Backup Camera installed in Roadster

[axeman71]

As many of you know the '10 models have a new navigation system and current backup cameras and modules like the NavTool do not work with the new nav. Also, with the roadsters, running wires from the trunk area to the cabin is different from the coupes because of the closed trunk design.

I installed a backup camera and wired it to the aux input. The camera is only powered when the car is in reverse but the nav screen does not automatically switch to the camera when in reverse, I have to manually put the unit in aux mode to see the picture. This will do for now until someone makes a camera or unit that will plug in to the nav and automatically turn the screen to the camera when in reverse.

I also modded the nav unit to allow watching the aux input without pulling the parking break and I attached a switch to the VSS (vehicle speed sensor) so I can use all the nav menus while moving.

I followed Zyonara's DIY (DIY: Rearview Camera & DVD) for the basics of the camera install. He was using the NavTool module in his '09 so disregard that part of his install and focus on the camera installation and wiring. Make sure to go to page 2 of the thread, rarwz added some additional pics and info about the install and removing the dash and radio components.

I also followed toc2rta's thread (Nav/Dvd hack for 2010) for the VSS and parking break bypass. Scroll down about half way on the first page to see some great pics of the '10 radio wiring harness and which wires to modify.

The following steps are not the complete install just the portions that are different from the above links for Roadster models.

1) Remove the mats, tire repair kit (or spare tire if you have one) and all the liners in the trunk. The liners come out easily by removing the clips. Start with the center piece in the back of the trunk (up against the well for the folded top) and work your way around both sides. There is one hidden clip on each side of the trunk up under the side edge of the trunk opening. To remove the hard plastic piece at the front of the trunk first pop the trunk release loose (just pull the release and the plastic piece it is in) remove the visible clips, then pull up on the plastic piece, there are 4 clips on the underside that will pull loose. Then remove the foam pieces by unscrewing the plastic disks holding them in place. Your trunk should now be empty.

2) If you want to mount your camera in the plastic blank like I did carefully insert something in the bottom of the blank and it pops out easily. I put some electrical tape on a metal paint scraper and used that. I purchased a camera from ebay that came with a drill bit that is the same diameter as the camera. I used that bit to drill a hole in the plastic blank. I inserted the camera in the hole and ran the wires through the empty hole in the bumper, behind the foam and over the top of the metal bar behind the bumper. See Pic1.jpg

3)I then reached under the car between the bumper and the muffler and pulled the wires through. This was a tight fit (I have rather small arms) I suggest having your wife or kid do this if your arm is too big). I then pulled the grommet loose on the passenger side of the car and fed the wires in there. See Pic2.jpg

3) I attached the power wire of the camera to the small orange wire (there are 2 orange wires one bigger, one smaller) in the bundle on the drivers side of the car (see DIY above for pics) and grounded the other wire.

4) In the cabin behind the passenger seat pull the door holding the car manual down till it pops 3 times then pull the door out. There is a rectangular cover on the right side of the opening, carefully insert a screwdriver and pull the cover off. I could just see a little light coming through from the open trunk. See Pic3.jpg, you can just see a little light coming through on the left had side of the opening.

5) Following where I saw the light, I went back to the trunk and fed the RCA cable for the camera into the back corner of the trunk under the speaker on the passenger side. See Pic4.jpg (the small black wire coming up from the bottom center of the picture is the wire I was feeding through). To get it through, I stuffed about 2 feet of the wire into the small opening then went around to the cabin, reached into the hole and felt around till I found the wire. Again this is a small opening so a kid is the best option for getting an arm in there.

6) Since this is a temporary setup I did not try and remove the center console and feed the wire under it, I just ran it into the storage area with the aux input. See Pic5.jpg.

7) Now put everything back together. See Pic6.jpg for a pic of the installed camera.

8) At this point I followed toc2rta's instructions referenced above to bypass the VSS and parking break.

[Trips]

Thank You for taking the time to do this DiY.
A MegaRep to you.

[Elihuspeaks]

Thanks for the description. Written like a true engineer

[Umarali]

I just installed my camera today. Found this thread after doing myself. I alao chose to use this blank instead of getting the camera which comes as the tag light replacement camera. I bought this camera from Fry’s for $7.99 and it came with the drill bit. I took my time to run cables throught the back of bumper and used same opening to bring only yellow cable inside trunk. I connected power cable to the back light to black cable and green/yellow cable so it works only when put in reverse. I opened the top half way and then lifted leather cover where the top sites and ran cable through speaker where u ran and left there for now. Tomorrow i will start pulling apart center console and try to run cable from that space under center console to the back of radio. Just trying to run stealth mode for cable. I bought boss audio bv9386nv to replace old radio since mine doesnt have nav. Will update later on stereo installation

[Umarali]

Originally Posted by Umarali

I just installed my camera today. Found this thread after doing myself. I alao chose to use this blank instead of getting the camera which comes as the tag light replacement camera. I bought this camera from Fry’s for $7.99 and it came with the drill bit. I took my time to run cables throught the back of bumper and used same opening to bring only yellow cable inside trunk. I connected power cable to the back light to black cable and green/yellow cable so it works only when put in reverse. I opened the top half way and then lifted leather cover where the top sites and ran cable through speaker where u ran and left there for now. Tomorrow i will start pulling apart center console and try to run cable from that space under center console to the back of radio. Just trying to run stealth mode for cable. I bought boss audio bv9386nv to replace old radio since mine doesnt have nav. Will update later on stereo installation

So finally finished installation today. Had to take apart center console and ran cable through there neatly. When hooked cable to stereo and put car in reverse no pic on screen. Then realized that there is reverse cable on stereo which needs to get signal from reverse gear. Instead of opening up everything again and get through the pain of running a single 12v cable all the way back to camera, i bought a flip switch and drilled small hole right next to stereo and installed switched there. Tapped one wire from switch to 12v and other to the reverse wire on stereo, whenever i put car in reverse i flip that switch and VOILA there is backup camera. Then just flip it back whenever done backing up. I will try to post pictures of flip switch later. If anyone likes the way i tackled and have questions lemme know i will help.

[Z-Car-Marine]

Originally Posted by Umarali

So finally finished installation today. Had to take apart center console and ran cable through there neatly. When hooked cable to stereo and put car in reverse no pic on screen. Then realized that there is reverse cable on stereo which needs to get signal from reverse gear. Instead of opening up everything again and get through the pain of running a single 12v cable all the way back to camera, i bought a flip switch and drilled small hole right next to stereo and installed switched there. Tapped one wire from switch to 12v and other to the reverse wire on stereo, whenever i put car in reverse i flip that switch and VOILA there is backup camera. Then just flip it back whenever done backing up. I will try to post pictures of flip switch later. If anyone likes the way i tackled and have questions lemme know i will help.

I actually did this mod to my 370z Roadster a few years ago and it looks exactly like factory. The instructions and the kit was online at the time. I don't think they make it anymore. I think you had to piggy back off a reverse line but my camera works just like the 2011 and newer did. No toggle switch needed. The info needed is online somewhere.

[adidascanada]

Nice! I have bought a rear view cam for my roadster to wire to my pioneer deck and will refer to this when I do it. Thank!