Backing up a vehicle can be challenging, especially for beginners or for cars with tinted rear windows. In a busy era like ours, we want everything done fast and safe, including the taxing job of parking. A backup camera is a convenient way to back your car effortlessly in tricky areas, narrow streets, or parking spots. And in this article, we’re going to teach you how to install backup camera in a vehicle to save you time and effort.
A Step-by-Step Guide: Installing A Rear View Camera
Some modern car models have a backup camera that’s wired to the system, but if you don’t have one installed yet, we’ll teach you how to install backup camera in your vehicle. Before you get started with the installation, you have to get the things you need.
Things You Need To Buy
Backup camera
We recommend that you choose a backup camera specific to your vehicle type, so it’s an easier installation process. These cameras usually come with a mechanism making it easy to mount on your license plate, whether on it or behind it. You can find backup cameras at online electronic stores or most consumer shops.
Rubber grommet
You can get these wiring accessories at any hardware or electronics shop to prepare you for the installation. These round or oval grommets protect the cables from sharp cuts.
Rearview mirror or External monitor
You have two choices to make when it comes to the display for your backup camera: a monitor or a specialized rearview mirror.
- Monitor – These monitors are usually small screens mounted on the windshield. The downside of these monitors is that they consume too much space, but they are easy to see and replace. We recommend that you find a monitor designed to be compatible with backup cameras, which is why a standard video monitor may not be completely ideal.
- Internal backup monitor – This type of monitor has a small screen inside its glass that fully functions as a rearview monitor. Some models can be clipped on your mirror, but they may not be aesthetically pleasing. This is why some car owners prefer the rearview mirror with a backup monitor that conveniently shuts off when unused.
Power and video cords
- For installation, you’ll be needing cords like splitter cords with connectors tor power and video cables, two-wire power cables, and an RCA video cable. Some installation kits have these cables as part of the kits, while some use wireless technology for convenience.
After purchasing the items, we can start the installation.
Steps On How To Install Backup Camera In A Vehicle
Step 1 – Pry the interior panel of your trunk open with a flathead screwdriver.
Step 2 – Remove your rear license plate using a screwdriver and carefully unscrew them all until you remove it completely and put your screws in a safe place.
Step 3 – Drill a hole on your trunk’s exterior side, ensuring you don’t damage cables in the process. While you’re doing this, make sure the hole is big enough to accommodate the cables and wiring.
Step 4 – Install a rubber grommet around the cables of your camera near the non-splitting end, to prevent leaks and keep the wires in place.
Step 5 – Start running the cables and wires into your trunk by pulling the cables’ splitting ends through the hole until the grommet is snug in the drilled hole.
Step 6 – Find your car’s reverse light wires. These are wires connected to the car’s taillights that are connected to the dashboard. For this step, we recommend you check your car’s manual.
Step 7 – Peel the rubber covering the reverse light wires with pliers or a wire stripper. Create a hole in the middle of the exposed wires.
Step 8 – Connect the cord of your camera to one of the reverse light’s bare wires. Fuse the positive to the appropriate positive reverse wire and the negative to the negative reverse wire.
Step 9 – Connect the RCA cable to the video connector and run it along with your car to the fuse box, usually under a steering wheel.
Step 10 – Install an external monitor by following the manufacturer’s instructions, either with a suction mount or a mounting system.
Step 11 – Install an internal monitor based on manufacturing instructions. These monitors can be installed through a mirror mount or the car’s front windshield.
Step 12 – Connect the monitor’s splitter cable to the fuse box and run the monitor’s cables to the same box.
Step 13 – Tape all your wires together with electrical tape. With this step done, you’ve almost completed the steps on how to install backup camera.
Step 14 – Connect the backup camera to the power and video cable after installing the cords and the rearview monitor. Close the trunk if needed and bring the wires through the drilled hole in the license plate.
Step 15 – Mount the backup camera in place by following the manufacturer’s instructions. You can also attach some camera models by using the screws of your license plate.
Step 16 – Wrap up the process by attaching your license plate and panels.
Step 17 – Do a test by obstructing the camera view with an object to check the sharpness of the video.
NOTE: Malfunctions on backup cameras are usually caused by loose wiring. If this occurs, we recommend that you check the installation instructions for troubleshooting steps.
Conclusion
There’s nothing like easy reverse driving with the help of a rearview camera. Now that you know how to install backup camera, all you’ll need to do is check on your monitor and save yourself the hassle of moving your head from side to side to get yourself out of a tricky driveway. Here’s how to learn more about backup cameras.