I have a 94 Grandvilla with the Audit monitor system. After about 6 hours of driving the monitor gradually gets cloudy, then worsens till it's all but useless. After sitting overnight it clears up until I drive another 6 hours with it on.
Is this the monitor or the camera or both?
David, I am sure you have considered that it could be fogging of the lens for the camera at the back of the coach or an electronic problem. Does this happen only when the camera is on or does it also happen when the Audit tank screen is on also?
If it is not fogging, my guess is that the screen is going bad. It is relatively easy to replace the screen portion of the system by replacing it with a 7" LCD monitor. There are plenty of posts on screen replacement.
If its fogging the camera enclosure has probably sprang a leak. I believe the camera enclosure is either nitrogen filled or has a vacuum pulled on the case. If it is leaking a new camera of the same type is over $600. Better color cameras are available and less expensive. Again, there are plenty of posts in the archives.
Kent, thanks for the input.
David,
My camera fogged up on the lens also. I replaced it with a color camera and installed a 7" lcd color monitor that I mounted in the middle just above the slide out tray. The cost for camera and monitor delivered was less than $100 out of Hong Kong on eBay. The monitor has a selectable mirror image as well as reverse images left and right. Even has a remote control. Has a couple of inputs so you can mount another camera, perhaps to catch the blind spot down below the passenger's seat or video in from a GPS, etc. The U300 manual has a good schematic so you can figure out the wires coming from the rear. Wiring is EZ. Here is the link to the 7" monitor ($56.30 delivered) : http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180629450210&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180629450210&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT)
The camera will work with the existing monitor if you don't want to get rid of the CRT. A little cramped working above the bed but pretty straight forward. Naturally no color.
Another (and cheapest) option would be to remove the existing camera, drill a vent hole in it, put it in the sun for a day and then plug the hole with silicone and replace.
Let me know if you would like photos of the installation.
Best,
Pierce & Gaylie
93' U300/36
Pierce, how did you mount the new camera? I would like to see some photos.
Pierce & Gaylie
thanks for the info. for whatever reason it cleared up and is doing fine now. I'm sure i will have to replace the units in the future.