Backup camera washer mod

After a winter of never being able to use the backup camera because it was always covered by snow, salt, ice, road grime, etc. I decided to put in a washer nozzle. After pondering over several ideas (including a standalone washer reservoir in the tailgate) I decided to just run a line from the existing windshield washers.

Materials:
Tubing from local hardware store (about 20') ($3)
Assorted vacuum line connectors from auto parts store ($8)
Handful of various windshield washer nozzles/hose/connectors from local junkyard ($8) (the one I finally decided on was off a Ford minivan back hatch)

Total cost: < $20.00 and about 4 hours.

Here's some pics of the build.







The 90 connector here also came from the junkyard.


Line into tailgate.


Pleanty of slack to avoid kinking.


I decided to mount the nozzle to the plastic housing on the tailgate latch rather than the tailgate itself. I figured if I screwed it up too bad, it'd be easier to replace than an entire tailgate. You can see where I had to grind a portion of the metal to allow the fluid line by. (I hit it with some primer/touch-up paint afterward.)



Design flaw: when the reservoir is full (over 3/4) or the tailgate lowered, the outlet is lower than the reservoir and drips. I'll come up with a solution over the next couple days. (Accepting suggestions.)

 

Wow, you must really rely on your backup camera alot! Pretty cool idea though

 

Now if we could just come up with a tiny windsheild wiper for it we would be in business. Thing is useless when it rains.

 

I don't rely on it. I just hate having a cool feature and not being able to use it. Though I do use it when I hitch my trailer...but that's like twice a year. hehehe

 

I think it's a cool idea, thanks for posting.

 

Nice job!

 

low pressure check valve at the pump outlet

 

GReat idea, and ^^^^^this to stop the drip

 

The high point of the new tubing needs to be higher than the top of the reservoir. Just run it up the firewall as high as you can, then down to the tailgate.

 

@timallen27: How good is the cleaning action without a wiper? Does the washer pump give enough pressure to blast away grime? The headlight washers seen on some cars operate at much higher pressures than the windshield washers.

 

I love all these mods you guys come up with. I don't care how silly or somewhat useless some of them seem to be at first glance. The ingenuity and problem-solving that is demonstrated is what I truly appreciate. Thanks for the write-up.

 

Have another nozzle pointing straight back for those annoying drivers who tailgate you.

 

LOL, my friend has a Cherokee that the washer thing for the rear window is broken and it shoots straight back. It really surprises the jerk off behind him.

 

my mod for this is to lick my finger and wipe the camera! haha

 

I use my finger to clean it.......when I'm not picking my nose

 

hahaa this is a great creative mod!!!

I'd only be worried about it not being high enough pressure.. when i clicked on this I was hoping to see a mini windshild wiper

 

Yeah, there's actually a lot more pressure than I thought there would be. I haven't had much stuck-on mud, but I'm confident that it would blast it right off.

 

Just got in the habit of wiping it before getting in.

nice idea but alittle overkill for me.

 

Yeah but fill that reservoir with neon green paint!