How to Install a Reversing Camera on a Car

The installation procedure for a reversing camera is standard across most cars: if your car is recent, you may need a CAMBUS adapter box to connect the aftermarket radio to the car. This often simplifies connections; if the car is older, the systems are simpler, as shown in the video.

Disconnect the car battery, connect the RCA video cable to the "REAR CAM" input of the radio, then connect the thin red "trigger" wire to the "reverse" wire of the radio, which is often brown and is an input, not an output; this wire tells the radio that the gear is engaged.

The most time-consuming part is running the cable from the radio to the boot: it must run behind the dashboard, along the side door harness, under the door sill coverings, behind the rear seats to the boot, trying to follow the path of existing cables.

Usually, the camera mounts above the number plate, either by drilling the tailgate or using an adhesive mount.

Find the reverse light wires, connect the red power wire to the +12V of the same, connect the black wire to the vehicle's ground, and connect the "trigger" wire to the +12V of the reverse light. Now, test by reconnecting the battery: the radio screen should show the camera image with guide lines when in reverse.

If everything works well, secure the cables with ties, restore the coverings, and close everything up.