DIY DIY: OEM Backup Camera Install With Auto Anytime Camera

[CurbRash]

Originally Posted by CurbRash

Thanks! Pedro and jliltd

I have been working on this today and here's what I found out:

I'm using the harness in the A-pillar. The light blue seems to be constant power. I had to use the green wire as the signal source. I applied 12V to it and the monitor/camera comes on. The only problem is that the reverse lights come on also and the gear indicator on the dash lights up "R" also.

Is there any way to keep the reverse lights from coming on and the "R" indicator from coming on?

It did the same for me when I tried using the blue wire going straight into the overhead monitor.

Thanks!

Guys,

I must clarify that I did not cut the signal wire. For testing (to make sure I had the right wire),I just spliced into the signal wire with a 12V source from the cig. lighter. In the final install I will cut the wire and wire in the switch according to jliltd's diagram. If I cut the wire and install the switch I wonder if this will keep the voltage from leaking back down the harness and turning on the reverse lights. Or maybe I need some sort of diode?

Any help?

Thanks!

[pedro66]

You must cut the wire or you feed voltage back into the ECU

[jliltd]

Cut the signal wire. It's very important to do this so you don't send signal down the vehicle harness. I'm not sure what that will do but you've already seen some of it.

[pedro66]

Switch common must go to the monitor

[CurbRash]

I'm using the switch that jliltd recommended. It has three poles on it. Which should I use for the common and which for the 12V?

Thanks!

[pedro66]

Common should be marked C or COM and is the middle connection the other 2 can go either way

[jliltd]

To answer your question as to which is common, as I posted above......

Originally Posted by jliltd

If you happen to use the same SPDT switch that I did (Radio Shack p/n 275-648) then the "common" terminal of the switch is the center post. This may not be the case with another SPDT switch so check continuity with a multitester to find out what happens when the switch is flipped to determine common:

This common center terminal of my Radio Shack switch I tied into the "common" wire going into pin 5 of the plastic connector (i.e. "in" to the Nav side). One of the remaining two outside switch posts went to the vehicle harness side of the "reverse signal" that was originally cut away from pin 5. The third and remaining switch terminal went to the new cigarette lighter wire for +12VDC. After you hook it up you can test to see which way you want the switch to position "on". I set mine up so when the paddle is down the reverse camera operates conventionally (common connects to original vehicle harness) and when up the monitor displays camera no matter what (common connects to cigarette lighter power). You may notice in my previous post showing the switch I marked "top" with a china marker on top of the assembly so I'd know which way to install it in the panel.

[CurbRash]

Thanks everyone. Another success! I got it working today.

Apparently the ECU did not like being fedback 12V. When I started the truck I got lots of warning lights on the dash.

To fix it I simply disconnected the battery, put the key in the ignition and held it at start for 15 secs. When I reconnected the battery and started all warning lights were off.

The switch works fine now!!

Now I need to reset my radio stations and clock.

Next project is to install an JL Audio amp and 10 inch sub. Hmm any DIY's out there?

[jliltd]

Some observations:

The anytime mod has to be one of the most useful modifications I have done to my Tundra. The other day I was pulling a motorcycle on a trailer and decided to check on it by flipping the switch. The tiedown had come loose on one side and the bike was balancing on the kick stand. Slowed down and stopped very gingerly and took care of the problem. There was a high-speed freeway exit and railroad crossing in my immediate path and that could have been the end of the bike had I not found the problem. I Had my father with me and he was highly impressed.

If you do this mod with the OEM Navigation unit it works fine with one caveat. If you leave the switch on for more than a couple of minutes the screen will flip back to the map view and go haywire. I think wileetundra mentioned this behavior last year in his multi-camera thread. The icon shows north up and the vehicle going in reverse on your route. A quick flip of the switch back to normal instantly corrects this but it can be confusing the first time until the switch activation is noticed. That's okay because it's probably not a good idea to leave the camera on all the time anyway due to heat build up.

[jliltd]

There may be a third way to connect to the reverse camera harness that's the easiest of all. Fellow TS member jamesryanb found that Toyota recently updated it's non-premium Nav installation instructions revealing a camera plug (JK1) behind the upper glove box. See the following link to the pdf he has provided:

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forum...tundra_nav.pdf

I hope the next DIY modder tries to find and use this plug and reports back here as to whether the pdf is correct. Of particular interest would be the availability of the mentioned "Camera Adapter Wire Harness" allegedly available at your local Toyota dealer. That would be sweet.

[pedro66]

The connection behind the upper box is really easy to get to.

1. Remove the half circle trim to the side of the glovebox that is next to the door pillar
2. Open lower box and remove the 2 screws at the top just under the upper box
3. Pull back on the lower box it will release and drop
4. This will expose 2 screws holding the bottom of the upper box
5. There are 4 more screws 2 behind the circle blanks in the upper box and 2 in the top

You may need to lift the lower box to remove the upper but it just pulls straight out the connector is directly behind on a bracket, be careful there is a airbag connector right there (Yellow)

[jondrew]

Thanks for this DIY. I almost bought an 09 Tacoma and was very impressed by the built in backup camera and monitor that is built into the rearview mirror. After seeing this DIY I started looking for suppliers of the OEM kit and was aghast to see the prices ($500-$600). I found a site on ebay selling them for $400 (plus $15 shipping) for a "buy it now" deal. I figured I should be able to find it cheaper so I started looking on the web until I found a place selling OEM toyota parts that had the monitor and camera for like $172 (monitor) and $126 (camera). With shipping it came to $336 ($38 for shipping seems pretty high, but it still less than $415).

Anyway, I'm sure you're all saying "ok, where did you buy this stuff?". Well, I'm not going to post the site until I receive the goods and make sure this is a legit deal. There was some confusion regarding the monitor's part number.

Anyway, I expect to see this sometime after Turkey Day and will do my own quick DIY just incase there are some differences between my truck and Pedro's. I do have the SR5 with bucket seats and a towing package and could see the camera's wiring harness under the truck near the bumper.

[pedro66]

Originally Posted by jondrew

Anyway, I expect to see this sometime after Turkey Day and will do my own quick DIY just incase there are some differences between my truck and Pedro's. I do have the SR5 with bucket seats and a towing package and could see the camera's wiring harness under the truck near the bumper.

If you have the harness it will be the same install and do update us with the supplier

[jondrew]

Originally Posted by jondrew

Thanks for this DIY. I almost bought an 09 Tacoma and was very impressed by the built in backup camera and monitor that is built into the rearview mirror. After seeing this DIY I started looking for suppliers of the OEM kit and was aghast to see the prices ($500-$600). I found a site on ebay selling them for $400 (plus $15 shipping) for a "buy it now" deal. I figured I should be able to find it cheaper so I started looking on the web until I found a place selling OEM toyota parts that had the monitor and camera for like $172 (monitor) and $126 (camera). With shipping it came to $336 ($38 for shipping seems pretty high, but it still less than $415).

Anyway, I'm sure you're all saying "ok, where did you buy this stuff?". Well, I'm not going to post the site until I receive the goods and make sure this is a legit deal. There was some confusion regarding the monitor's part number.

UPDATE:

Alrighty then...

Got the backup cam today, took about 10 days. I ordered it the day before Thanksgiving and it came UPS Ground. I couldnt wait to get started, so around 7 pm I pulled the tail end of the truck in my garage and got to work. Putting the camera in was a snap. Pedro's DIY is spot on (even though he has a 2007 and mine is a 2008). I'd be surprised if it took me more than 20 minutes to get the entire camera install, with wiring harness done. The only hang-ups were taking the access cover off the tailgate due to my ZLine bedliner. The pieces stuck together pretty tightly and required some persuasion with a paint scraper. Getting the little protective cable clamps secured (the one at the bottom of the tailgate and the underside of the bed) was also a bit of a pain due to excess ZLine glop on the holes.

Putting the monitor in was a bit more involved. My upper console (in the 2008) is longer than the one pictured in Pedro's DIY. I took the 4 Torx screws out as in the article, but the back end of the console would not come free. It probably just pull out somehow, but I managed to get the front end out and just let it hang so I could get to the monitor connector. I removed the front sunglass holder, drilled an access hole for the monitor connector to feed through, and put everything back together. I started the truck up, put it in reverse, and everything worked!

So anyway, where did I get this stuff? I found the lowest price on the OEM HW from a place in Texas called toyota-parts.com. Like I said, with the $38 shipping (seemed a bit high to me), the camera and back-up monitor was around $338. Everything was in OEM boxes and worked like a champ. So if you can find this stuff on ebay or whatever cheaper go for it, but consider toyota-parts.com too. Their ordering page is a bit hosed up (couldnt order on my mac, had to use explorer on a PC. The parts description page was inaccurate too when it came to the monitor for my grey interior 2008, so you may need to call them to make sure you get the right thing (I spoke to a couple of folks there and they were friendly and helpful).

Anyway, so much for the good news. The bad news (if you want to call it that) is that, at least what I've seen so far using the camera at night, the picture is somewhat underwhelming. The monitor is quite small, and it points straight back (unlike the other monitor shown in some of the follow ups to the DIY where the monitor was fixed in position and tilted towards the driver). Maybe I'll like it better during the day. I'm glad I didnt spend more than I did, because if I had spent$600 or $700 for this thing I'd be really pissed. But I have it now, it works as advertised, and if you want an OEM back up cam this is it.

[FLDak]

There are two more screws at the back of the overhead console that must be removed if you want to completely take the console down. There hard to find but you have to remove the rear dome light and bulbs to gain access to them.

Hope this helps,
Later...