Question Using DNX 8120 as back up camera monitor(paging Jumbo Jet!) - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

alottolearn · #1 (**permalink**) 09-24-2009, 03:27 PM

hey guys, I thought I asked a question here a few months ago about using my Kenwood DNX 8120 as a back up monitor, but a search of the board turned up nothing.

I have the factory back-up camera and flip down monitor, and now I think I'm ready to attempt to wire my HU to the back up camera. If someone here has done this (a step by step with pictures would be IDEAL) could you fill me in on how this is accomplished and is it very complicated?

How many wires will I have to splice...do I just need to splice my purple reverse wire (from Kenwood harness) into the toyota harness?

help, thanks and sorry if this question has been answered here before...i've been searching for hours without finding a definite answer!

Jumbo Jet · #2 (**permalink**) 09-24-2009, 11:20 PM

My 8120 is at Kenwood's repair center, but when it comes back I'm planning on doing this before I put everything back in, so as of right now I dont have any first hand experience to share with you...... however, here is a link to PSRage's post, he did the same thing to his Alpine HU with the factory camera. He lays out all the details and even has pics.

Common Signal Lines for the 2007 Tundra

Hope that helps.

alottolearn · #3 (**permalink**) 09-25-2009, 01:06 PM

yes, I read and re-read that post..but I am not very good with electronics at all!

I kinda understand the diagrams, but I need the "back up camera for dummies" someone to break it down on exactly what needs to be done (example: splice purple reverse wire to blue wire located here..)

Hopefully when you do this mod you can post some pics of where the splicing needs to happen and all that stuff..I am totally lost at this point!

Since I already have the flip down monitor and tailgate camera installed, its my understanding that I can tap in to the wiring behind the A pillar on the driver's side..but I am not sure how many wires have to be spliced together...etc

anyway, hopefully you get your stereo back soon and your install goes smoothly!

Jumbo Jet · #4 (**permalink**) 09-25-2009, 04:22 PM

I feel your pain, it looks kind of intimidating.... but it should be a pretty smooth mod. Basically you'll be taking apart one end of a video composite RCA and splicing the wires into the factory harness. You'll have video + and -, and power and ground. I believe Rage used a resistor, but I'm not certain.... maybe that was just for Alpine units. I'll re-read his post before I do this, and I'll definitely take a bunch of pics too.

My 8120 was working fine, but last week I hit the Nav. button and it just went to a black screen. All other functions worked fine except for the Nav. I Googled the problem and apparently I'm not alone, but I couldnt find a solution. After many resets it still wouldnt work so I called Kenwood and they asked me to send it in to their repair center. I called to check on it this morning and was told the Nav. module had to be replaced...... whatever that means. I should have it back sometime next week..... for now I have the old factory HU in and only the two front dash speakers work..... its brutal.

alottolearn · #5 (**permalink**) 09-25-2009, 06:33 PM

Sorry to hear that..what a pain in the a$$ that must have been to yank it out and to cram the old one back in..hope you get it back in working condition soon

I anxiously await your DIY post!

alottolearn · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2009, 08:08 PM

also, browsing some other car audio forums, It seems you can use AV1 or AV2 for the camera input (so you can turn it on while driving) which is something I'd be interested in doing.
I think I have a basic idea on how to do this (I assume splicing an RCA line into the wiring harness for the camera); but I don't wanna fry anything

If anyone has done this or knows how to do this it would be greatly appreciated if I could get some info!

Jumbo Jet · #7 (**permalink**) 09-27-2009, 02:51 PM

You can also just hold down the Nav. button for a couple seconds and it'll switch to the back up cam. Look at the Nav. button on the front of the unit.... you'll see it says r. cam.

alottolearn · #8 (**permalink**) 09-27-2009, 04:09 PM

I just hopped out in the truck and tried it..awesome! Now if I could just figure out this pesky wiring to get it to work! I have a feeling its gonna be an easy mod once I get the info

supaminh · #9 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 02:10 PM

I put it in my Tundra and it's pretty simple. Here's a post from another site that helped me out greatly. Rage's post helped me, but this thread hit certain details a bit more specific to your interest. Also, if I can help, let me know.

http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/aud...tall-lots.html

alottolearn · #10 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supaminh

I put it in my Tundra and it's pretty simple. Here's a post from another site that helped me out greatly. Rage's post helped me, but this thread hit certain details a bit more specific to your interest. Also, if I can help, let me know.

http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/aud...tall-lots.html

I've had my DNX8120 and back up camera/flip down monitor installed for a few months now, but as I posted above, I really want to see the back up display on my HU.

Yesterday I yanked the HU out and tapped the Kenwood purple reverse wire into the purple reverse wire that's on a grey plug (that was all taped up) that sits about 10 inches inside the opening (on top of a big bundle of wires). I got it working so that when I put the truck in reverse it goes to the R-CAM mode (interrupts what I'm doing; as it should do), but I just get a black screen.

So, all I have figured out now is that the purple reverse wire is just the wire that tells the HU the truck is in reverse and to switch to R-CAM mode, but I'm not getting any video. I know this has got to be an easy fix..so if you could help me I'd really appreciate it!

Jumbo Jet · #11 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 11:25 PM

From what you've described, you've only tapped into the purple reverse wire..... you still need to connect the RCA composite video (yellow on the Kenwood end). Youre not going to get any video until that is connected, but youre half way there.

alottolearn · #12 (**permalink**) 09-28-2009, 11:49 PM

So am I correct in assuming I have to splice an RCA cable (keeping the male end) and tap the video into that (plugging the end into the kenwood RCA)?

If so, where do I yank the wires from to do this? The ones in the driver's side 'A' Pillar? If so, which ones?

Do I need a ground/power if I already have the camera running through the OEM flip down screen, or do I just need a video signal?

Thanks again Jumbo Jet, I can almost taste victory..pics to follow when I get this working!!

Jumbo Jet · #13 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 08:53 AM

Your assumption is correct..... no video until the RCA is connected to the back of the 8120.

Again, dont take my word for it since I havent done this yet, but I'll probably tap into the wires in the A Pillar..... seems like the easiest place.

Your video signal will have power/ground, thats why you need to take apart the RCA on one end.

supaminh · #14 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 12:21 PM

The link I posted shows you how to get the reverse camera on the HU. Anyhow, Jumbo is correct. Splice a RCA or go to RadioShack and buy one for about $6. That's what I did.

As far as which wires, I would HIGHLY recommend reading the link I sent. There are pics and step by step procedures on this EXACT thing. I got my info from there and have ALREADY done it. You can check out my reverse camera working on a thread in this forum reviewing my DNX9140. =)

Quote:

Originally Posted by alottolearn

I've had my DNX8120 and back up camera/flip down monitor installed for a few months now, but as I posted above, I really want to see the back up display on my HU.

Yesterday I yanked the HU out and tapped the Kenwood purple reverse wire into the purple reverse wire that's on a grey plug (that was all taped up) that sits about 10 inches inside the opening (on top of a big bundle of wires). I got it working so that when I put the truck in reverse it goes to the R-CAM mode (interrupts what I'm doing; as it should do), but I just get a black screen.

So, all I have figured out now is that the purple reverse wire is just the wire that tells the HU the truck is in reverse and to switch to R-CAM mode, but I'm not getting any video. I know this has got to be an easy fix..so if you could help me I'd really appreciate it!

alottolearn · #15 (**permalink**) 09-29-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supaminh

The link I posted shows you how to get the reverse camera on the HU. Anyhow, Jumbo is correct. Splice a RCA or go to RadioShack and buy one for about $6. That's what I did.

As far as which wires, I would HIGHLY recommend reading the link I sent. There are pics and step by step procedures on this EXACT thing. I got my info from there and have ALREADY done it. You can check out my reverse camera working on a thread in this forum reviewing my DNX9140. =)

Yeah man, I've read and re-read that post at least 20 times; but it still isn't that clear to me exactly what wires I have to splice into the RCA cable. Do I just need the Red and Grey video wires spliced to a male RCA end? And do I need to bother with a ground wire?

I will check out your 9140 link and see if it causes a light bulb to appear above my head

thanks!

edit:

after re-reading the entire thread AGAIN am I correct in understanding that since I am leaving my flip-down monitor as it is, I already have power going to the monitor and that I only need to tap the red and grey wires?

Seems SybErkRimInAL has done the exact same thing I am doing..if you can chime in Syber, that would be awesome!