4 Methods For Fixing Denali Backup Camera Problems

denali backup camera problems
denali backup camera problems

More than 200 people die, and 12,000 get injured from backover in the US annually. That’s a sad statistic, I know, but it must be put out there for people who are bad at reversing to see that it’s not just some poor skill to feel embarrassed about. It actually causes death and injury.

And that same statistic led our Congress to pass a law that requires all cars released from 2014 onwards to have backup cameras.

We all know these vehicles only represent a tiny chunk of the daily traffic, but just because you’re driving a paddock basher doesn’t mean you can ignore the fact.

You’re driving on the same road as everyone else, so you’re exposed to the same dangers this law is intended to protect you from. Especially if you’re towing trailers, a backup camera will be a lifesaver for you and the pedestrians passing behind your vehicle.

What does a backup camera do? (In case you forgot)

What does a backup camera do

Most vehicles today have a backup camera (thank goodness). This device is like the front camera but faces the area behind your car. Its primary purpose is to assist with parking and reversing, helping you avoid hitting a person, animal, or another vehicle.

If you have one of GMC’s Denali lineup, chances are it has a built-in backup camera. Even though GMC released this brand before the mandate about having a backup camera in new cars was implemented, the more recent Denali models already come with backup cameras.

Let’s face it, no matter how familiar you are with a particular road or parking lot and how many years you’ve been driving cars, some things are out of your control. For example, a pedestrian or another vehicle may suddenly cross your driveway, and you can’t see them through the rearview mirror.

Or there’s an obstruction on your driveway that you failed to remove before hopping into the cab. A backup camera offers you a second chance to see what’s going on behind your vehicle.

The dangers of faulty backup camera

The dangers of faulty backup camera

So what happens if you don’t have a backup camera or if your backup camera is malfunctioning? As trivial as it may seem, since it doesn’t significantly impact your ability to drive, a faulty backup camera is screaming danger.

For one, you’ll have an additional blind spot. Assuming you don’t have a side camera and rely entirely on your side mirror, with a broken backup camera, you can’t see what’s behind your vehicle as well. The risk of backover lurks even in a less bung-up parking space or road.

It’s not just backover risks that you should worry about. A faulty backup camera may also show distorted images, which could lead you to misjudge distances. That’s another tasty recipe for disaster.

God forbid you don’t need to navigate tight spaces because your faulty backup camera can whack a few scrapes and dents on your rear bumper and doors.

tow a trailer

Driving with a faulty backup camera can be riskier if you tow a trailer. If you only do this a few times a year, it takes your body a few runs to get used to the new length of your rig.

Driving a pickup truck is very different from driving a pickup truck with a 20-foot trailer behind you. But the backing up method should be the same. You just have to be mindful of distances.

How does a backup camera work for a trailer?

Before we discuss how to troubleshoot common issues with your Denali backup camera, let’s first take a closer look at how a backup camera works on a trailer.

Unlike your pickup’s backup camera, which comes with the vehicle, the trailer’s backup camera may be built-in or installed separately. Nevertheless, it’s best to assume you will install the backup camera yourself.

These cameras usually come in a single piece, meaning you don’t have to assemble them. They are ready to install. All you have to worry about is how to achieve video signal transmission.

Remember that the RV is not linked to your Denali. Like the trailer’s brakes and other electrical devices, your backup camera must be connected to the tow vehicle via a wiring harness. However, advanced cameras use wireless technology to eliminate the need for wires.

Fixing Denali Backup Camera Problems

Fixing Denali Backup Camera Problems

Now that you know a thing or two about your Denali backup camera, diagnosing and fixing issues you may encounter is much easier.

It would be even less tricky if you installed the camera yourself because you know which wire goes where and which connections are vulnerable. Backup cameras can malfunction in different ways, each as frustrating and troublesome as the next.

You can get distorted images on your monitor, and those fuzzy and displaced lines make it hard to figure out what you’re seeing. The camera may also show pictures with incorrect colors, which also affects how you perceive them.

Both issues can be caused by interference, poor connection, tangled wiring, and the like. In worse cases, your backup camera doesn’t capture images at all and only shows a black or blue screen.

You must be able to troubleshoot this problem as quickly as possible, especially if you’re already on the road. You want to avoid getting stuck for a day or two on the side of the road waiting for a technician to arrive. You have to learn how to fix it yourself. Below are simple troubleshooting methods that might come in handy for you someday.

1. Run a power check.Run a power check

Your backup camera may relay data wirelessly, but it still runs on electricity. Sometimes, you’re not getting images on your display because the backup camera is not receiving power. Perhaps the primary connection at the hitch or a cable somewhere in the trailer’s electrical system was cut.

A thorough inspection of the wiring system is necessary to locate the break in the circuit. Start your search from the backup camera and go all the way to the display.

There are fewer wires to sort on the camera than on the display screen with an electronic board behind it. Also, the chance of finding the source of the malfunction on the wiring harness at the trailer’s side is higher.

2. Wipe the lens clean.

Wipe the lens clean

How old is your backup camera, and when was the last time you cleaned it? If you forgot to do it after returning from a long trip, chances are it’s covered in dust and soil.

You’d be surprised how much dirt can accumulate on the lens after just an hour or two of nonstop driving. But, of course, you don’t have to clean it every hour or so, just if the dirt already blocks your vision.

When cleaning the backup camera, or any camera for that matter, use a soft, clean cloth and a lens-cleaning solution. Keep in mind that the lens is susceptible to scratch.

Even a tiny fragment of rock or glass stuck in the piles of your rag can leave a noticeable scratch on its surface. It may seem negligible on the lens, but on the display screen, that tiny scratch can dominate the frame.

3. Hide the wires away from the electronics.

Hide the wires

Are the images on your display screen distorted or hazy? It indicates interference, which can be caused by anything, from an electronic device installed near the backup camera’s wires to the electrical cables installed too closely to its wiring harness.

Regardless of the cause, you might need to rewire the electrical system if you know for sure that interference is causing the poor relay of the video signal. But you can also reposition the camera if the interference comes from a point near it.

Be careful when moving the camera, though. It should still be able to capture the entire area behind your trailer.

4. Adjust your image settings.

Adjust your image settings

Have you ever hooked up a brand-new computer monitor, and when you switched it on, you momentarily thought you’d been ripped off because the image quality was terrible?

But, you immediately felt guilty as soon as you adjusted the image settings because a high-definition, crisp image greeted you. That might be the case with your backup camera. Maybe you haven’t changed the image’s brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.

Most display screens work similarly, so you won’t have trouble finding and adjusting the image settings. But if you can’t find the settings, check the manufacturer’s manual for instructions. Or, search for the instructions online by typing in the specific model of both the backup camera and the display screen.

Conclusion

a multimeter

The tips above should work whether or not you are towing a trailer. When problems occur, focus on checking three things—the backup camera, the wiring, and the display screen.

The wires aren’t continuous and don’t run a straight path. There will be pins, RCA connectors, T-connectors, and other connectors along it that will make troubleshooting easy, as sometimes the good old power cycle may do the trick.

Troubleshooting these problems may also require tools like a wiring diagram, a multimeter, and screwdrivers. Most importantly, you should take the time to study the troubleshooting steps. Don’t rush. You want to avoid causing your backup camera more damage with your half-baked knowledge and skills.

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