OEM Back Up Camera Successfully Installed

[frenchie]

some more pictures about connexions

[frenchie]

result of pal video from camcorder on european prius.

the image is stable but not at the right heigth.

[john_molendijk]

This is great! A real breakthrough!

Some queries I still have:
Do you have any photo's showing where and how to reach the prius video interface (plug)? What is the connector pinning?

Does the prius display require RGB only or can it deal with composite video?

Thanks,

John.

[brosnan]

Frenchie,
Thanks for the photos - I've definitely got to upgrade to color. Great job on the homemade connector. As far as more detailed instructions for my setup, have you seen page 3 of the zip file referred to at http://www.priuschat.com/forums/-vp45751.html#45751 ? Let me know if there's a certain area where you want more detail or photos.

John,
The connector we've been using is under the seat on the back of the nav ECU. You unplug the small white connector. The cable that's now loose goes up to the MFD. Pinout is as shown in the zip file just mentioned. IThe MFD can only deal with RGB+Sync in a format similar to what normally comes from the nav ECU. But if you get a converter from composite video to RGBSync and build a custom connector harness like in Frenchie's photos, other sources can drive the display. Sounds like this #173 beastie does away with switch boxes and automatically switches to backup camera in reverse (and passes nav ECU images through otherwise).

[frenchie]

Originally posted by john_molendijk
This is great! A real breakthrough!

Some queries I still have:
Do you have any photo's showing where and how to reach the prius video interface (plug)? What is the connector pinning?

Does the prius display require RGB only or can it deal with composite video?

Thanks,

  John.

to john
start with this thread, Brosnan did a wonderful documentation. somewhere you can download a pdf from him.
http://priuschat.com/forums/video-input-to...mfd-vt2281.html

[frenchie]

to mike
maybe my converter 08635-28020 is defective?
I did like your indications ,only doubt is regarding pin marked 1G on the grey connector; I connected nothing on it. maybe I should put it to ground to..

to everybody:
Another very good point : the camera is working the right way, that means like the rear mirror : left is on the left & so on.

I will try to take good pictures of cam in action.

I confirm that activation of the cam & the switch to cam is really automatic when
1)you are in mode MAP or DEST
2) you engage reverse.

[Tideland Prius]

This is only available to those with a navigation system?

[brosnan]

This #173 converter is apparently exclusively available in the US as VCI-X ( http://www.pac-audio.com/products/video.htm ) and only from dealers listed at http://www.pac-audio.com/dealers/dealers.htm.

[brosnan]

Some online places seem to have this: http://www.autotoys.com/x/catalog/GM_NAVIG...EEN_p_4977.html
But $400 - ouch! Any find a cheaper source?

[Ken Cooper]

An alternative to the backup camera is the talking ultrasonic backup sensor. I bought one after twice backing into objects that I didn't see. Only two times I've done that in 50 years of driving. Something about this car ...

Anyhow, I bought it, installed it (easy install), and now have a female voice that tells me how many feet an object is behind me when my reverse light is on (also, at closer ranges, an alarm sounds that gets progressively more alarming with closeness). It works VERY well. I'll never back into an object again. I bought two, one for my not-so-careful sister, and one for me ($145 for one .. $258 for two).

Here's a link to the Autotoys site I purchased it from:

http://www.autotoys.com/x/cust/product.php...=5&cat=0&page=1