Backup camera kills reverse switch?

I installed a backup camera a couple of months ago along with a new after-market radio with a 7-inch screen, both bought and installed at Best Buy. As I'm sure most here know, the camera is powered on when shifting into reverse and the reverse switch sends power to the reverse lights. About a week after install camera stopped working. Went to Best Buy and they said it's the reverse switch, not us. Took it to my mechanic and he agreed. Replaced the reverse switch and the camera started working again... for about a week. Then same symptoms: reverse lights not coming on, camera not working.

Anyone have the same experience? I'm thinking the camera is maybe pulling too many amps through the switch, frying the switch? There doesn't seem to be a separate fuze for the reverse lights, and the 10 amp fuses in the TAIL slots are all good. Is there a separate fuze for the reverse lights somewhere? Thoughts? Solutions?

Thanks.

 

You mean the reverse wire? I have a 2010 so it came prewired for a backup camera, but I have never had the problem you're describing; Honestly just sounds like a loose connection...

 

This is a 1st Gen with an aftermarket setup, so it's not equivalent. Looking for advice from someone with a similar setup or experience. Thanks, though.

 

Um…

I do have a similar setup; My truck was prewired for a backup camera but it’s a base model so it didn’t come with one. Backup camera is plugged into reverse wire behind dash; Automatically engages the camera whenever truck is put in reverse.

 

If you unplug the camera does everything work or is it all hosed?

I’m not sure I know what a reverse “switch” is but do you have paperwork from the mechanic as to what work was done?

 

Sounds like you might need a relay as the camera might be over drawing on the switch.

 

I guess that’s a reasonable theory, camera adds extra load, this “switch” blows up on an open position before the fuse pops?

If the “switch” is actually a relay then that doesn’t make a ton of sense unless it’s a relay which melts below 10 amps? Maybe possible with some sort of solid state relay?

If it’s a fuse and the mechanic happily replaced it for you before, seems like he might be willing to explain which one and then, yeah, fix it with a separate fused circuit using a relay or throw in a 15 and cross your fingers? Camera shouldn’t be drawing more than 2 amps, hopefully much less.

You could also maybe try LED bulbs for your reverse lights to decrease overall load on that circuit, opening up room for the camera to steal some juice.

Last, double check the bulbs are good?

 

https://parts.toyota.com/p/Toyota_2...-ASSEMBLY-RELAY-ASSY/63391321/9098702006.html

 

Reverse lights appear to be on the gauge fuse..

Its odd that the camera could be pulling so much, but i think youre on the right track.

I would check the camera wiring and use an ammeter to measure how much current the camera is drawing

 

I have to agree No paper work on the camera telling you what it draws for current.

If the back up lights and reverse Camera are drawing to much current why does the fuse not open?? If that was the problem it should have failed the first time after the new switch.

mechanic replaced back up light switch with Chinese junk and it failed already?? My pick as the issue

 

You guys figure this out?

On my Pioneer AVS-5800, I had to enable that input and the backup lights came back on and the camera worked. It's like the head was grounding the input until it was enabled.

Now, to fake out the parking brake . . .

I did not bother hooking it up since I don't intend to watch DVDs period much less while I'm driving but, on this Pioneer, I cannot setup bluetooth, audio settings, radio stations, Sirius, nothing . . . without the GD parking brake ON. That's gonna change.

 

I replaced the reverse switch with one from Toyota. The one I took out wasn’t the same, looked cheaper, so I’m hoping that’s it. I moved my backup camera up onto the upper part of my wedge camper, and the existing wire is too short, so I can’t test it. I’m having it rewired by the original installers next Friday. I’ll post final results then.

 

Better late than never, I'm posting that the reverse switch must have been the problem because it's working fine after second replacement described above. One note: I moved the camera up to my camper shell 3rd taillight but this particular brand comes with built in guiding lines that don't really work well from that angle. So if you're thinking of putting the camera up high like I did, make sure you get one that doesn't have always-on guiding lines.

 

I have a similar issue but it sounds different.

My reverse lights and camera come on sometimes, but not always. All the lights are LEDs and the camera is super low amp draw, so I don't actually think it's an amperage issue. I do feel like it's a bad contact somewhere though as sometimes the camera flickers on and off. Where is the reverse switch located? I'll pull it out and inspect/test it.