DIY Backup camera for BeSpoke and 2014 Pioneer

[post_break]

Peek a boo!

I can confirm this works for the 2014 FRS pioneer head unit. Same exact pins, same exact connectors.


IMG_20130514_080343 by herzeleid435, on Flickr

So you bought the BeSpoke upgrade for your FRS and you want a backup camera. Well guess what, you can install one for under $20 assuming you have the following things...

Soldering Iron
Electrical Tape
40 feet of stranded wire
Tons of zip ties
A weekend

Things you will need to buy:

This camera (or get a different one)
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Vehicle-Backup-High-definition-Viewing/dp/B005CTKYB4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368411381&sr=8-2&keywords=backup+camera"]Amazon.com: Waterproof Car Rear Vehicle Backup View Camera High-definition Cmos 170 Degree Viewing Angle E363: Electronics[/ame]

What you're going to be doing is simple on paper, difficult to implement.

Wire 1:
The video wire has to go from the head unit, to the bumper.

Wire 2:
The trigger wire. This wire tells the head unit to go into reverse mode. You need to supply at least 12v, anything less and it won't work trust me.

Wire 3:
12v to power the camera. This is the tricky part...

So on paper you're probably thinking, I'll run the video wire to the bumper (wire 1), as well as the trigger wire (wire 2). I'll tap the reverse lights to do double work, power the camera, and trigger the head unit to go into reverse mode, no need to run wire 3. Wrong.

This won't work. When the car is powering the reverse lights, along with the camera, it's under 12v and it won't trigger the headunit to go into reverse mode. I've tried everything to get this to work and it just refuses to work. Whenever I powered the camera separately it worked like a chime.

So what do you need to do? Run 3 wires like I did. Maybe you can get it working with only 2 wires but after troubleshooting this for the better of an afternoon me and a friend gave up.

So you're ready to get started. Pull off the dashboard trim. Start from the bottom and give it a yank. Start with the passenger side, then work the trim around the bespoke. 4 10mm screws and the BeSpoke is out of there.

Disconnect all the adapters and grab the 28 pin connector on the drivers side. Top left one spot over from the end is empty. There is a red wire in spot 4. See photo below. The orange cable with the red arrow points to the trigger wire (Wire 2).


IMG_20130511_145706 copy by herzeleid435, on Flickr

This wire you will run from the head unit back to the reverse light. You could also find the fuse location in the fuse box on the drivers side but I decided not to go that route. You can get by with a thicker gauge wire and simply shoving it into that slot, what I did is found the tiny little metal piece that these leads actually use and soldered it to the wire, I then opened the connector just enough to feed it through. It's not easy and don't recommend it for people who are unsure as you can open the connector too much and release all of the wires. Bad news bears.

Now for the camera wires (wire 1). You will need to cut the end off the video wire included with the camera. Then solder stand offs similar to those found on motherboard connectors. I picked mine up at an electronics store. They are little black square plastic ends that the pins of the head unit insert into.

Top right hand pin is video, bottom right hand pin is ground. This connection has no connector and is unused so you wont be plugging anything into it other than these 2 pins.


IMG_20130511_145717 copy by herzeleid435, on Flickr

I sourced a 12v line from the fuse box that is only on when the car is on. I believe I used the 12v accessory power. Using an add a fuse run this wire to the head unit to join the other 2 wires going to the trunk. See I told you this wasn't going to be fun.

Now for the fun part, run these three wires to the trunk. I ran mine through the glove box, down the kick panel, under the carpet, under the back seat, to the trunk. You will need to remove the weatherstripping, the rear wall panel, and the rear seat to do so.

Now you need to get these wires outside. Taking everything out of the trunk I found a hole that feeds to a plug down the crash beam. See this photo for reference.


IMG_20130511_194447 copy by herzeleid435, on Flickr


IMG_20130511_194459 copy by herzeleid435, on Flickr

This is the plug, I cut a notch and fed the wires through it making it somewhat waterproof.


IMG_20130511_194507 copy by herzeleid435, on Flickr

Now that the wires are under the car feed them behind the bumper, zip tie the crap out of them and make sure you use split loom and electrical tape.

You're going to pull the passenger side bulb out of the reverse light and cut some of the black plastic shrink tube. Green wire is 12v, black is ground. Solder the trigger wire (wire 2) to green. Solder the ground from the camera power to the black wire. Solder the power wire for the camera to your 12v feed (wire 3).

This will provide 12v to the camera at all times. I don't like this setup and will be adding a relay to the mix. Essentially the relay will kick on supplying that 12v fee (wire 3) to the camera the second the reverse lights kick on. This is so much more complicated that I wanted but will greatly increase the back up camera's lifetime.

Now that you've got everything soldered and zip tied enjoy your stupid little backup camera. You'll be cursing yourself considering it was "only $15" for the stupid thing.


IMG_20130512_201241 copy by herzeleid435, on Flickr

I mounted mine right below the lower fog light. You can mount yours wherever you like.

[GT 86 Brah]

[JDMskier]

That is really nice! Good job!

I wonder if how different this would be on a BRZ.

[SLICVIC]

Originally Posted by JDMskier

That is really nice! Good job!

I wonder if how different this would be on a BRZ.

+1 id like to see a write up for the brz headunit

[continuecrushing]

Are you able to switch to the rear view camera while driving, or does it have to be in reverse?

Thanks for the write up, I knew there had to be a cheaper solution than buying a $70 harness adapter thing to use for this

[post_break]

Originally Posted by Shutter

Are you able to switch to the rear view camera while driving, or does it have to be in reverse?

Thanks for the write up, I knew there had to be a cheaper solution than buying a $70 harness adapter thing to use for this

This is a great question, and to answer, yes! Instead of running a wire to the reverse lights just tap a constant 12v source and put a switch in. Flip the switch to the trigger wire and bam, camera is on while driving.

[JimmyMac]

Nice write up. I think I'm gonna install this on a switch. I'd like to put one on the front bumper too so that I don't run into any curbs while parking the car, hee hee.

[post_break]

Originally Posted by JimmyMac

Nice write up. I think I'm gonna install this on a switch. I'd like to put one on the front bumper too so that I don't run into any curbs while parking the car, hee hee.

You could go even further and have a front and back switch. Although that would require even more wire to route.

[JimmyMac]

Originally Posted by post_break

You could go even further and have a front and back switch. Although that would require even more wire to route.

Actually that's what I'm gonna try and do.

[l0aded]

definitely going to do this one. thanks

would it be difficult to put this on the trunk lid instead of on the bottom of the car or would wires be exposed?

[jmelgar23]

Someone do this for the BRZ!

[Tony Mac]

Originally Posted by jmelgar23

Someone do this for the BRZ!

I installed the Rydeen Duo on my BRZ. Check this thread for all the information you need: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17020

[jmelgar23]

Originally Posted by Tony Mac

I installed the Rydeen Duo on my BRZ. Check this thread for all the information you need: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17020

Awesome, thanks!

What part of NY you in? Maybe you can help out if I mess it up lol

[YamahaR86]

Do you have a picture of the 12v fuse line? The only wire I'm doubting myself on.