Car technology has advanced drastically over the years, which makes driving more than user-friendly. Fifty-fifty featuring autonomous driving, modern vehicles come up with plenty of amenities, such every bit rearview cameras.

But what if your machine didn't come with one or a new car isn't in the budget? Luckily, installing a backup photographic camera on your vehicle is a lot easier than you may call up and can be done for under a few hundred dollars.

This is done past attaching a modest camera to the exterior of your vehicle, allowing yous to see what's behind you lot. Here's how you lot tin do it.

Choosing Your Equipment

With a plethora of devices online and big price differences, finding the right gear may exist difficult. Rearview cameras are virtually commonly mounted with a supplied bracket or with the help of your license plate. The footage is usually displayed on your aftermarket head unit of measurement, or with the add-on of a screen elsewhere. In the latter scenario, kits volition include a separate monitor or a rearview mirror screen to embrace your manufactory mirror.

Despite the many choices on the market place, the installation process remains relatively the same, and here's how it tin exist done.

Tools needed to complete the job

Like near installations, you demand to gather the necessary parts and tools yous volition demand. The bulk of these tools probably exist in your household already, but here'southward what yous need to practise the task, all while being safe.

  • Safety Gear: Glasses and Gloves
  • Wire Strippers
  • Wire Cutters
  • Multimeter
  • Electrical Record
  • Trim Removal Tool
  • Philips or Flathead Screwdriver
  • Soldering Fe
  • Drill with assorted bits
  • Posi-tap or other electrical connectors
  • Cable Ties
  • Socket Set up
  • Rearview Camera System

These tools will apply to nearly vehicles, though not all. European vehicles utilize security bits to prevent outside tampering, so you may need Torx or Hex bits to gain admission.

Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

Disconnecting the ground cable from the car battery.

Before working on your vehicle, disconnect the basis cablevision to the battery, and ensure there is no power to the auto. Failure to exercise so may lead to electric shortages or serious injury.

Be certain to article of clothing proper safety gear, every bit the last thing you desire is to damage the new gear you lot but bought, or yourselves.

Mounting the Hardware

You need to get admission to where you are mounting the equipment. Many times, this will be simple, every bit it can be the dashboard or the rearview mirror. The simply instance where y'all won't be mounting new equipment is if you already take an aftermarket head unit that supports the feature. You would then have to get access to the rear portion of the caput unit of measurement.

In this case, we'll be using a rearview mount system. Using the supplied elastic straps, wrap your new rearview mirror onto the existing 1 in your vehicle. Ensure that the mirror has no obstructions, and maintains full functionality.

Next, y'all demand to mount the camera to the vehicle. The easiest way is by using a license plate bracket, every bit it'due south but two screws. Even so, for aesthetic purposes, you want to preserve the OEM expect every bit much as possible, so mountain it by the torso handle. This can be done using double-sided tape or by drilling into the trunk.

Image of finished rearview camera system

When you lot use double-sided tape, you need to make certain both the mating surfaces are clean, as any debris can potentially make the camera autumn off while driving. Mating surfaces tin can exist cleaned with whatever rag and isopropyl booze.

Lastly, y'all need to drill into the trunk to route the camera wire within. This step will be the same for any type of camera mount if y'all want to proceed a clean await. This step tin can be tricky, but you just need to ensure that nothing tin be damaged in the process. Equally long every bit in that location are no wires in the style, you're adept to start drilling. Serpent the wire through the hole you simply drilled and any potential trim to gain admission to the wire inside the vehicle. Although this step may vary, the concept remains the same.

Completing the Wiring

You need to locate the fuse panel, or a switched power terminal, to provide power to the rearview camera. Some vehicles have dedicated posts for this, which make it super convenient, but all cars have fuse boxes. This pace is of import, as you probably want to start your auto the next morn. If done incorrectly, the rearview camera system will continuously drain ability from your battery overnight.

Fuses like your wipers or radio only receive power when the key is switched "on", making them great sources to piggyback off of. A good fashion to exam this is by using a multimeter and checking which fuse terminals receive power when the key is switched "on".

Afterward yous verify which fuse has switched power, you need to grab a fuse tap and insert it into i of the pins of the terminal as shown in the epitome. Like previously, tuck the wires into the necessary trim to maintain a clean look.

For the rearview camera to work, the camera must know when the car is in contrary and needs a video signal. This is washed by running the supplied wire from the front end to the stop of the motorcar. This pace is relatively straightforward.

Adjacent, y'all need to supply a signal to the rearview camera. This tin can exist washed past tapping into your reverse lights. You simply detach your taillight assembly and locate the wires that run to your opposite low-cal. Grab a friend and have them press the restriction pedal. This will send power to the brake calorie-free, making information technology easier to identify which wire to tap into.

Using your multimeter, check which wire is being supplied with 12 volts. You lot need to add together the new signal wire into what is already fitted on the motorcar. The easiest method is by using a Posi-tap, or some other electrical connector, to tap the new wire into the existing one. In this case, use a twist connector to ease the process. An alternative method is past stripping the wire manually and by soldering in the new one.

Rear View camera being tested after being installed.

Subsequently completing this step, the rearview photographic camera system should exist fully operational. Check your piece of work past reconnecting the ground cable to the bombardment postal service to requite it power. So, put your car in contrary and verify if the camera is working. If yous see behind your vehicle, you're ready to reassemble the automobile and brand it look clean again.

In the event it doesn't work, double-check your work and ensure all wires are going to the correct places. Information technology's much easier fixing the consequence before the cables are tucked behind trim pieces. Reassure that the added cable doesn't interfere with anything.

Finishing Touches

After verifying that the new system works, y'all tin reassemble the car to get in look original once again. Since you lot took off some trim pieces, now is the time to reinstall them.

Typically, they will become into identify without whatever issues, though they can be a pain since at that place is another wire running under it. Tuck in the new wires behind the existing wires running inside, and use zip ties to keep things in place. After the trim is reinstalled, you are ready to bulldoze!

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About The Writer

Josh Ko (9 Articles Published)

Based in the East Declension, Joshua Ko is an automotive writer. Graduating from The Pennsylvania State University, he spends nigh of his free fourth dimension outdoors, writing, or in the garage.

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