repiv
05-09-2007, 07:22 PM
Ever have difficulty seeing behind you when your top is up and you're backing up to something? I just installed a rear view camera as a little project.
http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG0999.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14386)http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG0998.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14385)
Here's what the camera looks like mounted to the licence plate:
http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG1000.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14387)
I removed the trunk liner to expose the trunk vent that leads to the outside. Fasteners come in 2 flavors: One kind is flat and you simply get under these and pry them out. Another kind had a little center button that you push down slightly before you can pull the whole thing out. For the latter, you pull the center pin out a bit before re-installing, then push the center pin flush with the fastener top to finish off. I removed only enough to pull back the right side and center liner. Here's that vent:
http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG1001.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14388)
I then ran the wires behind the liner and beside the spare tire. I removed the rear vented panel behind the passenger seat and found the power wire going to the accessory plug and spliced into it. This gives power when the ignition is ON. Ground can be found on any of the exposed bolts back there as well.
Here's what the display looks like and where I mounted it:
http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG1003.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14389)
With the top up, it's not too easy to spot it from the outside (thieves), although I could easily unplug it and slip it out of the header trim.
I made a mounting bracket out of some aluminum sheet, bent the top edge over so it could be hooked into the plastic windshield trim behind the rubber seal. I covered the Al sheet with black Gorilla tape (very strong) to match the surrounding trim, then used some ultra strong double sided tape to attach the display. I hid the wires and ran them behind the rubber windshield seal, down the left side windshield pillar, down to the fuse panel. On the fuse panel, you will see 3 empty spade connectors. The one closest to the floor is "hot" with ignition. That's the one I used for power. Again, I spliced into one of the many black ground wires you will find under there. Since this is an FM wireless camera, it doesn't need the camera actually connected to the display by wires.
It cost $115.00 Cdn and comes with almost everything you need to install this. There is a little bit of interference in my own garge since I have a lot of cordless phones in the house. Once I back out of the garage and onto the street, the picture is crystal clear. This is the case in most places where you would back into stalls.
More info on the camera power source. The instructions indicated that you simply need to get to one of the back up light wiring harnesses and tap into the (+) and (-) wires. This turns on the camera only when you are backing up. The display unit can be left on whenever the car is running since it blanks out the display when there is no signal from the camera for more than a few seconds. I chose to wire it to the accessory circuit and install a small switch so I can choose to have it on all the time if I wish. I installed the switch just behind and to the side of the passenger seat, on the plastic housing for the glove box. It's out of sight but easy to reach.
http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG0999.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14386)http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG0998.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14385)
Here's what the camera looks like mounted to the licence plate:
http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG1000.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14387)
I removed the trunk liner to expose the trunk vent that leads to the outside. Fasteners come in 2 flavors: One kind is flat and you simply get under these and pry them out. Another kind had a little center button that you push down slightly before you can pull the whole thing out. For the latter, you pull the center pin out a bit before re-installing, then push the center pin flush with the fastener top to finish off. I removed only enough to pull back the right side and center liner. Here's that vent:
http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG1001.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14388)
I then ran the wires behind the liner and beside the spare tire. I removed the rear vented panel behind the passenger seat and found the power wire going to the accessory plug and spliced into it. This gives power when the ignition is ON. Ground can be found on any of the exposed bolts back there as well.
Here's what the display looks like and where I mounted it:
http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/data/15311/thumbs/CIMG1003.JPG (http://forums.s2kca.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=14389)
With the top up, it's not too easy to spot it from the outside (thieves), although I could easily unplug it and slip it out of the header trim.
I made a mounting bracket out of some aluminum sheet, bent the top edge over so it could be hooked into the plastic windshield trim behind the rubber seal. I covered the Al sheet with black Gorilla tape (very strong) to match the surrounding trim, then used some ultra strong double sided tape to attach the display. I hid the wires and ran them behind the rubber windshield seal, down the left side windshield pillar, down to the fuse panel. On the fuse panel, you will see 3 empty spade connectors. The one closest to the floor is "hot" with ignition. That's the one I used for power. Again, I spliced into one of the many black ground wires you will find under there. Since this is an FM wireless camera, it doesn't need the camera actually connected to the display by wires.
It cost $115.00 Cdn and comes with almost everything you need to install this. There is a little bit of interference in my own garge since I have a lot of cordless phones in the house. Once I back out of the garage and onto the street, the picture is crystal clear. This is the case in most places where you would back into stalls.
More info on the camera power source. The instructions indicated that you simply need to get to one of the back up light wiring harnesses and tap into the (+) and (-) wires. This turns on the camera only when you are backing up. The display unit can be left on whenever the car is running since it blanks out the display when there is no signal from the camera for more than a few seconds. I chose to wire it to the accessory circuit and install a small switch so I can choose to have it on all the time if I wish. I installed the switch just behind and to the side of the passenger seat, on the plastic housing for the glove box. It's out of sight but easy to reach.