2019/2020 Ram 1500 Backup Camera Not Working [Quick Fix]
The backup camera in your 2019 or 2020 Ram 1500 truck stopped working recently. Even though you’ve tried every fix you know, the camera won’t budge.
After reading this article, you’ll know why your camera is malfunctioning. We’ll also show you how to eliminate the problem, so your camera resumes working normally.
Your 2019 or 2020 Ram 1500 backup camera may stop working because of poor brightness, loose wiring, a dirty lens, and a blown fuse.
Keep reading to learn how to fix these issues.
Reasons Your Ram 1500 Backup Camera is Not Working
The backup camera in your Ram 1500 truck may stop working because of the following:
- The camera’s brightness is too low.
- The wiring is loose.
- The camera’s lens is dirty.
- The camera’s connector has disconnected from the device
- Your vehicle’s software is outdated.
- The camera’s fuse is blown.
- The camera is malfunctioning.
- The camera is dead.
How to Troubleshoot Ram 1500 Backup Camera Issues (2019 and 2020 Models)
1. Increase Your Camera’s Brightness
If your backup camera is showing a black screen, you’ll be quick to assume that the camera is not working. But the black screen might just be indicating that the camera’s brightness is too low.
To resolve this issue, you’ll need to increase your camera’s brightness.
Follow these steps to increase the brightness of your Ram 1500 backup camera:
- Set your gear to Reverse.
- Search for the SELECT button on the right-hand side of your stereo system.
- Next, turn the button to the right.
- This will increase your camera’s brightness.
Once you adjust your camera’s brightness, the black screen will disappear. And you’ll be able to see the rearview image on your backup camera.
However, if your backup camera keeps showing a black screen after you’ve improved its brightness, try the next tip.
2. Tighten Your Camera’s Wires to the Tailgate
When your backup camera loses its power connection, it might show a black screen. Usually, a loss of electrical connection occurs because the camera’s wiring harness has loosened from the tailgate.
You’ll have to tighten your camera’s wires to your tailgate to fix this problem.
Here’s how to do that:
- Open up your tailgate.
- Using a T30 bit, remove the screws on the tailgate access panel.
- Then, insert the tip of a flathead screwdriver between the camera’s wiring harness.
- Ask a friend to monitor your backup camera.
- Move these wires until the backup camera starts displaying your rearview image.
Your backup camera should be working properly now.
3. Clean Your Backup Camera’s Lens
If the images on your backup camera look blurry, you might think that your camera has an issue.
In some cases, you may be right. Other times, it’s just the dirt in your camera’s lens that’s fooling you.
Before trying other fixes, you should first clean your backup camera’s lens to remove the blur in your rearview images.
You’ll need water, some glass polish, a spraying can, a microfiber towel, 3000-grit sandpaper, and a polish ball to remove the dirt in the lens.
Follow these steps to clean your Ram backup camera:
- Detach the camera from the tailgate.
- Pour the water into your spraying can.
- Use the can to spray water over your camera’s screen.
- Then, wipe the wet screen with a microfiber towel.
- When the screen is dry, rub the sandpaper over the screen.
- Pour some glass polish into the polish ball.
- Now, drag the polish ball over the screen.
- Your camera’s lens should look brand new now.
After cleaning your backup camera’s lens, reconnect the camera to the tailgate. Then, check if you can see the images on the backup camera clearly. If the objects on the screen still look foggy, continue to the next tip.
4. Remove and Reconnect Your Camera’s Connector to the Device
Another reason why your backup camera may not work is a loose camera connector. When the connector loosens from your backup camera, the camera often displays a blue screen.
But that isn’t always the case. A loose connector can also manifest as a blurry screen on the camera.
The only way to eliminate this issue is to remove and reconnect the connector to the backup camera.
Here’s how to do that:
- Open your tailgate access panel.
- Pull out the snap clip connected to your backup camera’s wiring harness.
- Detach the connector from the camera.
- Pour a small quantity of dielectric grease on the back of the connector.
- Re-insert the connector into the camera.
- Now, replace the snap clip.
Your backup camera should stop displaying the blue screen after this. But if the blue screen still appears, try the next tip.
5. Replace the Camera’s Fuse
If your backup camera keeps displaying a blank blue screen, it might indicate that your camera’s fuse is blown.
As such, you’ll need to replace the fuse. But first, you have to confirm that the fuse is faulty.
If you don’t know where your backup camera’s fuse is located, you can use the fuse diagram in your car’s user manual to find it.
Once you locate the fuse, check if it is blown. You can tell that the fuse is blown if it looks blackened.
If the fuse is blown, ask your auto mechanic to replace it.
Once you’ve replaced the blown fuse, the blue screen will stop appearing on your backup camera.
6. Update Your Vehicle’s Software
One rare issue in the Ram 1500 backup camera that can leave you confused is when the camera starts showing the wrong rearview images. If you are facing this problem, do not panic. It’s merely a sign that you need to update your vehicle’s software.
Outdated software in the Ram 1500 car can expose the systems in the vehicle to bugs, thus causing them to malfunction. Your backup camera might be one of the devices that suffer malware attacks because of the outdated software in the car.
Updating your vehicle’s software will fix this issue.
Sadly, only experts can update the software in a Ram 1500 car. So, you’ll need to ask your dealer to perform the update on your vehicle.
7. Reset the Camera
Your backup camera should go off once you shift your car out of Reverse gear. But if the camera stays on, it might be malfunctioning.
The fastest fix for this problem is to reset the backup camera.
Take the following steps to reset your backup camera:
- Disconnect your battery from your car.
- Wait for 30 minutes.
- Now, reconnect the battery to the vehicle.
8. Replace Your Backup Camera
If none of the tips above fixes your backup camera, your camera may be dead. In that case, you’ll need to replace the camera.
Here’s how to replace the backup camera in your Ram car:
- Open up your tailgate.
- Remove the screws on the tailgate panel with a T30 bit.
- Next, unscrew the T20 bolts that connect your camera to the tailgate.
- You’ll be able to remove your camera now.
- After detaching your old backup camera from the tailgate, connect the new camera to it.
- Next, fix the T20 bolts on the camera back onto the tailgate.
- Replace your tailgate access panel.
- Now, drill the screws into the panel.
Your backup camera should be functioning properly now.
Wrapping Up
All the tips we’ve shared here only work for specific problems. Avoid applying the wrong solution to fix your issue. Otherwise, your backup camera won’t work.
If the camera fails to work after trying all the tips here, contact your dealer.