Modify system so the rear camera view is always displayed

[fciac]

Hello:

Has anyone modified the existing rear camera/touchscreen system so that the system is always displaying the camera's view (instead of just when reverse is selected) on a 2020 LT or similar?

Thanks in Advance
Frank

 

[ricklack]

I've heard lots of folks mention they would like this, but no one has said they succeeded. My 22 with HD surround cameras lets you select the rear (or front) camera while driving, but will only display it for a few seconds. If you are stationary you can view any of the 4 cameras, but not the 5th camera that is in front of the rear view mirror that is for collision avoidance, adaptive cruise, LKA etc.

I was looking at the 2025 manual and I "think" I read that you can record front or rear camera. I'm unsure if that was the ICE or EV manual, I'm thinking EV. Time to trade up????

 

[fciac]

I've heard lots of folks mention they would like this, but no one has said they succeeded. My 22 with HD surround cameras lets you select the rear (or front) camera while driving, but will only display it for a few seconds. If you are stationary you can view any of the 4 cameras, but not the 5th camera that is in front of the rear view mirror that is for collision avoidance, adaptive cruise, LKA etc.

I was looking at the 2025 manual and I "think" I read that you can record front or rear camera. I'm unsure if that was the ICE or EV manual, I'm thinking EV. Time to trade up????

Ricklack - thanks for your time. Maybe I'll be the first one to crack this nut.

 

[ricklack]

Ricklack - thanks for your time. Maybe I'll be the first one to crack this nut.

If you do I would love to know how you did it. Good luck!

 

[rawhite318]

Hello:

Has anyone modified the existing rear camera/touchscreen system so that the system is always displaying the camera's view (instead of just when reverse is selected) on a 2020 LT or similar?

Thanks in Advance
Frank

Actually it’s easy. There are a lot of post about people changing out their reverse lights and the reverse screen not cutting off. If you change out the factory reverse light with a non canbuss bulb your reverse camera will always be triggered. Problem is you wont be able to switch back meaning changing songs or using your navigation won’t happen even when the car is off. In theory if you run a low voltage wire with a toggle to the reverse light you should be able to trigger it but that’s just a theory.

 

[fciac]

Actually it’s easy. There are a lot of post about people changing out their reverse lights and the reverse screen not cutting off. If you change out the factory reverse light with a non canbuss bulb your reverse camera will always be triggered. Problem is you wont be able to switch back meaning changing songs or using your navigation won’t happen even when the car is off. In theory if you run a low voltage wire with a toggle to the reverse light you should be able to trigger it but that’s just a theory.

rawhite318: Thanks so much. This is exactly what i was hoping to do. I did look at other post regarding this but i can't find the wiring detail needed.
In your last sentence I'm assuming you meant to say "In theory... toggle to the camera (not to the reverse light). Is this correct? If it is, what voltage is needed to trigger the camera and what pin or color wire is it in the connector?
Thanks in Advance

 

[fciac]

This is the cable connecting my camera to the wiring harness. I'm unable to find a wiring schematic that would identify the trigger wire. Once I identify this wire my plan is to run power from the fuse box through a toggle switch (which i will located near the driver seat) and then to this connection point. The toggle sw will give me the flexibility to either have the backup camera operate as normal, or I'll be able to force it on no matter what gear is selected. So, if anyone has any suggestions on where i can find a schematic it would be appreciated.

Again this is for the rear camera on a 2020 LT.

 

[ricklack]

I hear that you can subscribe to Alldata.com on a monthly basis, and they have wring diagrams.

 

[jjs17]

I would make sure that you can run a full 12 volts to the harness. If it is module controlled it may only be a 5 volt trigger source through the BCM. 12 volt signal might fry something in the module. So test it out first.
A schematic diagram would be the way to start for sure.
Alldata.com you can rent what you are looking for with a one time purchase for a certain length of time pretty cheap.

 

[Autoworker 74]

Hello:

Has anyone modified the existing rear camera/touchscreen system so that the system is always displaying the camera's view (instead of just when reverse is selected) on a 2020 LT or similar?

Thanks in Advance
Frank

It's definitely not a good idea. On the 2025 you have full control of the rear and 360 view. I turned it on one day as I was coming down the street towards my condo parking lot. It reminded me of sitting at a train crossing try to count the cars of a train moving at 100 MPH. It seemed like a cool idea but I had to look away from the screen because of the lines on the street.

 

[ricklack]

It's definitely not a good idea. On the 2025 you have full control of the rear and 360 view. I turned it on one day as I was coming down the street towards my condo parking lot. It reminded me of sitting at a train crossing try to count the cars of a train moving at 100 MPH. It seemed like a cool idea but I had to look away from the screen because of the lines on the street.

Does the 2025 camera stay on until you turn it off? My 2022 has the HD Surround, but when driving the camera will only give a few seconds view and then will turn off. Sitting still I can look at all the cameras for as long as i want. I guess if I was a woman and wanted to make sure a thug wasn't lurking, that would be useful

 

[rawhite318]

rawhite318: Thanks so much. This is exactly what i was hoping to do. I did look at other post regarding this but i can't find the wiring detail needed.
In your last sentence I'm assuming you meant to say "In theory... toggle to the camera (not to the reverse light). Is this correct? If it is, what voltage is needed to trigger the camera and what pin or color wire is it in the connector?
Thanks in Advance

Sorry for the very late reply. No I did reverse light. I wouldn’t mess with the camera. A lot of vehicles go off of the reverse lights. In fact if you get an after market radio most instructions say to tie into the reverse lights. Probably because the rear camera is right there. I wouldn’t run that wire to the light without a diode. Since diodes are one way only it will keep the toggled signal from going back into the cars wiring. Going back into the cars wring probably wouldn’t hurt anything but to cover my ass that’s what I suggest.

 

[rawhite318]

Does the 2025 camera stay on until you turn it off? My 2022 has the HD Surround, but when driving the camera will only give a few seconds view and then will turn off. Sitting still I can look at all the cameras for as long as i want. I guess if I was a woman and wanted to make sure a thug wasn't lurking, that would be useful

It is a cool idea. I also agree with the comparison with the trains. It really is disorienting. I had mine wired like that in my Sierra and I hardly ever used it. The only thing I thought was cool is the button that trigged the camera would light up a section of the dash with a small l.e.d. when the car was in reverse. I liked because it saved me .000005 of a second because I didn’t to look all the way down at my shifter.

 

[fciac]

Update:
This is very much a side project to me, I don't need it done until mid Jan. so things are moving slow here.

So far I've taken off the camera connector and read the voltages on the 5 wires relative to ground. First with the car in park and then in reverse, no change on any of them. It looks like there are 2 wires for power, 2 wires for the video out signal and a ground. Since no changes were read, I believe the triggering is done at the Infotainment system. So my next thought is to search for a wiring print of those connectors and look for a trigger. If I find it, I'll take the dash apart and verify the signal. If it verifies, I'll tap into it and run the appropriate voltage signal (with diode) trough a switch located somewhere in the driver's area.
So that's the latest.

fciac