OEM Camera Connection below Dash

Anyone else actually done this successfully? Did you use a better quality cable than that pictured and get better results? can anyone elaborate on what a "D-SUB connector pin" is?

I really don't care if the HU has the camera on it or not, but with this mod it seems simple enough to add to make it worthwhile, but if it doesn't work for anyone else, or is giving sub-standard performance then maybe it's best to look elsewhere.

Anyone supplement the stock backup camera and add the Pioneer camera maybe pointing in a different direction or spot? maybe point it straight back vs. the stock camera's downward angle?

 

I've successfully used this post as a guide & have good results. However, I didn't use the "pin" method to make the connections. Instead I used the smallest "vampire" style splice connectors I could fiind to tap into the wires. I also connected my HU's reverse wire to the reverse lights.

A "DSUB connector" pin is a pin that you use to build say a 9 pin serial cable with a custom pin out. You can buy a kit that comes with an empty 9 pin shell, and a separate 9 pin harness that connects to an 8 pin RJ45 jack. You build the connector by inserting the pins in the desired position in the empty shell.

 

Connectors like these?
http://www.tessco.com/products/displayProducts.do?groupId=620&subgroupId=24

 

The D Sub pins worked fine for me. Just go to radio shack and ask them for a 9 pin d sub connector pin. I then just crimped the wires to it and saudered them on (thats optional though). The video looks fine for me, I cannot really see a difference. It puts the camera on both rearview and HU. The part of all this that got me was that this does not initialte the camera when you put it in reverse. You have to go into the head unit and tell it to manually view the backup camera and you will see it.

If you want it to automatically come on when in reverse you have to tap the reverse sensor wire to. That part through me for a loop for a good hour or two.

T-Taps on this should work just fine to, I know a few people who did that and have had success. I did not do that just because I did not want to mess with tapping the factory wiring, although I had to T Tap the VSS wire.

Let me know if you have any other questions as I just installed a Pioneer z120bt this week. I tapped my OEM camera, the VSS, the SWI-PS and used the sharkfin to use the factory XM antenna. Everything is working great now, thanks to these forums.

 

Being a car-audio newb I'm not sure what these terms mean.

If you have any more info on getting the camera to come on when the truck is put in reverse that I'd appreciate, or does VSS and SWI-PS have something to do with that?

 

If you tap into the reverse sensor wire, the HU will display the camera automatically when you put it into reverse. I have both displays (rearview and HU) activate.

I believe the VSS is the speed sensor wire you need to tap into for the GPS navigation. The SWI-PS is connector that translates the steering wheel controls so the HU understands them. They are plenty of threads about these. If you can't find them let me know.

 

Ah ok. I already have the steering wheel control relay. I should have recognized that one.

 

Yes, similar to the "splice connectors". I found some nice ones at home depot with separate "clips" for each wire. That way you
can work with one wire at a time instead of
needing three hands to position both wires & close the clip over the vampire tap all the the same time.

 

>If you tap into the reverse sensor wire, the HU will display the camera automatically >when you put it into reverse. I have both displays (rearview and HU) activate.

Please forgive me if this sounds stupid, I hope someone here can clarify something for me. I understand the theory of tapping into the reverse sensor wire, but with which specific wire are you tapping into it with?

From my limited understanding, at one end of the cable is an RCA connector (which plugs into the HU), the other end has been split into two leads (the center copper cable and the shielding). These cables tap into the + and - of the car's video feed.

So where would I be tapping the reverse sensor? Into either lead?

Thanks!

 

No, both RCA leads go into the places explained in the directions. You tap the reverse sensor wire with the appropriate wire from your head unit. On the pioneer z120bt it is clearly marked "Reverse Sensing Wire" and if I recall correctly it is purple and some other color. This way the HU knows when the car is in reverse and activates the camera so you do not have to do it manually.

Hope that helps.

 

From what I remember, the Pioneer HU I got had one single reverse sensor wire that I used to tap into the truck's wire. The RCA plug was for the camera feed.

 

Thanks guys! I'm thinking of buying a new head unit this week and just want to make sure I have everything straight.

Thanks again.

 

subscribed.

I found this thread a few days ago and forgot to subscribe to it. needless to say I just spend the last half hour trying to find it again.

to the OP-
Thanks for posting this. I've wanted to do this for a while.

Edit: I just did this mod tonight and it works great. Picture looked a bit pixelated, but it's night time so I'm sure during the day it will look alot better. Now I'm thinking of putting a switch on the Reverse Signal Wire going to the head unit so I can keep it from coming on if I dont want it.

 

heres a pic of the quality of it. Like someone else said.. at night its a bit grainy, but during the day its pretty much the same quality as the one in the mirror.


I wish I could find a way to get rid of that warning on the screen.. and the image is not reversed anyway

 

I used this write up and it was great!

I too have the lines but it doesn't bother me too much...

Here's a pic -

 

I know it sound stupid but I tried to connected the RCA cable to that black & red wire, the "reverse wire" from the HU to the red wire(red/yellow) like what you told but all I got was the blazing unclear picture for the mirror and on the HU . Can someonw PLEASE let me know where can I get the right parts and please walk me through it. And if you can please post the picture of the final wire connection to so I can have the idea of how it turn out. I'm sorry for asking too much but I don't want to damage all of the wire before finding out the way of wiring it.
Thank you!
btw I have the Kenwood DNX5160

 

when wiring this up to an aftermarket HU, does the camera's power lead have to be a constant 12v or can it be 12v when Reverse is engaged?

 

bump for an answer?

 

2k6 taco-
I'm not sure what you are asking.. This is for the rearview camera connection when you have a rear view camera built into your rear view mirror. If you don't have the camera in the rear view mirror and you are asking how to wire an aftermarket rear view camera to an after market head unit, the head unit needs the reverse signal wire connected to a 12v when in reverse. The camera should also be wired to a 12v when in reverse so it knows when to turn on/off.
I'm on my phone so if I didn't type this very clearly just pm me and ill see if I can help you.


And "qkumba"...
Just look at the pictures the op posted. It should be more than enough information to help you accomplish this, but if you still need help, feel free to pm me.

 

I had an audio shop install my AVIC 120bt. They cant seem to get the back up camera to integrate well in my 2011 DC. I have had it at their shop two weekends in a row now trying to troubleshoot this.

First weekend they couldnt get it to consistently work. They said it would display video from the camera for about 30 seconds then cut off and then wouldnt come back on when moving the shifter from R -> P -> R. They said they had to totally unplug the camera, replug it and then it would work again.

Second weekend everything seemed to be working. Got the truck back and it worked for a day. Now when i put it in reverse it shows a black screen and sometimes says "caution: image may be reversed". The shop says to bring it back and they will look at it again.

anyone have any ideas?