Backup camera installed in FR-S

[babydriver]

This is a bit of a cautionary tale for anyone planning to install a backup camera in their twin. All of the aftermarket cameras seem to have this same problem with installing the 12V reverse trigger wire. The problem is not with the wire itself, but with the connector on the head unit.

I installed a Camera Source backup camera in my FR-S this past weekend. Everything was relatively easy EXCEPT for inserting the 12V reverse trigger pin into the 28 pin connector (plugs into the back of the BeSpoke head unit). That turned out to be a problem, as the rectangular plastic retaining "clip" on the plug simply refused to release. At the point where I started chewing up the plastic with my tiny screwdriver, I decided I'd better call CS. They were quite helpful and said that this step was the one that gave most people trouble.

His suggestion was that I run a thin wire through the #2 pin slot on the plug and then wrap it around the corresponding pin on the back of the HU. What I ended up doing was using a 16 gauge solid copper wire pushed through the connector to make contact with the pin, with the other end of the (short) wire soldered to the 12V trigger wire. Since neither pin 1 nor pin 3 are connected to the HU in the stock configuration, there is no danger of a short. Once this was done, the camera worked like a charm.

If the copper wire eventually fails to make contact with the pin (which I expect at some point), I plan to go back and wrap a solid core #28 wire around the pin and very carefully solder it in place (or use solder paste to avoid the heat). That wire will be passed through the 28 pin plug and attached to the green 12V trigger wire. Meanwhile it works, and so "if it ain't broke don't fix it." If I ever have to remove the plug from the back of the HU, I'll have to cut the wire and resolder it after I'm done, so I'll leave plenty of slack to resplice it later.

The instructions for the Camera Source BUC are not great. There is an online video that is helpful and the instructions for the Beat-Sonic BUC have some good illustrations about opening up the 28 pin clip, assuming that you can actually get it open.

Here is the link to the Beat-Sonic instructions:

http://beatsonicusa.com/DIY/DIY_2013_Scion_FRS.pdf

Even so, the Beat-Sonic has the same problem as the Camera Source kit, connecting the 12V trigger to the damn #2 pin on the 28 pin connector!

The Camera Source kit is excellent and does well in daylight or at night. Also, their customer service is first rate. Highly recommended!

https://camera-source.com/products/t...kup-camera-kit

Link to installation video:


https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...669668B9D684BC

[bruizerrob]

You can take the connector apart. The thin white strip on top makes it easy once you pop that loose.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

[babydriver]

Originally Posted by bruizerrob

You can take the connector apart. The thin white strip on top makes it easy once you pop that loose.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

That's the strip I mean! Popping it loose wasn't gonna happen, even though I bent a small screwdriver trying to work it loose. Maybe it was made "too well"?

[RickyBobby]

I did not have any problem installing the reverse trigger wire into the 28 pin connector. You only have to open the retention latch slightly on the side of the connector where the reverse trigger wire will be inserted and make sure that the contact terminal on the end of the wire is orientated correctly before inserting it. The contact terminal has a tiny fin that should face up towards the retention latch side of the connector.
See my post in this thread: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showp...5&postcount=20

Aso see SVXdc's and AutoHarnessHouse's websites for detailed instructions and pics.
http://ae64.com/Rear-camera-install-16p-BeSpoke.htm
http://ae64.com/Pin_insertion_extraction.htm
http://www.autoharnesshouse.com/19867_add.html