david lloyd Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 Hi everyone, our Mercedes based 2013 Autosleeper Worcester has a rear view camera wired to a colour screen clipped to the windscreen mounted rear view mirror. Since last time we were away it has stopped working. Switch the ignition on and the display brightens (no picture) with vertical lines showing then fades to black. It shouldn't come on at all unless switched on with the remote control but this does not work. Select reverse and again the screen will illuminate with the vertical lines but no picture then fade down to black. Any thoughts as to what I could check and how? David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 The fact that the monitor clipped to the rear-view mirror reacts when the motorhome’s ignition is switched on, and also when reverse-gear is selected, suggests that the problem lies with the camera. Assuming that the system is the ‘wired’ type and the camera is powered via the cable connecting it to the monitor in the cab, you might try disconnecting the cable at the camera end, cleaning the plug/socket and reconnecting the cable, and do the same at the monitor end. If that does no good, a check would be to substitute a camera that is known to be in full working order for the existing camera and see if the problem remains. If it does, then the culprit should be the cable or monitor. Or to substitute a monitor that is known to be in full working order for the existing monitor and see if the problem remains and, if it does, the culprit should be the cable or camera. Or to temporarily connect a different cable between the monitor and camera. This is not the sort of trouble-shooting a motorhome owner is likely to be able to DIY though. If you can’t revive the system by simply disconnecting/reconnecting the monitor-to-camera cable, you might want to contact a specialist. For example http://www.drwelectronics.com/contact.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 Thanks Derek, the A/S Worcester is a rear bathroom layout and a large mirror is fitted on the back wall where the camera is placed. Had this off today and, as expected, there is a hole in the back wall where electric cables exit to feed the blue LED's built into the mirror (quite posh isn't it?) and there is another black cable crossing the hole but I can't find any connections or pull the cable further to check along its length. That's about as far as my technical ability takes me so I am thinking I may have to have a new dual lens Sony camera fitted (DRW do in fact supply a very good one) in its place. I understand from the Autosleeper a Owners forum that the original fit camera is not one of the highest quality. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 The reversing camera of a ‘wired’ system tends to have a quite short cable with a connector on its end that links to the longer cable that leads from the rear of the motorhome to a monitor in the cab area. So, if your current camera were removed, there’s a fair chance that the camera’s cable could be pulled out of the motorhome’s rear body-panel far enough to gain access to the connector. If that’s not the case with your A-S Worcester, it will be tricky to replace the camera without replacing the rear-to-front cable too. Probably best to let DRW look at the fault, as they should have monitors, cameras and cables that can be used to test where the problem lies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 There is, or at least was a few years back, a potential problem with compatibility of camera outputs and monitor inputs, plus the number of pins in connectors (plus which are wired to what) and the connector formats used, that can make trial and error a rather fruitless process for anyone lacking relevant technical expertise. I'm with Derek on this, if you have reached the end of your abilities, you'll need to take professional advice or you could spend unnecessary money and a large and frustrating amount of time going in circles. As the original camera seems not to have been a twin lens type, the connecting cable and/or monitor may in any case have to be changed, because it is possible that the twin lens camera needs an additional signal wire to control which image gets fed to the monitor, depending on whether reversing, or rear, view is required, and on whether image switching is selected via the camera, or via the monitor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 Yes you are right Brian. Not only is it a single lens camera but I don't think the monitor has twin lens capabilities either, so it would have to be a new system. To be honest, I am perfectly happy reversing large vehicles on wing mirrors (with additional help from my wife if needed) but the camera has been great when towing the car as this cannot be seen in the mirrors. That said, if I'm to replace the system it makes sense to have a twin lens one. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.