Before doing the total installation I wanted to make sure it would work. I solved Friday's power problem by fixing the faulty connector. These photos were taken in my garage. I'm holding the B-U camera in one hand and my Nikon in the other. The image is pretty good.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/PLYYB-DSCN0603_650.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/PQXIE-DSCN0604_651.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/OCSOL-DSCN0605_652.JPG

This next image was with all the lights out to see how the IR leds and image would look. It ia B&W as expected but pretty good too.

Here are some photos of information you will need to do this installation. i got these from other posts on this board (thanks) and the information is accurate;

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/connectors.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/radio.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/radio-audio.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/radio-video.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/conn_PN.JPG

You can get by without the shell. You only need the video connector and 2 pins to do just video. If you want to connect an XM unit to the rear aux you need the audio connector and 3 pins.

more to follow....

Some photos of the installation so far:

The camera and 2 radio hook up adapters I put together, one for me and one for Charlie (Grrrr8):
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0607_654.JPG

Hole drilled in trunk lid:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0608_655.JPG

Camera mounted:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0609_656.JPG

Will file grommet hole with RTV once everything is done:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0610_657.JPG

Another view of camera. The lights beside the camera lense are IR LEDs for use at night:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0611_658.JPG

I ran the cable inside the trunk lid. The long cable that came with the camera had to be cut because the connectors on each end are too big to fit through the rubber conduit. i cut it about 3 feet from one end. Make sure you check the connectors. They are not the same on each end and you want a 3 foot piece that connects to the cable that os part of the camera:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0612_659.JPG

This is the camera cable connected to the 3 foot extension that has been pulled through the rubber conduit. I secured the mated connectors to the trunk lid ribbing with cable ties.

Except for putting the bottom of the conduit back in place, this is the finished install in the trunk lid:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0614_661.JPG

Moving to the front. The lower panel on the side of the console has been pulled straight down and then the side panel of the center stack was pulled down to gain access to the side of the radio. You can see some of the previous wiring to add my XM. There is a 12v cig receptacle in there with the XM power supply plugged in and the audio adapter cable:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0615_662.JPG

Getting the video connector installed is a B*#%H unless you want to remove the glove box door, etc. i didn't. I found that if you bent the 2 wires down with the connector oriented with the red wire at the bottem you can hold the connector by the cables as shown with long tweezers or needlenose pliars. With a flash light to see, you can reach up and work the connector in place. I did not use the connector shells so some duct tape or the like to hold it in place will prevent if from working loose. I don't think it is really needed but can't hurt:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/DSCN0616_663.JPG

Console buttoned up and cable waiting for the extension to be run along and inside the lower passenger side molding to reach to the trunk. I have it run and am next addressing camera power.

The easiest thing is to power it all the time but i wanted it powered only when in reverse so I found the back-up light 12v feed wire in the trunk. The cable splice is located rigth there also so I will add a wire at the splice to run over and tap into the 12 volt like. I have not decided where to tap into ground. I am leaning toward doing it in the consol near the radio. It would mean getting back into the consol but it is easy. I'll post more photos as i finish the hook-up.

Here is how the BU camera works. You need to turn on rear Aux in the radio setup menu. Then to get the image you need to press the AUX button and be or move to "Revearse". You get the image. If you leave Rev, image goes away and you have a blank display (it will display settings in you make a change) until you press the Band button, then it will return the screen to where you were before video. I use XM through the rear aux so I'm in AUX to listen to it. Therefore anytime I'm stopped or going under 5 mph, [No video is displayed above 5 mph-period. You need Video in motion (VIM) for that and that is $400+] my sceen blanks (it would show the rear view if i was finished and as soon as I'm going 5mph+ it goes back to the normal Rear aux display screen with all settings displayed.

Here are the last batch of photos:

Prepping the cables to be spliced back together:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/09478652-DSCN0618_665.JPG

Partially spliced:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/86605115-DSCN0619_666.JPG

Splice complete with added wire to tap into the back-up light feed. It is the bright green wire in the bundle.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/0103110805-DSCN0620_667.JPG

After dressing in and ty-wrapping the cables in place, the trunk isback together:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/746171058-DSCN0621_668.JPG

Shots from the camera with and without flash. The flash washed it out.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/15864362-DSCN0622_669.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/85787599-DSCN0623_670.JPG

This was not hard to do, just a little time comsuming. If the ribbon cable connector fits all you need is a camera kit, some splices and a video RCA jack from Radio Shack and basic soldering skillls and you could have a Back-up camera too.
Ed

To view video you have to be in the aux mode by pressing the AUX button. That switches the source to Aux. If you press Band, it takes you back to the source you were listening to before you pressed Aux. I have my XM receiver wired into my rear Aux audio connector so I am usually in Aux anyway. In this case, the way I'm wired to the back-up light power feed, anytime those lights are on and I'm stopped or doing less than 5 mph, the video shows AND the XM continues to play. The down side is that anytime I'm stopped or moving less than 5 mph w/o the BU lights on, my screen is blank.

There are other, easy to get connectors that will work. the pins and rows are on .10" centers and only 2 pins are used for the video connection. Three are used in the other connector for audio.
G8smitty found that the little, black 2 pin, .1 center connectors used in computers, etc. will fit and can be found at most computer stores.

Hats off to G8smitty. good find. i was looking at ribbon cable connectors and think a 10 pin connector centered in the radio's connector would work also but G8smitty's are easier to find, cheap, cheap, cheap and simple.

Awesome job and great information! ;)

Thanks and with the new connectors that will fit, it should be even easier.

Wow. Great job. Thanks for the informative post. Well done! :)

Nice work!

Where did you get the camera from?

^ Now guys be nice..we don't want to loose another useful guy to the dark side.

Cheers!

^ Now guys be nice..we don't want to loose another useful guy to the dark side.

Cheers!

I'm a NOOB here...was there something wrong with my post? It was an honest question.

I'm a NOOB here...was there something wrong with my post? It was an honest question.

It's a long and sad story but you did nothing wrong by asking. I got it from one of those establishments on-line that lets you offer a payment amount during some period of time and the one who offers that highest price by the end of the specified time period get to pay that price ad received the item.:wink2::wink2:

Ok, so I wonder, if anyone ever figures out how to defeat the VIM lockout, could you create a switch to swap between input sources.....

So it's not a G8 specific camera I take it?

It's all in the connectors. Almost any camera made (US) for automotive use and that can withstand the outside perils ought to do it.

Cheers!

It's all in the connectors. Almost any camera made (US) for automotive use and that can withstand the outside perils ought to do it.

Cheers!

That is correct. I bought a universal, CCD, not CMOS, license plate mount, mirror image camera that I found in an auction search. It was $100.

Here is some additional information:

A mating jack for the typical video plug is Radio Shack # 274-0337. You would wire one of these to the connector you use to plug into the radio video input.

For the rear audio jack, use R/S number 274-274.

Camera update.

It is real good for making sure none of the kids or their bicycles or anything else is in your blind spot before backing up. Not so good for using as you back up because 5 mph comes way too fast. Other than that it works very well.

I've made cables for a couple of buddies using dual-in-line connectors that I modified to work. If you are having trouble finding connectors, other parts or cable, PM me. The Radio Shach plug Video and audio, numbers are in one of my earlier posts. The connectors and pins for the dual-in-line connectors I used are not gererally available to the public but the Amp P/N is 1-87456-4 and you will need crimp pins to go with them. These are 18 pin connectors for the video and I cut them down to 12 pin for the audio. The 2-pin connectors G8smitty used should work fine, also, and would be the least expensive route to go if you are making your own harnesses.

Ed,

Awesome job man. Now that I see the whole picture (pun intended), I'll definitely be doing this. Thanks for the cables.

Ray

Jnak: You did nothing wrong. Some of us just push the limits. Not me of course. :)

My pleasure Ray. Here is a photo of the cables. I threw in a couple pieces of protective wrap in case you need it. If anybody is interested, I've got parts to make a couple more sets.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/RCMUC-12891704-DSCN0625_672.JPG

My pleasure Ray. Here is a photo of the cables. I threw in a couple pieces of protective wrap in case you need it. If anybody is interested, I've got parts to make a couple more sets.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-11/65524/RCMUC-12891704-DSCN0625_672.JPG

ahh, yeah, I'm interested.

PM me and let me know what the deal is.

Thanks

ahh, yeah, I'm interested.

PM me and let me know what the deal is.

Thanks
PM sent.

Hey... I am a new G8 GT owner, as of last week, and a convert from the GP GXP. I would love to get the parts to make these AV plugs for the Rear Aux. I really don't want to spend the money on the plugs the JPH site is asking for, and don't care about 5mph+ video. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks