the camera is not at fault.
And I know the reverse backup lights are triggering properly (when the radio camera screen is not).
Externally, the 4 transmission connectors appear to be snugly connected.
What wiring can be seen along the frame and in the tailgate is very neatly loomed and secured from the factory.

Obviously I can't do a lot in the next day or so but posting in case someone has a potential easy area to check that causes the radio to trigger and switch to the camera? Could there be a known connector somewhere prone to exposure from the elements? Maybe a 'reset' to the radio unit? Maybe the radio triggers off of a different switch on the selector console?

Thanks in advance,

 

I pulled the factory radio to double check connections - as expected they appeared to all be fine.

Just a thought but if I knew which harness/wire had the Reverse trigger wire - I'd just snip it and do without a backup camera but have a functioning radio for upcoming road trip.

Anybody have an idea which harness/connector might have the Reverse trigger?

 

Since everyone is thinking it i might as well say it— are we 100% sure this has nothing to do with the death of your family member.. Be careful looking at that screen you never know who/what you’ll see… LOL

All jokes aside, sorry for your loss OP. Wish i could help out but this is beyond my realm of knowledge

 

Thanks,

I'm fairly sure that of the 4 harness connectors on the transmission, the larger gray one on the passenger side is likely the one w/ the gear selector indications. I say that because it is a large externally mounted triangular shape w/ a shaft extending thru it and to the opposite side where the mechanical gear selector enters the transmission.

I had to fenagle it to get the catch to release and pry the harness connector off... it may have been a little dirty in there - hard to say w/ only a mirror and light to try and peer inside. I sprayed w/ some contact cleaner and cleaned as best I could w/ some q-tips.

Just about as hard to get back in as it was to take off.

I'm not optimistic this is the problem as the back up lights always worked just fine based on gear position.

I'm going to start putting things back together and buttoning it up soon - will have to decide between truck and another vehicle...