Backup Camera Wiring Help

Hey guys. I’m having trouble with getting the backup camera to automatically (switch to rear view cam) display on my head unit when I go in reverse. And then automatically switch back to previous screen (CarPlay, tuner, etc.) when I shift away from reverse.

Right now, I’d have to manually navigate to “Rear Camera” on my hu menu in order for it to display whenever I go in reverse.

Here’s what I’ve done:

-connected trigger (red) wire to head unit’s Reverse In (white/purple) wire.

-connected both the trigger (red) wire at the other end and camera’s power (red) wire to the power reverse taillight (green) wire.

-connected camera’s ground (black) wire to ground reverse taillight (black/white) wire.

-in my head unit setting, I’ve tried setting the Camera Input is set to both Normal and Reverse. Neither worked.

I’ve spent a couple of weeks on this forum and YouTube and I still haven’t figured it out. Closest thing to a solution is to connect the cam’s power (red) wire to a constant 12v power, but I only just want the video to show only when I reverse. Any guidance you can give is appreciated.


Here’s the model of head unit and backup camera:

eRapta ERT01 HD Backup Camera

$26 eRapta ERT01 HD Backup Camera Rear View License Plate Reverse Camera Universal for Pickup Truck Car SUV 149 Degree Perfect Angle Night Vision IP69K Level Waterproof

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KZSVD6

Sony XAV-AX100

Sony XAV-AX100 6.4" Car Play/Android Auto Media Receiver with Bluetooth,black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MF9W0GU

 

thanks for the additional links, it helps narrow down the main points. unfortunately, the camera purchase page doesn't appear to show any of the wiring diagrams or installation material.

you mention a red wire from the camera as a trigger, does the camera have a +12v wire as well as a trigger wire? how many wires do you have coming off the camera and what colors are they?

it also looks to me like you're only connecting the camera directly to the radio. aftermarket radios like this will always need a reverse input wire from the truck harnesses in order to 'know' when the gear selector is in reverse. it sounds to me like you're also missing that wire connection to the truck wiring.

according to this link, you'll need to run a wire from near the connector under the drivers seat, pin 22, the red-black wire, to your radio
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/reverse-wire-kick-panel-for-back-up-camera.565239/

alternatively, you can also run it off the actual reverse lights, but that's typically considered less than ideal because the connection point can be more exposed to corrosion and have issues later on.

i had to do something similar in my 3rd gen '18, but the wire was located further up in the drivers side kick panel.

 

soundman98, thanks for taking the time to read and checking out the links.

I attached screenshots of diagrams, with one from the PDF manual and the other from their email support. Also uploaded the cam’s manual.

The camera has 3 wires coming out.

Two thinner wires - one is a black wire (ground) and the other is red (supposedly +12v red wire). The red is connected to the positive of the reverse taillight. The black is connected to the negative of the reverse taillight.

The 3rd wire is a thicker black power wire which has an RCA female connector. I connected this RCA female to a RCA male connector (this is a separate very long black wire that has an RCA male connector at each end). Coming out at each end of these RCA male connector is a red trigger wire. This very long black wire is what I extend all the way to the Sony radio.

The red trigger wire at one end is connected to the positive of the reverse taillight (note that the other red +12v wire is also connected to the same reverse taillight).

The trigger wire at the other end is where the Sony radio is. It’s connected to a reverse input purple/white wire which coming from the back of the Sony radio.

in short, it looks like the alternative method you mentioned was I went with, or at least tried to attempt.

What am I doing wrong?

Sorry if something doesn’t make sense. I’m not very good with car audio and video.

 

ok, so looking back through everything, the camera works as-is in reverse, it just doesn't automatically switch when you select reverse, right?

if you have a volt meter available, i would check that wire coming from the camera, at the radio side to make sure it has +12v when reverse is selected. it doesn't sound like it will.

if that's accurate, i would then suggest following the link i posted previously, and add a wire from under the drivers seat connector for the reverse signal up to the radio.

it really sounds like you have everything hooked up as it should be, but i'm suspicious of their instructions and their manufacturing. the pdf instructions you uploaded have 2 different descriptions of connections, and the example video they link to in those instructions as an example of the wire connections is specifically for a wireless camera, which this isn't...

 

right, the camera works as-is in reverse, it just doesn't automatically switch when go in reverse.

I understand your suspicion with the manufacturer’s instructions. I didn’t understand some of what their technical support was trying to say to me (email conversation). Must’ve been a language barrier. So here I am haha

I’m looking to see if I have a volt meter laying around.

I have seen the link of another post in this forum that you’ve sent, before I posted my own. I found it difficult to follow. I’ll try to study it some more. I’ll definitely get back to you. Thanks again.

 

soundman98, sorry for the late reply. I am one who was affected by one of the LA fires.

Got news for you but hold on to your seat. The backup camera mysteriously started working as intended. No clue how it got resolved.

I did nothing. I do remember while I was responding to the fire evacuation, I changed the sound options on the head unit. Extra Bass to OFF, DSO (Dynamic Stage Organizer) to OFF and the treble and bass to the middle. It’s literally the same as if someone go to the head unit settings and set sound configuration to default. Only reason why I changed it was bc I prefer listening to AM stations when everything is default.

Yes, the sound reconfig has nothing to do with video or the ability of the head unit to automatically switch to backup on reverse and back to radio on drive. I can’t put a finger on it. I’m just happy that it works now!

Thanks for the replies friend