Back up camera

[zooroadbaja]

I know there was just a thread on this, but I never got an answer. I just bought a Pioneer AVH-X4500BT which is an awesome head unit if anyone is looking to spend $320.

I bought a cheap back up camera off of ebay.

Tried wiring it up today. I planned on pulling power from the reverse light. Does anyone know what wire does what? There's a white wire with a black stripe on it, and the other is red with a blue stripe. I figure red is positive, and white is ground?

Also there's a lead coming off the head unit that's purple that says reverse signal or something like that. Do I need to power that? Or is that wire just for the head unit to to pop on when the car is put in reverse?

What's the easiest way to do this?

 

[blizz86]

I have no clue how accurate my answers are, but this is what im thinking:

For the tail light, the blue/red wire is most likely the positive.. but take a voltmeter and check it... or just splice both and see which works correctly lol.

As for the wire behind the headunit, it would seem that you need to wire the reverse power light to that to recieve the signal, just as you assumed.

 

[zooroadbaja]

So I need to tap the power into the reverse light and continue that wire all the way to the head unit? I plan on just grounding to the rear bumper (cbi) or if the other wire going to the reverse light is a ground just tap into that.

 

[blizz86]

So I need to tap the power into the reverse light and continue that wire all the way to the head unit? I plan on just grounding to the rear bumper (cbi) or if the other wire going to the reverse light is a ground just tap into that.

Yup, probably through the headliner and down the a-pillar is your cleanest bet for getting that power signal to the wire of the headunit. Do a dry run before hiding the wiring to be sure though.. would be a shame to be incorrect lol.

I don't see the need for a ground anywhere other than the main ground needed for the stereo system. Just tap the power from the brake light wire and leave the ground intact.

 

[shootmymime]

It's 2 am and I'm tired. I'll go look at my wires tomorrow and get back to you on this. Bit yes you do need that power wire from the reverse lights to go up to the radio so that it knows to power on the reverse camera settings.

 

[zooroadbaja]

It's 2 am and I'm tired. I'll go look at my wires tomorrow and get back to you on this. Bit yes you do need that power wire from the reverse lights to go up to the radio so that it knows to power on the reverse camera settings.

Thanks, appreciate it. How did you run your 2 wires? Did you just use an inline connector for the power? Where did you ground it to?

 

[GrooveMaster]

I used to be a professional installer back in the 90s. I installed a BU cam on my '99. I used a green wire with a white stripe in the drivers kick for the reverse trigger (you have to run the video signal to the dash anyway, might as well use what you have before looking somewhere you don't need to). Getting the wire through the factory rear door wire harness and door hardware was a PITA, but I must say the hardest part was taking my time and working with the rear window making sure everything was properly clearing the wires. Make sure you do this or you will find your self opening the rear door panel multiple times and possibly having damaged wires. Good luck!

PS-I did find acc power and ground in the rear door, don't remeber which wires, used a multimeter to test, I do remember they were both in the main harness for the power window,

 

[shootmymime]

Tap into the rear tail light wires. I used the red blue one powers on when you put it in reverse. Then take 2 wires off that and run one to the head unit so that it knows when you put it in reverse and the other (depending on your back up camera) another one goes to it.

 

[zooroadbaja]

Do you know if the other wire coming out of the reverse light is a ground. The white with black stripe. Where did you ground too?

 

[shootmymime]

I don't remember where I grounded it too. I think somewhere on the back hatch because it absolutely sucks trying to get wires through the rubber hose on the hatch. I had to wd40 it up to get any wires to slide through.