Dodge Dart Backup Camera Not Working [Quick Fix]
If your Dodge Dart backup camera just stopped working and you’re looking for ways to resolve the issue yourself, this post is for you.
Keep reading to learn why the backup camera isn’t working and how to repair it.
Several issues can prevent the Dodge Dart backup camera from working. These problems include functional issues, outdated Uconnect software, and faulty wiring. Your backup camera might also stop working because the device is dead.
How to Fix Dodge Dart Backup Camera Problems
Power Cycle Your Car
If your backup camera is showing a blank screen, you might assume that the camera isn’t working. However, the camera might just be acting up due to a minor functional error.
Restarting your car will fix this problem.
Take these steps to restart your Dodge Dart:
- Turn off your ignition.
- Disconnect your negative battery cable.
- Wait for about 15 seconds.
- Reconnect the battery cable.
- Then, turn on your ignition.
Now, check if your backup camera is working. If the camera isn’t working, continue to the next step.
Update Your Uconnect Software
One common reason why the backup camera in the Dodge Dart stops working is outdated Uconnect software.
When your Uconnect system software is outdated, the system suffers a drop in performance and security. As a result, bugs gain easy access into the system and cause it to misbehave.
Since the Uconnect system controls your backup camera, any malfunction in the system may reflect in the camera. Functional errors in the Uconnect system often cause the camera to show a blank screen or display images upside down.
Fiat Chrysler updates the Uconnect software frequently to remove such bugs and improve the functionality of the entire infotainment system.
So, if you update your Uconnect software, your backup camera may resume working normally.
The tools you need are a new or formatted 4gb USB drive, a computer, and a Wi-Fi connection.
Here’s how to update the Uconnect Software in your Dodge Dart:
- Connect your USB drive to your computer.
- Open the browser on the computer.
- Enter Uconnect Software Update in the search bar.
- Click on the link that says Software Update for Uconnect in the search results.
- Input your VIN in the empty box on the page.
- Then, click the Check for Updates button beside the box.
- If there is a new Uconnect update for your vehicle, the system will display it.
- Note the software update version.
- Hit Download Update.
- After downloading the software, extract it into your USB drive.
- Then, disconnect the drive from your computer.
- Start your car and let it idle.
- The UConnect screen will appear.
- Tap on the Accept button. Then go to Settings.
- Select System Settings.
- Scroll to Software Version to check the version of the current Uconnect software on your car.
- If the software version on your car is earlier than the version you’ve just downloaded, proceed to the next step.
- Insert the USB drive with the latest Uconnect software update into one of the USB ports in your car.
- The Validating Software Update screen will appear.
- Here, the system will ask you to wait 2 minutes while it validates the update.
- Tap on Ok to continue.
- After 2 minutes, you’ll be asked to confirm that you want to update your Uconnect software.
- Click on Yes.
- Your radio will start resetting.
- Don’t remove the USB drive during this reset.
- The reset may take up to 5 minutes.
- Once the reset is complete, the system will install the Uconnect update to our vehicle.
- You might need to wait about 25 minutes for the update to be completed.
- Your Uconnect system will restart and load the new features.
- Wait for the system to finish loading before tapping the screen.
- The Validating Software Update screen will appear again.
- Wait two minutes for the system to validate the update.
- When the validation is complete, you’ll get a message saying that your software update is complete.
After updating your Uconnect software, restart the system. Then, shift your gear to Reverse and check if the backup camera is working. If the camera is still malfunctioning, try the next tip.
Check and Fix the Camera’s Wire
If your Dodge Dart backup camera only works intermittently, there might be an issue with the camera’s wiring. A distorted rear-view image or a strange color on the camera may also point to faulty wiring.
Your backup camera’s wire supplies power and video signals to the camera. If this wire is broken, the camera will only receive power and video signals occasionally. This might be why the camera only works sometimes and fails to work at other times.
Trace the wire on your backup camera to the tailgate. Check if any part of the wire is broken. If you find any broken parts, cut them off and splice them back together.
You’ll need a wire stripper, a soldering iron, a damp sponge and masking tape to splice your backup camera’s wires.
Follow these steps to splice your broken backup camera wire:
- First, you need to remove some insulation on both sides of the wire.
- Use a wire stripper to rip off the insulation.
- Then, fan out the exposed wires and twist them together.
- Next, heat your soldering iron.
- Place the tip of the iron in the solder.
- Then, wipe the iron on a damp sponge to remove the excess solder.
- Now, solder your twisted wires.
- Once you’ve spread the solder across the joint, drop your soldering iron.
- Wait for the soldered joint to cool down.
- Then, wrap the joint in masking tape.
If your backup camera fails to work after this, move on to the next step.
Replace the Backup Camera
If your Dodge Dart backup camera doesn’t work after you’ve tried all the tips above, the camera is probably dead. As such, you’ll need to replace it.
The following guide will show you how to replace the backup camera in a Dodge Dart:
- Open up your liftgate.
- Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the screws on the plastic panel on the liftgate.
- After removing all the screws, detach the panel from your liftgate.
- Locate your backup camera on the outer part of your car.
- Trace the camera’s wire to the inside of the liftgate to find the camera’s connector.
- If there are bolts on this connector, pull them out with a socket first.
- Then, detach the camera’s connector from the liftgate connector.
- You should be able to pull out your old backup camera now.
- Insert your new backup camera through the opening where you’ve just removed the old camera.
- Reconnect the camera’s connector to your liftgate’s connector.
- Re-install the bolts on the camera’s connector.
- Finally, replace the plastic panel on the liftgate.
- Close your liftgate.
Your backup camera should be working now.
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Wrapping Up
You should be able to fix your faulty Dodge Dart backup camera by restarting your car or updating your Uconnect system. Other ways to repair the backup camera are a wire splice and a camera replacement.
If your backup camera fails to work after you’ve tried these tips, contact your dealer.