2013 Tacoma OEM Backup Camera Install Question

I'm new to TW, but have really enjoyed reading this post. I recently got a 2013 Texas Edition Crew Cab 4x4 Tacoma with a long bed. I'm trying to put in a backup camera in my truck. With the truck being so long, it would really be nice to have a backup camera. The truck is pre-wired for a camera in the tailgate but has no camera. I've found the other end of the wiring at the unattached connector behind the sunglass holder that's meant for a rearview mirror display. I want to connect it rather to the 6" Factory Touchscreen Head Unit, like mentioned above. Getting the wiring harness and hooking it into the connector to the left of the fuse box should make this easy. My question refers to the camera itself. There's a lot of aftermarket cameras listed. Some kits require you to bypass the existing wiring and route a cable from the rear to the front. But with my truck being so long, I don't think they'll reach, and I sure don't want to do that since there's already wires there. In my tailgate the wiring has a 4-pin connector and it should be easy to hook up to it. Some cameras, though, are listed as 12-volt and some are listed as 6-volt. Which voltage of camera do I need to get? Thanks

 

Does any one have part numbers for these 2 connectors

 

Here are the part numbers. IO1 and IO2 are the same, one is just the male side and the other is the female. They are only made by Tacoma as far as I know if you want to buy them.

For the 2013 Tacoma, pin 11 in IN2 has the reverse trigger. I'm finishing up a backup camera install right now and decided to just buy automotive connectors and make my own terminals. I will make a full write up and post it in TW of what I did with pictures and all the wiring diagrams.

I wanted to add the locking tailgate and the backup camera to my recently purchased Tacoma. Its a 2013 Tacoma Base 4x4 and ended up not having the connector in the A-Pillar that this "prewired" CameraSource harness https://www.camerasource.com/10-13-toyota-tacoma-backup-camera-for-factory-radios-opt-pop-and-lock connects into, even though it is prewired from the tailgate to near the Driver's Side J/B. CameraSource says I would have to return the kit I bought and get their "full-harness version" which bypasses all the factory wiring and pay for all the shipping costs.

I could buy this kit as mentioned by ewf003 (which is now linked here: https://www.camerasource.com/accessories/wiring-kits/2013-tacoma-mirror-to-radio-camera-conversion) and it would definitely work but I don't really want to shell out another $80 for a very cheap and simple wiring harness.

I went ahead and bought an automotive connector terminal kit (coming in a few days) and am just going to replace Toyotas proprietary connectors with my own.

Seems like all these year Tacoma's are a little different in terms of the wiring that is there. In the meantime, I will drink a beer and remember life is good because I drive a Toyota

 

I have base model as well that is “prewired”. I bought a plug n play camera and thought it would work until it didn’t and I started digging into why. My mirror doesn’t have wires running to it so it’s base. I do have a nice touch screen radio where I’d like the camera to be displayed. Can anyone tell me what wire I need to make this work?

 

What kit did you buy and where did you try to plug it in? I just finished mine and will write it up when I get some time.

I also had prewiring from the tailgate to the fuse box connector (IO1/2) but did not have the rear view mirror with the display.

 

This is all I bought. I mounted and plugged in the harness that was already in tailgate. I think I need to figure out what needs done up in the front of truck.

 

I did the same as you, but found my existing harness ended inside the left kick panel, near the fuse box, and like you had no wires to the rear view mirror. I got mine from Camera Source, but no longer have the part #. I'd suggest going up to post #23 and click on the link to Camera Source and contact them, they'll be able to fix you up.

 

I contacted CameraSource yesterday and was told they couldn’t help me because the camera I was trying to connect wasn’t purchased from them. I feel like all I need is some type of connection in the front of my vehicle somewhere but they wouldn’t assist other than recommending I purchase a setup from them with a camera.

 

That's very disappointing, and a "VERY NEGATIVE" advertisement for Camera Source. I've read some Tacos were just pre wired from the camera to the spare tire. If yours is prewired, like mine was, there will be a vacant 4 wire plug, (the plug that would be connected to the mirror if it had came with camera), behind the coin tray, near the fuse panel... I can't guarantee, but reasonably sure the Camera Source sku# CS-TAC-CH is what you need. It says mirror to radio conversion. If your Taco had a camera in mirror, you would disconnect the 4 pin cable going to the mirror and install this new one going to the radio. The one in the picture looks like what I remember, a grey cable appx. 2 ft long, white plug on both ends, with a separate small red wire W/ connector... I sure wish Camera Source would have been more helpful. Keep us updated on what you figure out, and Good Luck.

 

Thank you. That’s exactly what I was thinking would hopefully work and the reason I called CameraSource.

 

I’m not sure I have the connector behind the coin tray that you mention.

 

Go look at the first post. You need to make your own harness and connect into IO1 and then into the back of your radio. I just cut off the connector and added my own. The pinout is given in the first post.

That connector (IO1) is the one that runs from the camera in the rear of the truck to the cab, with a junction connector by the rear bumper that runs into the tailgate. You definitely have the prewiring to the rear bumper junction connector because you have the four wires visible in the photo you posted going into IO1.

So you should be good if you unplug the IO1 connector and then run those 4 wires into the R17 connection at the radio. Lastly, you will need a 12V trigger wire to pin 2 of the R15 connector at the radio.

Mine was found by tapping into pin 11 of connector IN1 which is a 12V signal when I put the truck in reverse. You could also wire up a relay and switch or something else to trigger it if you want the backup camera on demand and not when only in reverse.

Or you could go buy the mirror to radio harness conversion from CameraSource that I posted earlier. I didn’t want to do that, so I made my own connector.

 

Is there a harness I can buy that solves this? I have no experience running and connecting wire. Thanks for the info!

 

what if I bought this?

 

Yeah, that is the one I posted earlier. Should work for you. Good luck!

 

Hey Flyfish, any updates? Waiting to hear something good.

 

I’m going to try install Monday and will post update

 

Dang it, I forgot, I's gon'na to ask, Did you find camera cable coming from the back, near the kick panel or coin tray with the the 4 prong plug? Post #31 says you hadn't found it.

 

Ok, so I installed the wire harness from camera source exactly as described in instructions but still no picture from camera. Here is a few pictures from my install. Not sure why it isn’t working.

 

That all looks correct. My only thoughts are:

Make sure you tied into the correct wire for the reverse trigger and are making good contact. Also make sure you used a tiny flathead screwdriver to unlock the connector to the radio before you push the reverse trigger wire (the single wire that comes off the harness you installed into the main radio connector). It has to seat all the way to make good contact.

This wire should have 12V on it when the vehicle is in reverse

If that is good, then you can go to the camera in the rear and make sure you have 6V there, when the vehicle is in reverse. This will help you narrow it down.