Back Up Camera Broken (Showing Grid but Black Screen)
03-12-2018, 03:55 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Back Up Camera Broken (Showing Grid but Black Screen)
Hi Everyone,
I recently took delivery of my New to Me 2012 S350 Bluetec (Mercedes W221 Black Screen with Backup Grid). Car is amazing and like any used car with 70,000 miles there are going to be a couple issue that need to be addressed. Upon receiving the car from California where I had a close personal friend drive the car, the back up camera stopped working (It was working in California). I would get a black screen with gridlines.... I did a little research and found this is a common problem with our cars. The wire for the camera runs along the rear trunk driver side hinge, and over time they eventually make a clean break right behind that hinge (Design Flaw). My car had this problem occur exactly! It took longer to take off all the panel trim than actually splicing the wire and fixing it.
So to be clear more than likely you will not need need to remove the trim on the actual trunk lid. You will need to remove the floor cover out of the car, the rear drivers side fender liner in the trunk and the top trunk liner will need to be loosened, it is attached to the firewall cover and wasnt necessary to remove. You will need 4 pieces of wire at about 6 inches of length, soldering gun, and heat shrink. Problem is fixed in less than 25 minutes but the disassembly and assembly will take about 2 hours and 3 hours in total (Taking your time, having a cigar).
The cut looks like it was cut with a knife its such a clean break, I will try to post up a picture a little later. This "Free Fix" would have cost over $800 at the Dealer in Chicago. I will continue posting these types of repairs and experience I learn, because I don't want us to be afraid of repairing these types of issues ourselves.
My 2 Next Projects:
Super Slow Panoroof, moves slower than molasses going back and forward. (Order Mercedes Roof Lube, and will tackle cleaning when it comes)
Removal of Emissions (For increased Bluetec reliability and longevity), Bypass of EGR and Swirl with removal of DPF and straight pipe replacement. I will post after power numbers and AVG MPG increases
I recently took delivery of my New to Me 2012 S350 Bluetec (Mercedes W221 Black Screen with Backup Grid). Car is amazing and like any used car with 70,000 miles there are going to be a couple issue that need to be addressed. Upon receiving the car from California where I had a close personal friend drive the car, the back up camera stopped working (It was working in California). I would get a black screen with gridlines.... I did a little research and found this is a common problem with our cars. The wire for the camera runs along the rear trunk driver side hinge, and over time they eventually make a clean break right behind that hinge (Design Flaw). My car had this problem occur exactly! It took longer to take off all the panel trim than actually splicing the wire and fixing it.
So to be clear more than likely you will not need need to remove the trim on the actual trunk lid. You will need to remove the floor cover out of the car, the rear drivers side fender liner in the trunk and the top trunk liner will need to be loosened, it is attached to the firewall cover and wasnt necessary to remove. You will need 4 pieces of wire at about 6 inches of length, soldering gun, and heat shrink. Problem is fixed in less than 25 minutes but the disassembly and assembly will take about 2 hours and 3 hours in total (Taking your time, having a cigar).
The cut looks like it was cut with a knife its such a clean break, I will try to post up a picture a little later. This "Free Fix" would have cost over $800 at the Dealer in Chicago. I will continue posting these types of repairs and experience I learn, because I don't want us to be afraid of repairing these types of issues ourselves.
My 2 Next Projects:
Super Slow Panoroof, moves slower than molasses going back and forward. (Order Mercedes Roof Lube, and will tackle cleaning when it comes)
Removal of Emissions (For increased Bluetec reliability and longevity), Bypass of EGR and Swirl with removal of DPF and straight pipe replacement. I will post after power numbers and AVG MPG increases
Last edited by W109 W211 6.2L; 03-12-2018 at 04:01 PM.
03-14-2018, 02:15 PM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Did you take and pics of where the wire broke, etc? Might help others more.
Hmmm. Interesting idea about the DPF removal, but how are you going to get around emissions.
Hmmm. Interesting idea about the DPF removal, but how are you going to get around emissions.
03-14-2018, 05:48 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
You will see the rear camera wire break in the top left corner, Mercedes W221 Driverside (Left Trunk corner hinge)
Last edited by W109 W211 6.2L; 03-14-2018 at 05:53 PM.
03-14-2018, 05:51 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
In Central Illinois emissions isn't a concern, currently looking for a tuner within 500 miles of Chicago, would prefer that over a canned tune from Canada
09-30-2018, 02:34 PM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
So, search works ... “camera” ... and I’m pleased to find this thread, as my CL550/C216 ( the 2-door S-Class) exhibits the same symptom.
Searching EPC, I note the camera has a W221 part number, but the wiring harness a C216 part number. I just ordered a new harness, as it’s only ~$30. Yes, more coverings to remove, but would like to avoid harness repair.
if I remember, I’ll report how harness replacement went.
Searching EPC, I note the camera has a W221 part number, but the wiring harness a C216 part number. I just ordered a new harness, as it’s only ~$30. Yes, more coverings to remove, but would like to avoid harness repair.
if I remember, I’ll report how harness replacement went.
