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rear view camera using wireless install.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by alfa737, Feb 8, 2012.

  1. alfa737

    alfa737 Member

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    Hi guys,

    I bought the basic ccd rear view camera off ebay and the guy sent me the wireless transmitter/receiver along with my order...

    link

    I have seen lots of people are running the video cable from the front to the rear but has anyone tried to install the wireless setup.

    where do you tap power in the back if you are not connecting it to the head unit with a wire?:confused:

    thanks
     
  2. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    I got power from one of the blue wires leading to the rear wiper motor. It is easy to access when the trim is removed for camera installation. There are two blue wires, I just tested them with a voltmeter to find the one that provides +12V (it's more like 16V) when the ignition is on.
     
  3. alfa737

    alfa737 Member

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    That sounds like a good idea.
    Is there any pictures of it on the forum?
     
  4. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    I didn't take a picture of it when I installed. When you install a rear camera, you have to remove ALL of the plastic trim on the hatch door. Once you do that, the wiper motor is exposed, and you can easily see the electrical connector leading into it. I tapped one of the two blue wires after testing it for voltage with the ignition on and off, then I ran ground to a nice metal nut that held the wiper motor on. It's quite easy, really.

    The only other approach is a lot more work -- run power through the hatch to the frame, then down to the taillight assembly, to get power from the reverse light. Maybe the camera will last longer this way, but it's double the work, which defeats the purpose of a wireless install.

    There is a very detailed document from toyota for the rear camera install. I assume you've already dug that up?
     
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  5. skylarii

    skylarii New Member

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    Is this 12V source/wire accessible just from removing the one inside hatch cover for the license plate light area? I am trying to find a 12vdc source so I do not have to remove any more trim that necessary.

    Also in your install, which I am doing wirelessly as well, was there an alternative source to use for pin 29 in the front kick panel ? Anything closer to the HU?

    Thank you
     
  6. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    I don't think you'll be able to install a camera by only removing the lightbulb replacement panel. I'm pretty sure you'll need to remove all four pieces of trim on the rear hatch. The trim pieces attach using removable plastic plugs. I bought 20 new ones from my Toyota dealer to replace any that were deformed during removal. They're about ten or twenty cents a piece. Four of them are green, and I ordered some greenies too.

    I think you'll have to go to the kick panel for the reverse wire. It's not all that bad.
     
  7. johalareewi

    johalareewi Member

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  8. skylarii

    skylarii New Member

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    Rebound and Johalareewi - Thanks a bundle for your advice. I have been digging into the details as you know to see if there are simpler ways for wiring but I think I get the picture. I am going to check one more thing with the wiring diagrams but it is time I get the rear transmitter/cam installed so I will get that going.

    Still trying to determine how the console armrest aux input is retained by using Metra kit 70-8114. Not sure what keeps that connection intact other than using the RCAs but that is not fully clear. If it cannot be maintained, then it will not be a great loss I suppose.

    I am still a bit concerned about the Axxess system maintaining the existing use of the SWCs. I have read + and - success and even saw the one thread by an experienced former installer having a problem where he received an error that would not go away until he reinstalled the stock HU. Since I am going with an aftermkt HU (avh-p3200bt), that makes me a bit nervous but I guess will just see what happens when I get to that junction.

    Any other thoughts, please feel free as always.

    Thank you !
     
  9. skylarii

    skylarii New Member

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    Alfa737

    How goes your installation so far and what HU and SWC kit are you using? Any updates would be great to hear about since I am doing the same.
     
  10. alfa737

    alfa737 Member

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    i am using a generic head unit from ebay dont think it has a name and no SWC kit...
    do i need the SWC kit ? this unit is supposed to auto program the controls.
     
  11. skylarii

    skylarii New Member

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    Sounds like you are mostly set if you have an OEM "style" unit. You probably then are pretty close to plug "n" play so you don't need one of the SWC devices.
     
  12. alfa737

    alfa737 Member

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    I hooked up the rear view camera (wireless install) and it worked fine..I taped into the rear wiper connecter for power and ground.

    the image if clear and always on ..

    One problem i noticed is when i turned on bluetooth on my phone i saw static and interference on the screen for about 3 sec..
     
  13. Myshkyn

    Myshkyn Junior Member

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    I just tapped into one of the blue wires leading to the rear wiper. Don't know anything about this other than what I have read here, but it seems to have worked OK. I haven't finished it the install but the light on the wireless unit came on. By the way, there is a light blue wire and a dark blue wire. I got 12V from both of them so I tapped into the light blue one because it looked easier. I tried to post a picture but don't have the requisite number of posts to have that privilege.
     
  14. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    I lost the console AUX input when I installed. If you really want it, you'd need to run a new cable, or maybe splice, but it's not worth the trouble. In my case, I ran the USB port into the console, and I have a huge USB stick with all of my music, which I can easily refresh whenever I want.

    As for the SWC (steering wheel controls), I know many people did it successfully, but I found the quarters so cramped for the splices that I gave up on it. I don't think steering wheel controls are very important, but my unit has a dedicated volume knob. With a flatscreen-only unit, I would have put more effort into getting steering wheel controls to work.

    Have you run the Bluetooth mic yet? The trick is that when you remove the windshield A-pillar, the plastic pillar cover comes partially off, then you have to reach in with pliers and gently rotate the connectors 90 degrees to make them come loose. If you don't understand, you will when you do the install. Remember.. gently rotate the connectors 90 degrees, and they'll slip right off.
     
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  15. alfa737

    alfa737 Member

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    For power and ground I used the wiper motor harness. I think the two wires u need are blue and blue with stripeā€¦ they are the thick wires at the end of the connector.


    [​IMG]

    You don't have to loose the aux connection if you really need it ..

    look for a white 20 pin connector that was attached to the stock radio and tap the following wires to the aux input of the new unit.

    (pin 15) black wire to right aux input
    (pin 17) red wire to left aux input
    (pin 16) white wire to groung of both right and left aux input.

    Also just attached the steering wheele control wires to my after market HU without and adapter and they worked ok.
     
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  16. Fore

    Fore Don't look back!

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    Ok, well I hooked up the camera to the wireless connector which is connected to the dark blue wire on the rear windshield wiper motor and then grounded. When the cars power is on the small blue light on the wireless device lights up. Then connected the front wireless device to the small lcd screen via the yellow RCA connector, to power both the lcd screen and the wireless device I spliced both into a cell phone charger. The lcd screen lights up with a solid white picture only. The front wireless device small light turns on red. Did I hook something up wrong or maybe backwards. The front wireless device states receiver on the back of it and the rear wireless device states video. I know the lcd screen works correctly because I hooked up a small portable DVD player to it and it worked perfectly. Are both wireless device suppose to show a blue light to be talking to each other?
     
  17. johalareewi

    johalareewi Member

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    Have you got a link or photo of the wireless equipment you purchased? The one I have just has a power light on each wireless unit and no indication that they are talking to each other.