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I've done this mod because it's a pitta to reverse with precision with this car. I wanted to install a backup camera without changing drastically the look of the car so I came up with this solution.
I purchased a 3.5 inch screen and camera on ebay for about 15$ CAD each (links when you click the words). I split open the screen casing so that I could remove the screen holder and make the screen thinner. I installed the screen in the sunglass holder with hot glue. For the camera, I drilled a hole at the factory location on the trunk. If drilled at the factory location, you will only drill through the black plastic. To know where it is, you have to look inside the trunk and locate the factory hole. I didn't want to drill through metal so that I don't have to worry about rust. I tapped the power for both the screen and camera at the 12V cigarette plug.
I wanted the screen to turn on when I open the sunglass holder and turn off when I close it. I used a magnetic reed switch (usually used in home alarm systems for the doors) combined with a small 12V relay. When a magnet comes close enough to the reed switch, it closes the circuit thus powering on the screen. A relay is necessary because the reed switch cannot handle the power consumed by the screen.
I have a black headliner, so the screen blends with the surrounding and the wires are almost invisible.
Installation took me about 3 hours. To do this properly, you need to be confident at removing a lot of panels. I spent some extra time to insulate the wires with felt tape so that they don't rattle.
Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures while installing.
Very nice. Any reason you didn't just tap into the back-up light wires?
I suppose doing it the way he did, if the sunglass/monitor case is closed and he puts it into reverse, the camera/monitor won't turn on this way. If he tapped into the backup light, the camera and monitor would turn on, even if the cubby was closed.
Whether or not this was intentional or accidental, I see it's a pretty eloquent solution.
Good job leo!
Only nit I have is the monitor install. It could look a bit cleaner if you could recess the screen into the foam or somehow make a face plate so it doesn't look tacked on. But function before form; I like this!
cu2wagon, you're right about that. Another thing, the backup camera can also be turned on while moving forward, so its always functional while the car is on. It doesn't have to be on reverse.
iCrap, I ran the wires through the passenger A-Pillar, there's also the wire for the dash cam going through there.
pbook4g5, Sunglasses still fit the compartment. The screen, after been dissected, is only 5-6mm thick. I once removed everything to dynamat the whole car, including the floor, so it was easy for me to run the wires.
So getting from the trunk into the cabin was relatively easy, I would assume?
(And more difficulty on the wagon, one would assume)
It's not too bad in the sedan. You run the wires in the area by the door sills and then through the lining on the side of the trunk. Once you get in there and fish around it'll make more sense.
pbook4g5, I don't know if its possible, but maybe you can run the wire (power and video) through the whole roof in the wagon and directly through the rubber boot (to the trunk door). And get power directly from the reverse light (so no need to pass a wire through the pillars)
For my backup camera, the video cable has also a power cable on it, so it would be a single wire going from the camera to the screen. The ground would be one of the bolts.
cu2wagon, you're right about that. Another thing, the backup camera can also be turned on while moving forward, so its always functional while the car is on. It doesn't have to be on reverse.
iCrap, I ran the wires through the passenger A-Pillar, there's also the wire for the dash cam going through there.
pbook4g5, Sunglasses still fit the compartment. The screen, after been dissected, is only 5-6mm thick. I once removed everything to dynamat the whole car, including the floor, so it was easy for me to run the wires.
How did you assure no interference with the side curtain airbags?
ceb, I removed the A-Pillar panel, ran the wires parallel with the existing wires with zipties, I made sure to not interfere with the side curtain airbags. I had to purchase a new clip at the dealership to put it back correctly. I have the car's service manual so I always study the car before doing the mods to make sure everything is done properly the first time.
I did what the manual said to do, hit a specific place on the pillar with a hammer, that will break the clip holding it in place. You have to replace the clip with a new one though. I didn't want to risk the chance of bending the plastic clip holder on the pillar itself by pulling the pillar (without breaking the clip)
i plan on doing the germin android mirror that has the screen inside it. For the backup camera you said there's a factory pre-drilled hole under the black cover?
i plan on doing the germin android mirror that has the screen inside it. For the backup camera you said there's a factory pre-drilled hole under the black cover?
There should be. HondAcura doesn't make two different trunk pieces for the trim levels. Both metal parts will have the same passage holes. You just need to pop a hole in the plastic trim piece on the outside of the vehicle for the camera to install.
Interestingly enough, I was taking the license plate frame off my license plate this weekend (I just got my car and I hate advertising for dealers), and the right license plate light clip was broken, and was being held in place by, what looked like, a cut wire. I'll have to snap a picture of it. Only thing I can think of is that the wire for the backup camera in the tech package is there regardless of the camera.
Or, maybe the previous owner ran a wire all the way back there so I'll have something to pull through. Just gotta figure out where the other end is at.
There should be. HondAcura doesn't make two different trunk pieces for the trim levels. Both metal parts will have the same passage holes. You just need to pop a hole in the plastic trim piece on the outside of the vehicle for the camera to install.
The location where the passage hole is (stock backup camera location), there's a plastic cover (about 3cm x 4cm) covering it. And then, on top of that, there's the exterior black plastic trim that's about 80cm. To remove the interior plastic cover, you have to first remove the exterior plastic trim, but I was lazy, so I drilled through the exterior black trim and the interior plastic cover. You have to locate it first inside the trunk, and drill a hole EXACTLY where the passage hole is. You don't want to drill the metal part (because it will rust)
The location where the passage hole is (stock backup camera location), there's a plastic cover (about 3cm x 4cm) covering it. And then, on top of that, there's the exterior black plastic trim that's about 80cm. To remove the interior plastic cover, you have to first remove the exterior plastic trim, but I was lazy, so I drilled through the exterior black trim and the interior plastic cover. You have to locate it first inside the trunk, and drill a hole EXACTLY where the passage hole is. You don't want to drill the metal part (because it will rust)
06-04-2015 | 03:29 PM
