BACK UP CAMERA FOR 2012 PRIUS two TOUCH SCREEN- NON NAV

Hello,

I bought a similar "plug and play" backup camera and recently had it installed on a 2013 Prius Two (without nav), but it's acting very glitchy. When I push the power button to turn on the car, a "Toyota" screen appears on the monitor, but if I do not put it into reverse within about five seconds the monitor switches to an "Audio Off" screen and the camera won't work again until I power off the car. Otherwise, the camera seems to work OK (as long as I switch from power on to reverse right away).

Is this normal behavior for the factory installed cameras (trim levels III and higher)?

Anyway, the installer cannot figure out why it would act this way, and I cannot tell if it's just hooked up wrong or something is wrong with the camera wire itself and I should return it. They hooked it to an external monitor and the camera works OK, so I'm thinking it's the connection to the radio or reverse power. If I had the skills/knowledge, I could try figure out the problem step by step. I'm hoping the Prius group has some advice and insight.

Thanks a lot!

 

My guess is your camera power wires are not connected properly. Sounds like in your install the video camera gets its power from the back up lights. It should not!

To understand why, you need to understand how the factory backup camera system works.

In factory setup, the HU powers up the camera for 5 or 6 seconds during boot up. In those few seconds, the HU detects video signal and realizes it has a camera. From that point on, any time you put the car in reverse, the camera will work, until you shut the car off. On next start up, the whole process repeats itself.

In your case, camera power is not connected to the HU so it cannot power it up. HU therefore never detects the camera. However, if you immediately put the car in reverse (within those first few seconds), the back up lights provide power to the camera and turn it on. The HU can now receive video signal from the camera and knows it has one, so it start to process the video signal normally until next shut down.

Have your installer hook up the camera power correctly and problem will be solved

Some members have elected to hookup their camera wire to a permanent source so when ignition is on, the camera is on. In this scenario, because camera is always on, it will always get detected by HU. Not sure how this will affect the life expectancy of the camera though.
In the factory setup, the camera is on only for the initial few power up seconds, and then again only during the period car is put in reverse.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks! I think you are correct. I saw some Prius c owners reported a similar problem when they hooked their camera to the reverse light only.

The installer originally tried hooking the camera up to the HU for power but it wasn't working, so tried hooking it to the reverse light instead. I'll see if it can be hooked correctly to the HU. The camera seller also mentioned that for some cars, a trigger wire is needed (it runs from pin#2 in the 28-pin connector to the positive reverse wire). Not sure if this is required for my unit, but I'm checking on it.

 

greenlight,
I think the reason the HU power didn't work is because it was 6.5V not the 12V the camera needs. That is why the backup lights connection worked (which is 12V). I think you need a 6.5V camera or a 3.3V camera with a regulator (my .$02 for what it is worth)

 

Possibly the camera kit contains the necessary components to run the camera at a lower voltage. Anyway, since it is connected to the reverse lights does that mean the camera is on all the time the car is on? That's probably not good for the camera. On the other hand, it "works" despite the nonideal startup.

 

It can't be. Reverse light comes on only when car is put in reverse.

 

Hello Dtony, I have a similar camera kit (though I have a 2013 Prius Two). Can you tell me how you wired it (power connection)?

 

If you brought the T-Harness like mine, here is pic for my setup...and should be connected as follow.
**Disclaimer: Not responsible, if you mis-connected.

 

Dude, this totally helped me out! My camera is finally working correctly! Thanks, I'm also from the bay as well, I just moved to Sac though

 

No problem, glad able to help. Sactown not that far, you're home to the Bay Area. Good luck up there!

 

Hi All,

I have been frequenting the Priuschat site for over a year and have learned a lot from so many experts on various subjects about Prius. This is really a wonderful place for Prius owners.

I bought a 2012 Prius II and a 2012 Prius C last year. After reading this thread and a couple of other threads, I also want to install a backup camera on my Prius II. The problem is: I have never worked on removing inside panels of a car before. I am afraid that I will damage some parts in the process to route the wires from the camera to the front of the car. Even with detailed diagrams and videos on Youtube, I still feel uncomfortable.

So my question is: Is there any one in the San Francisco Bay Area who is going to install a backup camera on his/her Prius? If so could I come to watch and learn how you do it? I am in San Jose, and can come to your installation place if you don't mind.

Thank you very much in advance.

 

By the way, my camera is still working great!

 

I am going a little nuts here since this camera install is Kicking my Butt!.

Ok-I purchased the Camera that has the bump in the cable which is the 12v to 3.3 regulator. I cut that piece off and was left with a jack that held 3 wires-yellow (camera video), red (camera power), black (Shares ground for power and video)

Next I found the car harness with the camera connection located above the headliner, tested and wired up to the new camera.

For regulating the voltage I am using the the "LM2596 Buck DC-DC Adjustable Step Down Power Supply Module Converter"" from amazon to take the cars 6v to step down 3.3v.

Ok-SO I have tested every variable that I could think of and still no luck. No video.

What I have figured out from my testing.
I have power-The cars WHITE wire sends 6v to the LM2596 for a few seconds are start up. The output from the LM2596 does the same thing but has dropped the voltage down to 3.4 volts.
The Cars Orange wire is connected to the cameras BLACK wire.
Cars RED wire is connected to the cameras YELLOW Wire.
Ive tried all sorts of ways of grounding the camera and the LM2596. Currently the LM2596 is getting its ground signal from the cars ORANGE wire.

I even tested the cameras RED wire for voltage and it slightly increases when the 6v is the car but then it shuts off once the signal stops.

-What triggers the Camera?
-What is the purpose of the cars ORANGE wire?

All help is greatly appreciated. Never would I have thought that this wouldve kicked my butt.

 

It has been over a year now and my camera is still working great!

 

Lanlam,
Wow. That is a pretty good camera you have there. I'm impressed. Poor Keepitsimple's camera was DOA.

 

Dear all,
I need help. I try to find out which are the reverse signal wires at the hatchback (Prius C 2013). I try to find the information from this thread, but most pictures are no longer available. Please help.

 

zmarcoz,
There is a sticky thread on adding a reverse camera in the "Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics" group. What reverse signal wires
are you looking for ? The ones that go into the the radio or the ones that go to the rear camera.

 

Cureous, have anyone considered putting camera no on the handle or on the license plate, but on the top of the door? For example, on the high brake light housing?

 

Need help with prius 2013 stereo connectors diagram or picturea

 

This is my stereo and connectors