Rear View Mirror w/Camera Wiring Question

[harrydunn]

Was curious if anybody has experience running the reverse wire from an aftermarket rear view mirror with backup camera down to the drivers side footwell to tap the Cruiser's reverse wire. I've run wiring several times in vehicles but just wanted to know about how difficult it was to run it across the headliner and A-pillar on a 100. Thanks!

 

[saucebox]

That should be pretty easy to do. The A-pillar trim pops right off after removing the handle, and the headliner is plenty flexible after removing the sun visors.

 

[Pyrenees]

That should be pretty easy to do. The A-pillar trim pops right off after removing the handle, and the headliner is plenty flexible after removing the sun visors.

Wish I'd known all of the above when mounting my dash cam. I tried installing without removing that stuff, gave up, and ran it across the bottom of the dash instead.

 

[saucebox]

One additional thing, since I guess I can only think in fits and spurts:

The clip that holds the sun visor: one screw, and one push-type friction fit. I had to pull on them pretty hard, to the point where I was questioning if I would break them. It's probably much smarter to use one of the plastic trim tools and pry down gently.

 

[Planotx100]

I installed a rear view mirror with screen/camera combo. It was really easy to run the wiring and install the camera in the tail gate. The hard part was the new rear view mirror mounting. The windshield doesn’t just have a little wedge glued to it like most, it has a special big plate with screws. There isn’t a universal adapter to use to install the new mirror with the screen built in. I had to fabricate one.

 

[harrydunn]

Hmmmm...pic? I don’t mind fabricating...to a point.

I installed a rear view mirror with screen/camera combo. It was really easy to run the wiring and install the camera in the tail gate. The hard part was the new rear view mirror mounting. The windshield doesn’t just have a little wedge glued to it like most, it has a special big plate with screws. There isn’t a universal adapter to use to install the new mirror with the screen built in. I had to fabricate one.

 

[Planotx100]

here are a few pics. Sorry for the lighting. This was a fairly new windshield and it had the little ingot already installed. As you can see, it come with a very awkward shaped ingot with two places for screws. The stock mirror has one screw that you can easily remove and see this little wacky black frame and insert in it. So somehow you have to get a flat surface on there to have something for the new mirror to install on. Gluing a new ingot on doesn’t really work because of the factory one is big and well placed. Basically I got a flat piece of metal, shaped it and drilled a hole to use the factor screw to hold it on. I welded one of the “universal” mounts that came with the mirror to it. Hope that helps. I know it’s not ideal, but i don’t ever notice it because it’s back behind the mirror and out of sight.

The problem is that the factory little black frame and insert (the part that says 375. It’s not attached, just floats there and held on by the screw pulling it forward) don’t really give you anything to hold on to for a mount.

 

[Planotx100]

A few more of the install

 

[harrydunn]

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

[TLC Norway]

A few more of the install

View attachment 1847088

View attachment 1847089

Interested in your setup, what mirror and backup camera is that?
Looks like something i'd like.
Can the backup camera also be turned on whenever?

P

 

[Planotx100]

Interested in your setup, what mirror and backup camera is that?
Looks like something i'd like.
Can the backup camera also be turned on whenever?

P

I think it was the Auto-vox T2. It was a pretty basic setup with the power wire run to reverse lamp on the driver’s side. It only turns on when it’s shifted in to reverse. You could probably rig it differently.

Since then, I have purchased a ‘99 LC that already had a upgraded double din head unit with a camera plug in the back. The previous owner hadn’t set it up. I bought a $20 camera off eBay and wired it the same way and it works (although the wire path in the tailgate was different and not quite as simple as in our ‘00 model)

I will say that I prefer the rear view mirror screen placement over the head unit, but still cringe at the thought of all of the modifications I had to do to the adapter for the aftermarket screen/mirror to attach to the windshield.

 

[dividedan]

I think it was the Auto-vox T2. It was a pretty basic setup with the power wire run to reverse lamp on the driver’s side. It only turns on when it’s shifted in to reverse. You could probably rig it differently.

Since then, I have purchased a ‘99 LC that already had a upgraded double din head unit with a camera plug in the back. The previous owner hadn’t set it up. I bought a $20 camera off eBay and wired it the same way and it works (although the wire path in the tailgate was different and not quite as simple as in our ‘00 model)

I will say that I prefer the rear view mirror screen placement over the head unit, but still cringe at the thought of all of the modifications I had to do to the adapter for the aftermarket screen/mirror to attach to the windshield.

Let’s jump in the way back machine to 2019! How is that camera holding up? My nav 2003 needs something to help with reversing. Between car seats and swing outs and attic racks I can’t see a GD thing and that’s not even loaded up for a trip.