I am currently in the process of finishing up my new 7" touchscreen head unit install..

I am now at the point of installing the backup camera.

My problem lies here:

There are some extra wires on my harness (for the head unit) that are labeled: "Reverse-In" and "Parking-in". i am not too concerned about the parking brake one.

So, where does this "Reverse-in" wire hookup? There isn't any other available wires to for this in the cars harness.

I am assuming that it is what triggers the head unit to automatically turn on the camera on the display.

Any help is appreciated.

 

don't know the year of your truck but back-up hot generally is black w/ pink stripe on newer models.

 

whoops sorry....

2002 XLT....

Where would I hookup the wire to the car?

 

The black/pink reverse light wire is in the bundle of wires that drops down from the dash to the left side of the transmission tunnel (runs under the carpet).

 

I found the wires! Are these the wires that terminate right next to the head-unit inside the dash?

How to I connect this? do I just splice the wire and run another wire from there?

 

The BK/PK reverse wire goes forward through the firewall bulkhead connector to the engine harness and down to the transmission. Lots of color codes are repeated and used for entirely different functions throughout the truck. You won't find the reverse wire terminated near the radio.

If I needed a "hot in reverse" signal with a low current draw, then I would tap into the BK/PK. Your truck, your call.

 

I think that is the wire that I am looking for.

So my direction now is that I am going to splice it (cut it in half, run two wires from the original cut 1 to the head unit, the other to the engine harness.)

Is there a way to test this anyone know?
I am imagining that I can probe the wire somehow, put the truck in reverse and see a DC volatge on my meter?

 

Theres two black/pink wires in that area. One is thicker than the other, you want to make sure you're using the thicker one. And use a wiretap

 

In that area you mean the wiring running next to the tranny under the carpet?

 

This wire is located in the main harness above and to the left of the brake pedal. It is a black wire with a purpleish pinkish stripe. NOTE: There are two wires that are this color, only one is correct. One of them runs up behind the headunit and into the harness there, it is NOT the correct one. The one you want to use is thicker and does not run to the center of the trucks dash. If your truck is a 2004 or newer this wire doesn't enter the cab at all, you will need to run your wire under the truck and connect it to the wire on the transmission itself.

 

test the wire first with a multimeter with the car in park nuetral drive whatever and then test again when in reverse if it shows 12v your good i would put a relay on it tho

 

and dont use a wire tap like korey suggested they're crap and provide a terrible connection they come loose and heat up and sometimes fall off... cut back about a half inch on the insulation dont cut the wire and solder onto it... best way to go

 

That is awesome! I thought that is where it might be located. I am going to get this going as soon as I get some time!! Thanks!!!

I planned on soldering it after I thought about it for a while! probably make it the cleanest connection.

 

Good luck soldering that wire up there

 

dude soldering is easier then those crappy t taps

 

I don't think you're aware of where the wire is exactly lol

 

ill go searching for it

 

Did you find it? :)

 

i went looking and found the wire and ive soldered in way harder locations... just to spite korey i ordered a back up sensor kit off ebay ill post pics of my solder job when im done

 

i returned the back up sensor kit and order a 4200 dvd and back up camera the bl/pk going along the tranny tunnel worked fine pulled the carpet back tested with an ohm meter and hooked it up to my head unit i used the same wire to power a relay to power the camera because i dont want it on all the time im content with it on only in reverse.

 

I've been following this thread. I have an 07 Ford Ranger extra cab. I had a kenwood ddx 719 head unit installed. I always wanted a rearview camera. One of the reasons I got a double din nav unit was so that I could add a back up camera to it.
So, I got a kenwood cmos 200 rearview camera. I ordered it on Ebay. It got to my house about noon today. I'm off from work all week and I spent a good part of today installing the camera. I got it to work manually. I will have to find that reverse wire everyone has been posting about. I'll work on that tomorrow. I could of gotten one of the local stereo shops to install it, but I wanted to do it myself. It has been fun. I've learned a few things. I gleaned most of my information from google searches. That's how I found this thread.

Thanks again.

Darryl in NW Houston

 

In the 2007~2011 Rangers, the reverse light circuit has a different color code: brown w/yellow stripe.

Look for the BN/YE at the transmission or running along the left frame rail toward the rear of the truck. The reverse light wire does not pass through the interior in 2004~2011 Rangers.

 

thank you so much for the direct info with the picture. Found wire right away and all is working well aside from being able to access camera by pushing radio button. I think I have to run camera power liine to this line under dash not to the line connected to the reverse light in the back of the truck (which I now have connected).

 

BTW the park brake wire is needed for DVD watching

 

Can someone post a picture of the wire soldered/connected in their 2001 ford ranger... I'm having bad luck finding the correct one.