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2 Prius shops have no idea why my backup camera doesn't work

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by newnovichoke, Dec 11, 2020.

  1. newnovichoke

    newnovichoke Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2019
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    North Hollywood, CA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hey yall --
    I'm hoping somebody has the answers to why my backup camera doesn't work. The MFD works but it shows black (no horizontal lines as others have said here) and does display the warning backup message on the bottom of the screen.

    I've taken my car to 2 prius shops and 1 junkyard to eliminate a lot of possible reasons why but they still don't know what's going on.

    1. Not the MFD. Replaced that 2 years ago, everything else works on the MFD

    2. Not the combination meter. Just replaced that, the dash now works, the car starts great, backup camera still out.

    3. Not the camera. Took off the back trunk housing and plugged in a junkyard camera (Toyo Parts in LA is pretty cool with letting you try out parts) and it's still showing a black screen.

    4. Not the trunk wiring, I believe. All the wires look plugged in and ok and they all trace somewhere ...

    So does anyone have an idea why? The shops said it's not a common problem and the shop I went to today said it might be a cluster problem, except that I just replaced it.

    Any and all replies appreciated!!!
     
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Curious, did you replace the MFD with the same part # ?

    When was the last time the backup camera was working?
     
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  3. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    Have you done the checks in the Repair Manual (more info)? For example, is the camera getting power (6 volts between terminals 4 and 3 of connector T13)? Have you checked the wire harness for continuity and ground faults, as described under “Display Signal Circuit between Multi-display and Television Camera Assembly”?
     
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  4. newnovichoke

    newnovichoke Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    North Hollywood, CA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I shipped my MFD out to AutoBeYours and they sent back the original unit with repaired parts (I believe). Now that you mention it. Through my own laziness / trauma of having broken so many plastic dash pieces when uninstalling, I didn't put it back until a year later and that's actually when the camera stopped working I believe, upon the MFD repair and install. I assumed I installed it incorrectly and by then my CM was breaking - I thought it might have been related.

    But the shop fixed the CM and put the MFD properly back (more broken dash pieces)... still no camera!
     
  5. newnovichoke

    newnovichoke Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2019
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    Location:
    North Hollywood, CA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Urm...I'm afraid that I don't have the know how to test the electronic componentry or get to said parts without a detailed video, although I remember 'Jingle jingle little stars, voltage equals I times R' from high school physics. The most I've done repair-wise was replacing my left tail light and that was a struggle :LOL: