Back-up Camera Install

J

JBottoms

New member
Ok, I'm replacing a license plate light with a backup camera that fits perfectly in that spot. Mine is one that replaces the whole light housing, screwing into those original screw holes. I've been searching the forums but can't really seem to find these answers. (this is a 4th gen '04 SR5)

Some of the questions that I'm trying to get answered:

I'm trying to find where you hook the wires up to? I am planning on drilling a hole behind the trim piece, so it's not visible, and guiding them through there and running up the side of the lift gate window.

The camera has a built in light that needs power, red and black wires. Could the original light wires be used for that?
Then another wire to hook into the reverse light and ground. (neither of these sets, the light or reverse set of wires, are very long) So what's the best option to get the reverse light wire hooked up if it's not very long?

Here is a pic:
cdbfe847.jpg~original



Thanks for any help!
 
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There are threads here about installing the rear camera on the hatch with lots of photos if you search for it but it's a big job and you have to take the door apart. You will need to run the power and video wires up to the front. You can connect the ground wire to any convenient metal part but finding power is harder. I had a double cable that has power and video together so I connected both of them at the front using the cigarette lighter for power but you could also use the power wire for the stereo. I didn't want to take the door apart so I installed my camera in a hole in the bumper cover and ran the wires up underneath along side the gas tank and up through a rubber plug underneath the seat but the rear door mount will work too if you have enough energy and patience to do it that way.
I didn't use the backup light either, I mounted a switch on the center console to enable the camera. It needs to connect to either +12 or ground to enable the rear view function but I don't remember which.
 
Thanks, yeah I found one that was pretty good and helpful but still had some questions for the wiring aspect of it ahhweewee's My Backup Camera Install

He has the same kind of camera, but if anyone could help me figure out which wires to connect to power the light, and an easy way to get the wires of the camera connected to the reverse taillights, I'd greatly appreciate it.
 
JBottoms said:
Thanks, yeah I found one that was pretty good and helpful but still had some questions for the wiring aspect of it ahhweewee's My Backup Camera Install

He has the same kind of camera, but if anyone could help me figure out which wires to connect to power the light, and an easy way to get the wires of the camera connected to the reverse taillights, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Click to expand...

I had the same camera and wired it to the old license plate light (cut/solder). As for the reverse light power, I wired it to the cargo area 12v outlet so that the camera had power whenever the vehicle was running. The reason I did that was my head unit had a mode to have a rear view while driving, which I found useful when I'm towing. My headunit required it's own "reverse light" wiring, which I wired into the drivers side kick panel.

If you still want to run it to the reverse light, run the wiring through the tailgate up into the top of it, through the rubber grommet into the cabin, along the headliner and down the pillar to the tail lights. You can wire it in to the reverse light there.

A couple of tips:

-Be aware that your back window goes down and route your wires accordingly. Use zip ties
-Don't test the windows ability to go down with the tailgate open, and the trim pieces off. You'll scratch your window and tint.
-Run the wires through the grommet. Use some type of fishtape or coat hanger to get it through the rubber tube, and use some type of grease to make it pass through easier
-Install the camera on the passenger side light, otherwise the light will be uneven since the camera obstructs it
-Get a "super white" license plate bulb for the other side, since the camera license plate light is "HID" style. I think the bulb is a 9004, which you can get just about anywhere.

Hope some of that info helps!
 
Thanks

alexatwork21 said:
I had the same camera and wired it to the old license plate light (cut/solder). As for the reverse light power, I wired it to the cargo area 12v outlet so that the camera had power whenever the vehicle was running. The reason I did that was my head unit had a mode to have a rear view while driving, which I found useful when I'm towing. My headunit required it's own "reverse light" wiring, which I wired into the drivers side kick panel.

If you still want to run it to the reverse light, run the wiring through the tailgate up into the top of it, through the rubber grommet into the cabin, along the headliner and down the pillar to the tail lights. You can wire it in to the reverse light there.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'll probably just do the reverse light method as to save on the "lifetime hours" of the camera itself. (Since it IS a cheap, under $20 camera)

alexatwork21 said:
A couple of tips:

-Be aware that your back window goes down and route your wires accordingly. Use zip ties
-Don't test the windows ability to go down with the tailgate open, and the trim pieces off. You'll scratch your window and tint.
-Run the wires through the grommet. Use some type of fishtape or coat hanger to get it through the rubber tube, and use some type of grease to make it pass through easier
-Install the camera on the passenger side light, otherwise the light will be uneven since the camera obstructs it
-Get a "super white" license plate bulb for the other side, since the camera license plate light is "HID" style. I think the bulb is a 9004, which you can get just about anywhere.

Hope some of that info helps!
Click to expand...

:thanks:
-Thanks for those tips! I could see myself checking it with the tailgate open. :redbrick:
-Hmm, interesting input on it being on the passenger side. I initially had been looking at putting it on the driver side since that's the "factory spot" where they put it.
-Yeah, I've got some LED's to replace the license plate lights with, but they're 194, same as door and map, not 9004.
 
Oh yeah, sorry, 194 not 9004. 9004 is a type of headlight I think haha

My first thought was to put it on the drivers side as well, but at night, some of the light on the plate gets cut off by the protruding camera. It's relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, but it always bugged me on mine.
 
alexatwork21 said:
Oh yeah, sorry, 194 not 9004. 9004 is a type of headlight I think haha

My first thought was to put it on the drivers side as well, but at night, some of the light on the plate gets cut off by the protruding camera. It's relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, but it always bugged me on mine.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, well I guess I'll look at that when I get the chance to put it in, hopefully this weekend. I just assumed that it would be better due to possibly being a little more "centered" since the camera would be closer to the license plate and the actual middle of the vehicle on the driver side. Oh well, I guess I'll find out soon enough.
 
Hey
I have a question for you. My 2006 4runner is equipped with identical camera as you posted. But recently stopped working. I'd like to buy a new camera, but there in no brand or numbers on it. Looks like it's aftermarket device, just wondering what brand is yours. Or where you bought it?
Thanks for help
 
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