How do I find my Reverse signal wire?

I have an 05 Tacoma. I installed an aftermarket head unit recently and it came with a free back up camera. I wired everything up except for the reverse signal wire. Right now the camera works all the time by selecting that video input on the head unit, but I want it to come up automatically when I shift to reverse. However, I don’t know how to find my reverse signal wire. The only sure ways I can think of are to wire it directly to my backup lights or my reverse switch on my manual transmission, but I would really like to wire it up under the dash away from the elements. Has anyone done this successfully?

 

I know it'll be under the door sill plastic. Do I know which wire, no. @Jimmyh might though.

 

The wire you seek is a red wire with a white stripe in connector ID2 in the Frame Wire and Instrument Panel Wire (Left Kick Panel). Terminal # 1

 

I just tapped off the reverse light which I used to power the camera also.. So when the reverse light goes on it turn on the camera and tells the head unit also.

 

If you often have a blocked rear view (e.g., a camper shell, or a back seat filled to the ceiling with stuff), consider also adding a manual switch somewhere on your dash, to bring up the rear camera view while driving. It can be handy.

If you go this way, you will need to add a diode between the switch and the reverse wire.

 

Or just a SPDT (Single Pole Double Throw) switch...

 

Hey @will84. Any updates?

 

I’ll ask the question here, before I ask it more generally. I have a 2013 MT and the reverse lights, camera and beep started only turning on intermittently and then they stopped working altogether. Is this a fuse issue or a bad reverse switch? Any help diagnosing/fixing is greatly appreciated!

 

Well the fuse provides the juice and the switch provides the on/off...so replace the fuse and go from there.
Edit: The fuse that the reverse uses feeds other circuits. So the reverse switch is the most likely culprit.

 

@caribe makaira, thanks, I checked all the fuses and the switch. Both are fine. Any other ideas?

 

Harness...broke wire inside shield/insulation...broke terminal in connectors...lots to verify.

 

How did you check them? Did you put a multimeter on anything?

 

I checked the continuity on the fuses and I pulled the switch out (future trouble shooters see this thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/reverse-beep-and-backup-lights-not-turning-on.133113/ - it shows you what the switch looks like and part number - it's on the righthand side of the transmission housing) and checked the continuity on it too. After I put the switch back in and decided that I'd try jumping across it to just double check the circuit. I put the truck in reverse and everything worked again... I suspect I have either bad contacts or a failing switch... Thanks for the input!