RNS510 Reversing Camera no longer working

[mungo432]

Hi All,


I have a MK6 Golf GTI that was delivered with the RNS510 head unit and factory fitted reversing camera. Everything has worked fine for a number of years and then, suddenly, the reversing camera just stopped working. The camera still pops out from the rear hatch and the head unit shows the "Look! Safe to move?" message as it always did but the screen is completely blank. All other operations of the head unit are still working fine.


My local mechanic (a big recommendation for Elite Euro in Perth, BTW) tried a new reversing camera on the existing wiring but the problem didn't clear up.


I wonder if any of the experienced members of this forum could advise if head units just crap themselves like this or if there are other areas I should look at before I go shopping for a new one.


Thanks,


mungo

[kamold]

Is there a fault code from the camera control module or any other faults?
You'll need to have the car scanned with VCDS or similar.

[mungo432]

There are fault codes on Modules 37 - Navigation and 56 - Radio. Both the same:

Address 37: Navigation (J0506) Labels: 1T0-035-680.clb
Part No SW: 1T0 035 680 D HW: 1T0 035 680 C
Component: RNS-MID H42 4020
Revision: AB001001 Serial number: VWZ6Z7K8312118
Coding: 04000442040000900000
Shop #: WSC 01357 011 00200
VCID: 2F67167E7E2D3546D8-807A


1 Fault Found:
02873 - Control Module for Back-Up Camera (J772)
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100100
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 160
Reset counter: 123
Mileage: 45656 km
Time Indication: 0

Any clues?

[kamold]

Need to check both ends of the camera connector, ie at the head unit (the 26 pin multimedia connector), and also the camera module ends.

Refer to this post Black RVC Screen where another user had a similar problem, turned out to be a corroded pin in the camera module (as opposed to the camera which sits in the camera holder/badge).

[mungo432]

Thanks for the prompt answer kamold. I'll give this a try - I've removed the surround on the head unit so that end should be easy to check.

Then ... I'll have to find out how to pull off the plastic panel on the hatch door. If past experience is anything to go by, there'll be a guide on how to do this in the Bodywork thread.

Cheers mate. I'll be back in a day or so when I've done this.

[Hillbilly]

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[mungo432]

Thanks Hillbilly - I discovered Supercheap Auto had a very serviceable "5 Piece Moulding Remover Set", part # 282096 for $24.

The panel is off now. Now all I need to do is see if I can diagnose the actual problem.....

[mungo432]

HI Kamold,

I had some time this weekend so I've started a little troubleshooting on my reversing camera.

Everything looks OK with the flat, 26pin multimedia connector on the back of the head unit but I pulled it out, blew out any dust with compressed air, reinstalled the plug in the head unit and clicked the little locking clip back into place.

At the camera end (in the hatch), I don't see any signs of corrosion in the camera wiring but wasn't sure what you meant by the "camera module" you mentioned in Post #4. Is this it?



I've also checked for 12V at various places - ignition on and off and found nothing. Can you advise where I should be testing for voltage.

Thanks.

[kamold]

I think that's your radio antenna filter. Nothing to do with the rvc. Need to check the pins to the camera.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

[mungo432]

Yep - should have checked the part number online before posting - sorry.

Got the camera out now - fiddly thing to remove, took a while to work out how to remove the wiring plugs as I didn't want to bust them. Still no obvious problems so I'm at a bit of a loss.

The camera has always popped out of the hatch OK when I go into reverse and I should also reiterate my earlier comment that my mechanic has "plugged another camera into the wiring harness and seen no change". Not sure exactly what they did but they have always impressed with their work so I don't think they are bull****ting me.

Is there any way for me to test the camera itself or do I just assume that, if neither mine or the one the mechanic tried works, that it is a problem elsewhere?

Given that this thing has worked fine for years and then suddenly stopped, I have considered the following options:

1. The camera is bung. But my mechanic has swapped it with a new one and this hasn't fixed it. I'm inclined to discount this possibility unless you think I've missed something obvious.
2. Some sort of problem has arisen with the wiring harness. I suppose mechanical wear could occur this but it seems unlikely, given that it is pretty well protected for the entire run. I've unplugged everything, checked that there is no obvious corrosion or bent pins and replugged everything and this hasn't helped.
3. A fuse has blown somewhere and stopped the actual camera from working. Everything else in the car works fine and I can't find a fuse labelled "Reversing Camera" anywhere. Is this labelled weirdly and have I missed the bloody obvious?
4. The headunit has decided to cark it as far as the camera interface is concerned. Everything else - radio, multimedia, sat nav works fine. I've tried a reset and a firmware upgrade (some nice new features but still no reversing camera).
5. I've got a cable and VCDS and have checked the coding on Controllers 37 (Byte 3 and Bit 6) and 10 (Byte 0, Bits 4 and 5) and all looks as it should.

Option 4 is looking like the strongest possibility unless there is something fundamentally wrong with my logic. Have I missed something? I'd love for someone to point out a possibility that leads me to smack my hand to my forehead and exclaim "doh"!!

It seems a bit chancy to buy a new head unit for the best part of $2K unless I'm pretty certain that it will give me a definite fix. Given that everything else works fine it's a bloody expensive reversing camera fix.

My only other option is to see if I can find someone with an RNS510 that I can swap in for mine but I'm in Perth and most of the blokes that seem to know their stuff on this forum live a long way from here. Any recommendations on someone who could help in in the Southwest of WA would be welcome - there's a bottle of your favourite tipple in it for you!

Thanks to all for their help to date.