How to Troubleshoot a Backup Camera
Built-in backup cameras are quickly becoming a standard feature in many automobiles. Like all technology, however, they hold the potential for technical problems that lead to malfunctions. It’s annoying, but there are a few troubleshooting options to try that might just fix the problem.
Quick Clean
Sometimes, dirt and debris can simply clog up the camera’s surface. It doesn’t need to be as noticeable as a giant mud smear, either. So, take a soft cloth and wipe your camera down to help remove and dirt. This is the easiest fix and often the real problem.
Eliminating Issues
When you put your vehicle in reverse, the camera’s feed should immediately display on the car’s monitor. If it doesn’t, then the problem is most likely the monitor instead of the camera. This quick troubleshooting tip will help you better identify the issue at hand.
The Fuse Box
Take out your owners’ manual, open it up to the section about your fuse box, and use it to locate the box. It’s usually underneath the steering wheel, but this can vary from one vehicle to the next. Regardless of whether the issue is your camera or monitor, the fuse is most likely blown.
To fix this issue, you need to remove the fuse and replace it with a new one. Auto stores stock all types of fuses for all types of vehicles, so you’re bound to find the model you need at a store like AutoZone. After replacing the fuse, your backup camera should work like normal again.
More Serious Issues
If replacing the fuse doesn’t do the trick, you’re looking at an issue with your car’s wiring. It’s ill advised to attempt a fix yourself unless you’re a licensed electrician or mechanic who knows what they’re doing. If this is the case, you’re going to have to take your car to a shop and pay for the repair.
The Lemon Law
Provided that your vehicle doesn’t have serious mileage and intense usage, the faulty backup camera can easily be the fault of the manufacturer. Smaller hiccups like this aren’t uncommon during production, to the point that lemon laws have formed to protect consumers from them.
Take the 2014-2016 Ram and Jeep Cherokee settlement, which these lemon law attorneys have litigated in a class action lawsuit, for example. Neither vehicle complied with EPA and California emissions regulations, placing drivers in violation of the state’s laws.
Instead of these drivers being at fault, the manufacturer is to blame. The same is true for your backup camera, especially since this technology failing can easily lead to an accident. You have the right to a fully functioning product free from defects as a consumer, so don’t pay for expensive repairs when the manufacturer is the liable party.
Instead, seek out lemon law attorneys to make your claim in court and hold the manufacturer accountable. Let them pay for your repair or any accident that occurred as a result of their faulty equipment. It’s their responsibility in a lemon law case, not yours.
