Troubleshooting Hopkins HM50002 Smart Hitch Camera That Stays on With Vehicle Shut Off

Question:

My camera was recently installed and now it’s starting on even when I turn off the truck and placed it into park. The camera powers on and displays the reverse screen as if I had placed it into reverse. I even shut the door and it remained on. It was not doing this until a couple of hours of being installed. Any thoughts or explanations?

asked by: Simon S

Expert Reply:

I'd check the 7-way trailer connector on your vehicle. The Hopkins # HM50002 Smart Hitch camera system should only power up with the vehicle's transmission in reverse. However, if there's corrosion built up in the trailer connector, it could allow the 12-volt power supply circuit to bridge with the reverse light circuit, this inadvertently powering up the camera. Take a look at the pins of your 7-way on the vehicle. If you can see any white or green corrosion on the pins, there's a good chance that corrosion has migrated into the interior of the connector and affected the terminals where the wires connect.

You can test this theory by using a circuit tester like # PTW2993 on the center pin of the 7-way, If that pin is showing power when the vehicle isn't in reverse, the 7-way should be replaced which should solve your problem.

expert reply by: Mike L