prinzlheisl
TYF Newbie
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2025
- Posts
- 5
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The backup camera has been mostly not working for some time, but occasionally it will still show a picture. I got a $30 replacement unit on Ebay, naively thinking that this would be an easy swap. I have been at it for 2 days and the project is a nightmare. I am seriously considering to just put the lift gate cover back on and live without the camera, even though hitching up a big trailer without a camera or a helper it not fun, either.
The problems are not new and most people who tinkered with this do mention them, but without acknowledging the seriousness:
- the 4 bolts that hold the applique do rotate freely and no amount of tension will make the nuts come off. I tried everything in the book, short of breaking the applique off
- access to one of those 4 bolts requires removing the wiper motor. I recently swapped out the wiper arm and the new one came off easily (otherwise that would have been another 2-3 hour complication), but the 2 bolts that hold the plastic motor bracket also rotate with the nuts. I can feel the heads on the back, but they are round and there is nothing to grab. The slot on the thread end that is obviously intended to help with removing the nuts are weak and strip easily, way before the nuts move on the bolts. Oddly, there is no corrosion, the metal surfaces are clean and tidy. This was just really poorly designed.
I really only see one way forward at this point that will allow me to save and reuse the plastic applique after replacing the camera:
- Cut the bolts that hold the wiper motor. I do not have a nut splitter, and I do not quite see a good way for attacking the nuts or bolts with any of the tools I have, but it will be doable.
- Saw off the 4 bolts that hold the applique. This is even harder because the 2 bolts on the left are very difficult to reach with any tool. I can see using a hack saw blade from the opening on the side. It will take forever.
Any other insights?
The problems are not new and most people who tinkered with this do mention them, but without acknowledging the seriousness:
- the 4 bolts that hold the applique do rotate freely and no amount of tension will make the nuts come off. I tried everything in the book, short of breaking the applique off
- access to one of those 4 bolts requires removing the wiper motor. I recently swapped out the wiper arm and the new one came off easily (otherwise that would have been another 2-3 hour complication), but the 2 bolts that hold the plastic motor bracket also rotate with the nuts. I can feel the heads on the back, but they are round and there is nothing to grab. The slot on the thread end that is obviously intended to help with removing the nuts are weak and strip easily, way before the nuts move on the bolts. Oddly, there is no corrosion, the metal surfaces are clean and tidy. This was just really poorly designed.
I really only see one way forward at this point that will allow me to save and reuse the plastic applique after replacing the camera:
- Cut the bolts that hold the wiper motor. I do not have a nut splitter, and I do not quite see a good way for attacking the nuts or bolts with any of the tools I have, but it will be doable.
- Saw off the 4 bolts that hold the applique. This is even harder because the 2 bolts on the left are very difficult to reach with any tool. I can see using a hack saw blade from the opening on the side. It will take forever.
Any other insights?
