DIY Rear View Camera Install

[Ichigo]

SO it was spring cleaning at the stereo shop I work at part time and I noticed a box I know I had seen at least twenty times before but never read. Whoa its a Farenheit rear view camera. SNATCHED (with permission of course). I already have the interior out of the car because I'm upgrading my sub and amplifiers so that just makes it easier to route the wires. Now the pics:

1. The rear view view camera itself

2. The contents of the box



3. The contents sorted on the floor



4. Removed plate and old license plate holder



5. The inside of the rear, notice the large grommit in the center. This is where I ran the wire inside the car



6. Once the grommit is removed, you can cut a small slice in it to run the wires through



7. Once the wire from the frame is inside the car, it must be connected to a small box that was included with the frame. the image processing is done inside this box and then images are sent from the box to your headunit. Be sure to tuck it away so it doesn't get crushed.



8. Reverse wire. Dont forget the reverse wire. Without this connection the Avic Z1 wont switch to rear camera when you shift into reverse. Pioneer included a specific wire for this connection so I tapped into the reverse light in the rear as opposed to finding the wire up front.



9. Once the wires is tapped it's time for a little wire management.




10. Through the rear strut bar and out the compartment behind the passenger seat.




11. I ran the wires down the center, its a lot easier then pulling up the carpet. Time for the Z1 to come out again.



12. Find the wire for the reverse gear input and connect it to the wire that you tapped into the reverse light in the back.



13. Time to tap into some power for the camera. It doesnt really matter where you tap into the power, but since this camera has the power wires attached on the end of the cables that get attached to the head unit, I tapped the constant power from the head unit and the oem ground. The headunit has its own separate ground now. Here is a shot of the power wire prepped for install




14. The last connection, the actual video feed from the box mounted in the rear.



15. Turn on the car and test it out before securing down the head unit. Make sure all of your speakers and devices attached to the radio are functioning. It gets really tight behind the head unit and its easy to disconnect wires when reassembling. I had to change a setting on the headunit to accept camera feed for the rear.



Here are some pics of the images from the camera

With old school cheap a$$ pager on the ground for scale

with some needle nose pliers


From the side



The finished product



Enjoy.

BTW since the license plate camera frame is substantially thicker then your average frame, I had to replace the screws and the mounting clips. When I bought the car the stealership used some horrible little screws that stripped the nuts inside the oem clips. A quick trip to lowes for two new coarse thread phillips head bolts, two body clips and two plastic black screw caps did the trick.

[Voboy]

very clean install. Let me know if you find another box I've been looking for a clean license plate rear view camera but the ones on ebay are fugly.

[Ichigo]

Agreed, I really liked the idea of a frame mounted camera, but most of the ones I've seen are plasti-chrome.

Here's a link if you want one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ype=osi_widget

[DesiZ_06]

very orginal license tag ichigo kurosaki....

[behjjeh]

hmm i wonder see if you can hook up this to FARENHEIT screen...

[HitLines]

Could you also use different screws with an unique bolt patter to prevent theft? I'm sure most won't even notice your license plate bracket is also a camera but it's an idea.

I used these screws to secure my amps. You can get them in all shapes and sizes. Sure you can bust out the windows but the amps are screwed down to the frame. A phillips or flathead will not do the trick.

[SirSpeedyZ]

very nice write up, good job

[fairlady350z33]

nice write up and pics...the license plate camera doesn't look too bad... i'm just afraid people here in cali will steal it.

[Ichigo]

Originally Posted by HitLines

Could you also use different screws with an unique bolt patter to prevent theft? I'm sure most won't even notice your license plate bracket is also a camera but it's an idea.

I used these screws to secure my amps. You can get them in all shapes and sizes. Sure you can bust out the windows but the amps are screwed down to the frame. A phillips or flathead will not do the trick.

Thought of that and bought some security bolts, good call though!

Only problem was they were too short so I had to go with ones that would fit the body clips, I believe I looked at some like the ones you pictured but the they were for furniture and wouldn't fit the clips. Hell if they really wanted to be d1cks they could just tear the whole thing off. Next time the rear bumper is off I'll spot weld the rest of the screw thread, That'll fixem

If someone steps up to the plate to jack my stuff, I'll be happy if all they take is the camera.

[HockeyZ39]

Is there a way to make my screen switch to the camera when I throw it in reverse with my JVC KD-DV5100 it has alot of inputs? and or a direct link to the screen with a toggle switch mounted some where to swtich on the fly?

See sig for my stuff.

[IDriveRealSLow]

is there any way to get it to work on a stock 350z navigation ?

[IDriveRealSLow]

any1 kno if it works with stock navi

[usmanasif]

Originally Posted by IDriveRealSLow

any1 kno if it works with stock navi

Yes. You will have to buy a conversion box that the camera will plug into. tvnav2go makes one, as do others. Google them.

[usmanasif]

Originally Posted by HockeyZ39

Is there a way to make my screen switch to the camera when I throw it in reverse with my JVC KD-DV5100 it has alot of inputs? and or a direct link to the screen with a toggle switch mounted some where to swtich on the fly?

See sig for my stuff.

Check its specs for reverse camera input. If it has it, then yes; just follow directions above on the reverse wire tap.

[HockeyZ39]

Originally Posted by usmanasif

Check its specs for reverse camera input. If it has it, then yes; just follow directions above on the reverse wire tap.

Well I know it doesnt have a reverse input, but I was wondering if there is some way to use a relay that takes the reverse signal as an input to switch av's. In theroy is sounds do able, I just wouldnt be 100% on how, or if AV's can even be split?

[DIMERYDER]

does it only work during reverse?

the reason i ask is because my rearview mirror broke off due to my loud subs. i have a monitor in the center front console, but i don't use it at all anymore. it came with the car and it's aftermarket.

i was thinking of using the monitor as a rearview mirror at all times. will it work?

[HockeyZ39]

sure if u you use it for nothing else.

[dkmesa350z]

Nice write-up, I've been wanting to do this.
does the little box that came with it reverse the image for you, or does it appear opposite?

[rich harris]

Nice write-up...clean job

[Ichigo]

Originally Posted by DIMERYDER

does it only work during reverse?

the reason i ask is because my rearview mirror broke off due to my loud subs. i have a monitor in the center front console, but i don't use it at all anymore. it came with the car and it's aftermarket.

i was thinking of using the monitor as a rearview mirror at all times. will it work?

If you use a head unit that allows you to have the camera image on at all times yes. The Avic-Z1 does allow this.