So I am finally ready install my backup camera but having issues with running the wires. For those that have one above the lisence plate how did you wire it in? I was going to run power to the cigarette lighter, and then to a switch. Then run the RCA cable from camera to radio. I tested to make sure it all works and it does, not just need to run the wires.

I can't seem to find a way into the trunk area from the lisence plate?? Once in the trunk I plan to run it around and through the cromets like the trunk light is. Then follow the wires around the back wall and into the cabin. I am trying to not have to drill any holes.

Any ideas what way I should run the wires?

Ken~

Anybody ever do this?

Wouldnt you want the power to the camera to come from the back up lights? That way its only on when your in reverse. All you have to do is run one to ground and one tapped into the back up light wire inside the rear bumper.

granted not the best way to do this but i just put mine in my car this last weekend......drilled a whole behind the tailights into the trunk area and then went through the fender on pass side and back into the engine bay( if you have the patience to feed it thru or feel like monkeying with it you can run it behind the rear quarter and into the engine bay without having to drill a hole) then i tapped into the reverse light wire at the engine harness by the batterry( if your reverse switch is on the shifter you can tap into it there and hook it to your radio) i ran the power lead to the amp hookup on my stereo ( you can also use the power ant line) i drilled a hole right below the wire harness on the fire wall to pass the rca cable and wires thru and ran those under my console to my kenwood. the only wires that can be seen are those runnin along the firewall under the rear window into the cabin which can be put into loom so they cant be seen...dont know if this helps but its just the way i did it on my car( its a car i paid 500 for so deff not worried about drilling a cpl small holes on it)

Thanks spcearle, sounds like the way you did it makes sense. I should be getting my camera and head unit by the end of the week, so once I can have a look at the wiring it will probably all come together. I have my wiring for the reverse lights running just in front of the trunk (I had a 4 speed that has been converted to 5 speed), so I should be able to tap in there. I'm guessing the hot wire from the camera can go to either the green or the blue and the other one can just go to ground.

if it is a camaera you are using thru your stereo screen the hot wire on the cam goes to a hot when on feed from your stereo (like the amp preout or power antenna) there should be a reverse camera wire on the head unit and that goes to the reverse light signal which will be the green wire ...blue always has signal and the cam will alwaysbe on ....wiring it this way the camera should only come on once the car is engaged in reverse

hey i have to tell you i bought one from ebay. wireless setup so no long wires. tap the transmitter into the backup light and then inside the cabin is a receiver that plugs into the radio and a power source.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New...&hash=item4168b9f715

you can buy just the transmitters and or the whole kit. just search wireless back up camera. yea they are made in china...but then what electronic isn't.
al

[This message has been edited by ace5514 (edited 02-18-2013).]

Im not getting why your running wires all over the place. The back up lite bulb wire is a foot from the licence plate (where I assume your putting the camera) ??? Even the cars I wire up with side cameras (Lambos) in place of mirrors only have one 1/8" wire running to monitors...and those are wired type cameras.

My backup cam (Escalade) is wired to my headunit. The remote signal (blue wire) powers the cam. I like this feature because with my headunit, I can keep an eye on my hitch as I'm towing my RV.

roger,
some back up cameras are hard wired...if the camera is in or near the back, then a wire (video feed) runs from the camera at the back of the car to the monitor. my monitor is in the dash (radio). with the wireless set up, there is a transmitter near the camera triggered by the back up light and a receiver near the radio. i guess my saying running wires all over the place is a little exaggerated...lol, my bad
al

it all depends on if you have a wireless unit or a camera unit....also it depends on where the wires for your reverse light are (transmission mounted or shifter ) at most you have 2 wires and a rca cable to run out to the back( pos wire hooked to a wire on stereo to power the camera when the radio is turned on or else the camera will have power all the time or you could use a power when car on lead) and the wire to trigger the camera when you put the car in reverse...as fordrilling holes and running the wires its all in where you want to run them and how much of the car you want to pull apart to hide the wires

Is there an aftermarket back up camera that displays in a rearview mirror like some of the new Silverado's? There is not much room in a Fiero for a separate screen.

The camera is not wireless, so I have to run the RCA to the deck from above the license plate. I don't mind taking the interior apart to run the wires because it's stored for the winter so I have lots of time (this is Canada ). If I have to drill holes I will, but would rather not if I can get away with it. Looking back, I probably should have looked into wireless, but I got one that was recommended for the head unit, which a Pioneer AVH-2400BT. It's a double DIN, so I'll be doing some modifications to the bezel to make it fit, so this is all virgin territory for me. I want to do it right, and of course share my findings here when I'm done.

I got the camera installed today. I took the 'holes through the trunk' route as it seemed the easiest way. I popped off the taillights so I could get the wire up through into the trunk, then into the engine bay where the trunk light wiring goes. Attached the hot wire to the green wire of my reverse lights, and hooked the ground onto the trunk latch (finding a good ground on a plastic car can be a challenge). Fished the RCA cable up and around behind the air filter, along the firewall as far from the engine as possible, and then into the cabin through one of the shifter cable holes. I was able to do this because I had cut a slit in the grommets when I swapped cables, so the second cable tucked in nicely. Fed the cable under the console and into the back of the stereo. Everything looks pretty clean, with the exception of the 10' of extra RCA cable I had to coil up and hide under the trunk carpet

The only problem is, when I turn the unit on now, I get a black screen with a message "CAUTION Screen Image May Appear Reversed". I can hit the 'home' button on the stereo and it goes away only to pop back up 8 seconds later. From doing Google searches, this seems to be a common problem, but nobody seems to have a solution. I know this isn't really Fiero specific, but if anybody knows how to fix this I'd really appreciate it.

Now to clean up my tools....

[This message has been edited by NetCam (edited 05-19-2013).]