CL: Rearview Camera Install Guide
09-08-2013, 03:30 PM
#1
I Wanna Beer
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Rearview Camera Install Guide
This guide covers the '01-'03 Acura CL and TL with factory navigation. For those without it, install will be different and is not covered in this guide.
Backup cameras are cheap these days and while the car isn't that big that it should require a backup camera, why not if your aftermarket headunit allows it? I picked up one with good reviews on Amazon for under $15. While the picture quality isn't the best in the world, it's more than enough for backing into a parking space.
First step is mounting the camera. Most mount right to the license plate making it pretty simple to attach them. I did find that the factory license plate bolts were too short to go through the camera mount and the plate and still fasten it. A quick trip to Home Depot for a bit longer bolt for under $2 solved that.
If you pop the 4 plastic screws across the plastic strip by the lower trunk latch, you can see a rubber grommet/plug with a wire going through it to the left, below the trunk latch. This is the power wire for the license plate lights. Simply pop that plug out, run your camera wires through and then push the plug back into place.
Time to power this thing. Grounding the camera is simple and can be done to any of the bolts that hold the passenger side tail light in. You will possibly need a deep socket to get them off but you should be able to use a pliers or wrench (they aren't on that tight). A ring connector/terminal around it and you're good.
Power wire time. While some might be OK with wiring it to the reverse lights, this means the camera is only on when the car is put in reverse. Many new headunits support viewing the camera manually at any time which allows you to view a trailer or that guy tailgating you.
On the backside of the navigation unit, you find 4 different connectors plugged in. Find the 8-pin connector that has 8 wires (this one is the first of the 3 similar connectors on the far left). If you need further reference, it is called Connector C (8P) shown here: https://acurazine.com/forums/audio-video-electronics-navigation-22/cl-navi-wiring-diagrams-300742/
Using a wire tap-in squeeze connector, connect the power wire to the yellow/black wire in pin-2. This is an accessory power wire and only powered when the car is on so it won't drain your battery keeping the camera on when the car isn't on. Using a wire tap means you'll be able to still use the factory GPS.
Now you can run the video cable (RCA) and reverse signal wire from the headunit to the trunk. I found it was much easier to send the wires through from in the backseat to the trunk rather than from the trunk into the backseat. If you pull the backseat aside close to the top, you should be able to see light if you're outside in good light. You may want to attach the wires to a coat hanger or other long skinny object and push them through. Hide them away under the doorsill (you shouldn't have to remove them as it's fairly easy to just tuck them right under). Connect them both to the headunit and the video cable in the trunk to the camera.
Lastly wire the reverse signal wire. On the same connector that we tapped the accessory power wire, there is a green/black wire. This is the reverse signal wire. It is pin-5 (refer to the thread mentioned above if you need further clarification) Using a tap connector, wire the headunits backup wire to this wire. This wire gets power when the car is put in reverse and will automatically pop the reverse camera up on your screen when you put the car in reverse.
You're done. Time to test it all. Many cars have a setting for the remote wire. Either 'Battery' or "Ground'. In this case it should be set to 'Battery' as that indicates that it should be looking for a positive voltage on the reverse wire when the car is put in reverse.
Please feel free to ask for any clarification you may need. Enjoy.
Backup cameras are cheap these days and while the car isn't that big that it should require a backup camera, why not if your aftermarket headunit allows it? I picked up one with good reviews on Amazon for under $15. While the picture quality isn't the best in the world, it's more than enough for backing into a parking space.
First step is mounting the camera. Most mount right to the license plate making it pretty simple to attach them. I did find that the factory license plate bolts were too short to go through the camera mount and the plate and still fasten it. A quick trip to Home Depot for a bit longer bolt for under $2 solved that.
If you pop the 4 plastic screws across the plastic strip by the lower trunk latch, you can see a rubber grommet/plug with a wire going through it to the left, below the trunk latch. This is the power wire for the license plate lights. Simply pop that plug out, run your camera wires through and then push the plug back into place.
Time to power this thing. Grounding the camera is simple and can be done to any of the bolts that hold the passenger side tail light in. You will possibly need a deep socket to get them off but you should be able to use a pliers or wrench (they aren't on that tight). A ring connector/terminal around it and you're good.
Power wire time. While some might be OK with wiring it to the reverse lights, this means the camera is only on when the car is put in reverse. Many new headunits support viewing the camera manually at any time which allows you to view a trailer or that guy tailgating you.
On the backside of the navigation unit, you find 4 different connectors plugged in. Find the 8-pin connector that has 8 wires (this one is the first of the 3 similar connectors on the far left). If you need further reference, it is called Connector C (8P) shown here: https://acurazine.com/forums/audio-video-electronics-navigation-22/cl-navi-wiring-diagrams-300742/
Using a wire tap-in squeeze connector, connect the power wire to the yellow/black wire in pin-2. This is an accessory power wire and only powered when the car is on so it won't drain your battery keeping the camera on when the car isn't on. Using a wire tap means you'll be able to still use the factory GPS.
Now you can run the video cable (RCA) and reverse signal wire from the headunit to the trunk. I found it was much easier to send the wires through from in the backseat to the trunk rather than from the trunk into the backseat. If you pull the backseat aside close to the top, you should be able to see light if you're outside in good light. You may want to attach the wires to a coat hanger or other long skinny object and push them through. Hide them away under the doorsill (you shouldn't have to remove them as it's fairly easy to just tuck them right under). Connect them both to the headunit and the video cable in the trunk to the camera.
Lastly wire the reverse signal wire. On the same connector that we tapped the accessory power wire, there is a green/black wire. This is the reverse signal wire. It is pin-5 (refer to the thread mentioned above if you need further clarification) Using a tap connector, wire the headunits backup wire to this wire. This wire gets power when the car is put in reverse and will automatically pop the reverse camera up on your screen when you put the car in reverse.
You're done. Time to test it all. Many cars have a setting for the remote wire. Either 'Battery' or "Ground'. In this case it should be set to 'Battery' as that indicates that it should be looking for a positive voltage on the reverse wire when the car is put in reverse.
Please feel free to ask for any clarification you may need. Enjoy.
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