Fixed Rear Backup Camera Clarity on 28Z with Axxera

[Giggyb]

We have a 28Z with single backup camera and an axxera radio/monitor for the camera. From the very beginning the picture quality was bad--a double image that made everything look terrible. The dealer replaced the camera under warranty with no better results. So we thought we just had to live with it. This winter we figured we would replace the axxera to fix it, but wanted to make sure that was the source of the bad picture. So we started digging:
1. by hooking up our video camera output to the axxera video RCA input we could see that it had a clear picture. so not the axxera's fault.
2. took apart the rear camera/light assembly and that all looked good,
3. Discovered that there is a standard 5 prong connector behind the outlet inside the back cabinet over the bed, which hooks the camera to a 65 foot cable to the front. So was the camera or the cable to the front or the connections the problem?
4. We bought another inexpensive back-up camera and appropriate connectors. same picture, BUT...
5. When we were messing with connecting and disconnecting, with one person watching the front monitor and the other making the connection changes, we found a clear picture would flicker past every once in a while.
So to make a very long story short...we discovered the if we pulled the 5 prong 65' cable connector apart just a bit it made a very clear picture. (with either the original or the replacement camera) This was the connector we found when we pulled out the outlet in the back cabinet over the bed.
I hope this helps others who may have the same thing--or at least give something else to try before spending big bucks to replace the radio and not have it work!
Now to get the dash all put back together!

[Bill Johnson]

Had you thought about replacing the 5 pin din connector for 4 dollars so it doesn't happen again?

[DavidEM]

I bet if you squirt some WD40 inside the connector and wiggle it back and forth to make a solid connection, it won't happen again.

David

[Chateau_Nomad]

For future reference...

If you have ANY picture at all - a "fuzzy/double image" for instance:
BOTH your camera AND head unit (Axxera) are likely okay.
Start checking ALL cables, from the camera to the RCA video inputs on the back of the head unit for bad/loose connections. Probably 95% of video problems are loose connections/bad cables. AND... if it's a bad power wire, it can eventually short and destroy the camera in the process. Those small cameras are pretty sensitive to voltage surges/shorts.

If you have a screen with static/noise, but no discernible image/picture:
The camera may be toast... BUT AGAIN, it may just be a bad connection. Check all cable connections FIRST. The head unit is likely okay.

If you have a BLANK/BLACK screen with NO static or discernible image (NOTHING):
Again, check cables for obvious loose connections or damaged wires. The camera is usually the cheapest item to replace, so try plugging the camera RCA output into a KNOWN good monitor screen. Replace if needed. Then, plug a KNOWN working camera into the RCA video input in the head unit. If still no image, the head unit is suspect.