09 Always-On Rear View Camera

Has anyone figured out how to do this on a 2015? Then rear cam video shows up in the radio display.

 

awesomsauce OP *thegreatthreadrevival*

 

Hey. Another Ricky avatar

 

Whoops, time to change to bubbles

 

any way to do this on a 3rd gen ? =D

 

Just did this. Thanks for the instructions, Aalders. It worked out as advertised. Photos below. I like the other switch locations you guys have come up with.

My lessons learned: use narrow gauge wire for the pigtails you solder to the switch, something narrower than 14 gauge, which is what I could find at the big box. My wad of wires and connectors ended up fairly bulky, so getting it all back into the housing was tough. It is 95% perfect, so I'm calling it done. Until I start messing with it again.

I used a SPDT rocker I found at Del City for $1.29 plus shipping: https://www.delcity.net/store/Non!Illuminated-Mini-Rocker-Switch/p_788765.h_788771
It is a mini rocker with two positions (on-on). As described by OP, one position turns on the camera, the other position turns off the camera but allows it to operate normally and turn on when in reverse gear.

I used a Dremel tool to cut a rectangle hole in the housing. Nerve-wracking but it worked out.

 

Well, I thought this would be easy, but apparently there are two types of spdt micro switches. I was attempting the install with an on-off-on switch and could not get the camera to function. RadioShack is closing all of its stores in GA by the end of this month (was exceptionally difficult to find one still open) and thanks to BGrutter I realized I had the wrong switch. The wife is snagging several on her way home from Atl. Will update if I can get it working... Was about ready to start throwing things after trying every wiring option and checking connections multiple times, but going to give it one more try with switch part number 275-0625. Will update this post if it finally works.

Edit: After checking, rechecking, annnnnd rechecking again (with the exact switch), this f-ing thing doesn't work on my 09. Period. Note: the switch did work when in position one in reverse, but not in position two "any time on."

No throwing things, just put everything back and drank a cold one.

 

Giving a shout out to anyone who has not been able to get it to work on an '09 and got it to work. From what I understand, there was a slight change from '09 to '10 and since I left everything wired (exactly as described), figure it might be worth another shot. Any help is appreciated fellas. Thanks!

 

I finally got around to doing this mod. I cut every single red wire before I got the right one, but it finally works. There are 3 red wires on my 2012! Oddly my Key fob does not work now, that one wire that seemed to do nothing must connect the the fob receiver. Tacoma mirrors are complex little things.

UPDATE: I blew a 7.5 amp fuse, number 22. I swapped in a 10 for the day so the ac and fob will work. Hope the 10 is ok to have in there for the time being.

 

I've got a 2015 TRD-OR and would love to make this mod, but unfortunately @Crom 's mod does not appear to work on the 2015s unless I'm missing something. I backprobed all the wires in the IN1 connector with a DMM starting with the red wires. One red wire gets 12v all the time, the other gets 5v all the time, none of the wires in the IN1 connector appear to change voltage at all when in reverse. Has anyone else done this successfully on a 2015?

 

UPDATE: I found a great tutorial in another TW thread on implementing this mod in Etune enabled Tacomas from @Drakivnsf: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2012-reverse-camera-switch.204199/page-2#post-6705075

 

Thanks @Aalders for the great pictures and write-up. This is relatively quick and fun mod. I wanted to provide some details for anyone attempting this in the future.

You need to be sure to purchase a Single Pole Double Throw (SPDT) ON-ON switch. I made the mistake of just buying a three prong toggle switch from Autozone and it wasn't until after I had wired it up that I realized it was a Single Pole Single Throw (SPST). For more information on different types of switches check out this link:

https://electronicsclub.info/switches.htm

With the SPST switch it will still turn the camera on but you will lose the dual purpose of having the "Normal" operation mode. The camera will either be on or off depending on the switch orientation. This is not desirable IMO as you would need to manual flip the switch when putting the truck into R. I saw a lot of posts where people ran into this problem and since I had this issue as well I wanted to explain why this is happening and how to fix it.

So you need a SPDT switch. They come in a few different varieties but you will want the ON-ON version. See attached wiring diagram for how the switch should be wired in. Basically you have a common terminal and two others which the common can be connected to. You want to connect the RED WIRE that goes to the mirror plug to the COMMON. Then you want to connect the GREEN WIRE 12v and RED WIRE that goes to the truck to the other two terminals. It doesn't matter where you connect these two in terms of functionality. It will just determine what orientation the switch is in for each mode. The two modes will be:
Normal Mode:RED (plug) connected to RED (truck)
Always On Mode: RED (plug) connected to GREEN (12v)

Sorry if this was obvious to everyone else but I just assumed that all "three terminal toggle switches" would operate in this manner and I was wrong since I bought a three terminal SPST and I really needed a SPDT. I ended up mounting my switch to the dome console in between the lights just because I wanted a little more space and it was pretty tight under the bezel directly near the mirror. I used 18 gauge wire, butt connectors, and .250 electrical connectors to connect to the switch. Instead of using a splice connector which can be pretty bulky and sometimes unreliable, I chose to cut the GREEN 12v wire and just use a butt connector to tap in with my new wire (two wires in one end, one wire in the other end). Here is a link to the switch I bought on Amazon:

Square Bezel Round Rocker Switch - SPDT/On - On : 30-16210

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GIGU5G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Anyone manage to find the mirror harness pinout with the display in the mirror? Also for the grntex 3320 mirror?

 

Not wanting to add another add a fuse I did this method. Also got ImMrYo mirror risers so ended putting switch between map lights in over head console .
Before cutting wires suggest checking with volt meter to confirm wires . My mirror wire was actually more on the violet side than red .
Thanks OP

 

Just started this, I read the entire thread. Someone mentioned there was a red with silver wire. I noticed in my 09 that I too have the red silver and also another red.

I’m just going assume the ones we want are in the same pin location. Someone know something different?

 

My favorite comment and idea in here. Did you do it? And would the switch be a momentary switch?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-5V-12V-...-Switch-Ne555-Time-Relay-Module-/323223186666

 

Soldered the pigtails to the switch then installed the switch with pigtails and then made a soldered connection to the green wire (wrapped in green wrap) and cut the red wire and soldered the common to the red wire coming from the harness and the other red wire to the red wire that goes to the connector pin.

Not working on the 'On Always' position but is working when the car is in reverse and switch is switched to the 'Reverse Only' position. Any ideas?

 

You got the right switch ? Post 252 good explanation .

 

Yep... I think so.

 

Looks correct. Guess need to make sure you got 12 volts comming out of green wire and you got 12 volts at switch terminal you soldered green wire too .