Reverse Camera Install - help!

[minircc]

Hi all,

I installed a reverse camera to my 2007 Jetta today using the following simple guide.

http://www.hemanavigator.com.au/Portals/0/support/HN5_Docs/Camera%20instal_guide_v_3web.pdf

That is, video cable wired to front of car and camera powered through tapping the reverse light.

It works when i tested it without the engine running (ie. key in ignition one turn). I put it in reverse and the pretty picture shows on screen.

PROBLEM: However the camera does not work when i have the engine running and i put it in reverse. failed..

It is because VW's have some sort of power regulator to the reverse light stopping enough power going to the camera when the engine is running?? I can't think of anything else.

I have wired it this way for many other cars and it works fine.

fyi, i have an ebay GPS rns510 look-a-like head unit. (works fine)

[Idle]

Hi all,

I installed a reverse camera to my 2007 Jetta today using the following simple guide.

http://www.hemanavigator.com.au/Portals/0/support/HN5_Docs/Camera%20instal_guide_v_3web.pdf

That is, video cable wired to front of car and camera powered through tapping the reverse light.

It works when i tested it without the engine running (ie. key in ignition one turn). I put it in reverse and the pretty picture shows on screen.

PROBLEM: However the camera does not work when i have the engine running and i put it in reverse. failed..

It is because VW's have some sort of power regulator to the reverse light stopping enough power going to the camera when the engine is running?? I can't think of anything else.

I have wired it this way for many other cars and it works fine.

fyi, i have an ebay GPS rns510 look-a-like head unit. (works fine)

That's not likely — quoted camera draw is 90ma and the reverse light circuit is quite capable of running two lights, which would pull about 4A. Quite a few VW owners have converted the rear fog to a reverse light by simply connecting the two lamps together (and removing the red lens, of course.)

I'd expect it to still work even with two reverse lights connected — the relevant fuse is probably 7.5 or 10A.

Does the reverse light still work when the camera doesn't? My thought is that you may have it wired to the wrong terminal — check it with a multimeter.

[minircc]

That's not likely — quoted camera draw is 90ma and the reverse light circuit is quite capable of running two lights, which would pull about 4A. Quite a few VW owners have converted the rear fog to a reverse light by simply connecting the two lamps together (and removing the red lens, of course.)

I'd expect it to still work even with two reverse lights connected — the relevant fuse is probably 7.5 or 10A.

Does the reverse light still work when the camera doesn't? My thought is that you may have it wired to the wrong terminal — check it with a multimeter.

yeh, i found it strange also.
i don't believe it is incorrectly wired because i tapped the wires directly behind the reverse light. so i am pretty sure i have the right wires.

i thought that also, that i may have tapped the boot switch. but that doesn't make sense also because i can open the boot when the engine is running.

the reverse light still works when the camera doesn't.

i might have to resort to tapping into the 12v cigarette socket in the boot.. more wiring

however, if i do that, how can i ensure the camera is only on when in reverse?

[Idle]

yeh, i found it strange also.
i don't believe it is incorrectly wired because i tapped the wires directly behind the reverse light. so i am pretty sure i have the right wires.

i thought that also, that i may have tapped the boot switch. but that doesn't make sense also because i can open the boot when the engine is running.

the reverse light still works when the camera doesn't.

i might have to resort to tapping into the 12v cigarette socket in the boot.. more wiring

however, if i do that, how can i ensure the camera is only on when in reverse?

You'd probably have to wire a relay of some sort to the reverse light, which also mightn't work...

I still think it's a wiring problem, though. Have you tried it with the bulb removed from the reverse light, so that the camera is the only item connected?

It's also possible that you may have connected it to the earth terminal (I assume there is one?) instead of +12V — this would stop it from working.

Another thought is that it may be at the other end — the camera is working but the signal isn't reaching the screen.

Does the video display when the key is in position 2 (ignition on but engine not started) ?

My only experience with RVC's on VW has been with the OEM unit on Mk6 Golfs, but Jetta should be little different.

[99_FGT]

I agree wiring problem - check that you are getting 12V to the camera when the engine is running, as I'm not sure the reverse light is on when the engine isn't running.
Al..

[kamold]

I have a cheapo Chinese 8 inch nav unit with reverse camera in the license plate light.
However I have power pulled in parallel with the video cable and hooked up to a 'reverse' 12v power which came out of the head unit.
I used the license plate power only for the LED in the camera housing which lights the license plate.
Works fine.

[minircc]

Does the video display when the key is in position 2 (ignition on but engine not started) ?
.

The camera works when key is in position 2 and when engine is not on. but doesnt work when engine is on.

---------- Post added at 10:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:00 PM ----------

The reverse light does go on when the engine is not running.

[Idle]

The camera works when key is in position 2 and when engine is not on. but doesn't work when engine is on.


The reverse light does go on when the engine is not running.

I'm beginning to think the problem may be in the head unit — not the camera or its wiring.

If the reverse light is on, the camera must have power, and if it's powered it should be working regardless of the engine state.

Does your head unit connect to the canbus? If so there may be a setting that needs to be changed — it may be set to ignore video when the car is moving, for instance. My RNS510 will only display video when stationary, and there's a way to get around that. It also had to be told the camera was there before it would display the camera's input.

Do you have access to a VCDS or similar scan tool?

[mikinoz]

Measure the voltage at the connectors where you have tapped the camera when the car is running. I have a suspicion you might not have 12v once it is running.

[Idle]

Measure the voltage at the connectors where you have tapped the camera when the car is running. I have a suspicion you might not have 12v once it is running.

Since the tapping point is in the boot and it'll need to be in reverse with the motor running, be very careful and don't stand behind the car!

Use a long test lead.

However, I think the camera would work down to a voltage where the reverse light becomes pretty useless.

[iamthestig]

I also need to tap into the wires for my aftermarket camera. With the CANBUS, am I right in thinking a old school 12v test light won't show me which of the two wires to the reverse light (grey and then a brown with white line) in our Jetta is positive ? - no success to date ?

Anyone help ?

[99_FGT]

Grey is typically fog, but that is aus wiring codes so may be different (we all have a fog on one side, and a reverse on the other...)
Al..

[mikinoz]

I also need to tap into the wires for my aftermarket camera. With the CANBUS, am I right in thinking a old school 12v test light won't show me which of the two wires to the reverse light (grey and then a brown with white line) in our Jetta is positive ? - no success to date ?

Anyone help ?

Buy a multimeter.

[Idle]

Should be simple — unplug the 2 wires and the one that lights your test lamp is +.

If the wires don't unplug, remove the globe instead.

[99_FGT]

I also need to tap into the wires for my aftermarket camera. With the CANBUS, am I right in thinking a old school 12v test light won't show me which of the two wires to the reverse light (grey and then a brown with white line) in our Jetta is positive ? - no success to date ?

Anyone help ?

Doh! The test light will still work at the light end. If you have a multimeter that is a dead cert way to tell...


"This honestly, it is Winnie the Pooh with road rage". Clarkson on the new AMG C63 Black