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YOUR RESEARCH996 Reverse Lights Switch Intermittent?
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Install pioneer double din head unit
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I installed a new Pioneer double DIN head unit with a backup camera and had intermittent backup camera performance.
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I recently added a backup camera to my 996. (This question is not really about the backup camera, but more the safety of the backup lights working). The reverse signal is wired to the backup lights. While this works, it seems to stop working after the car (transmission?) has warmed up. And then work again next time I drive the car from cold. Most importantly, this goes for the backup lights as well.
It's not a fuse (since the signal comes back; fuse B5 looks good) and I don't think this is something new; I think I just would never have noticed the reversing lights not always coming on before since I'm in the car reversing when this happens. I only notice now because the backup camera is not triggering while in reverse in the car when warm.
Could it be that the reversing switch mounted on the transmission isn't all the way in or is affected by the transmission being warm?
Car is a 1999 Carrera 4 Coupe with manual transmission.
Thanks!
Right. There's a good write-up on here. I was more curious if intermittency was a likely failure path. It makes sense that it could be worn or corroded to the point of sticking sometimes.
It doesn't look hard and it is indeed inexpensive so maybe I'll just do it and hope that takes care of it.
Thanks!
Please keep us posted. My car had a back up camera installed as part of the aftermarket stereo and worked fine for the first 6 months but now it�s all wonky with weird colorization and static. I�ve been trying to determine if the camera itself is dying or if a wire has come loose and no longer making a good connection. Your input on what fixed things might help me and others who find this thread in the future, cheers.
If you just tap into the backup wire for power without putting a relay in, you're going to have these kind of issues.
Have the backup wire be the trigger for the relay that powers the camera.
Ask me how I know...
I figured as much so I wired the power to my camera to the ACC power along with my stereo. I only tapped the backup wire for the reverse signal to the stereo. I'm considering swapping the backup light bulbs for LEDs to cut power consumption in case that is a factor.
I'll definitely post any progress or conclusions! I know how frustrating it is to find an old post with a problem that's the same as yours without any fix :-)
I installed a new Pioneer double DIN head unit with a backup camera and had intermittent backup camera performance. I figured I had screwed something up and was just waiting until I had a chance to get back under the dash to troubleshoot it. I had it in to a shop to have some other things done and they said my backup lights weren’t working. I had them change the backup light switch and voila, the backup camera has worked perfectly ever since. That was in April.
Keeping my promise, my conclusion:
I finally got to replacing the switch. Since the swap, I have not once had the backup camera and/or lights fail to turn on. Great success! Thanks all for your input.
The job itself was incredibly easy. Took 45 seconds to remove and replace the switch, but 15-20 minutes to get the car up on jack stands in my tight garage space. I thought I would have to remove an underbody tray, but the switch on the transmission is right before the rear tray.
I jacked the whole car up, but I think only the rear is necessary. It depends how much clearance one needs to get their chest underneath. The location is in the front of the rear wheels, at the front, top, passenger side of the transmission. See inside the green box in this photo I snapped. I used a stubby 19mm ratcheting wrench.
Backup light switch on 1999 Carrera 4 Coupe Transmission
I've pulled the tranny and motor but obviously had it all jacked up high.
I've done other repairs on other cars that allowed me to just jack (and secure) one side or the other. This one should be doable, thanks.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
