Aepro OEM camera retention harness

[lukeic Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lukeic]

I'm installing an aftermarket head unit alongside an Eclipse BEC-113 reverse camera which has an OEM 4-pin connector, so I'm using the Aerpro APVTY04 camera retention harness to connect it to the head unit. Can someone please tell me what the small, black component (circled in red) in the following image is? Is it a 12-6V transformer for the 6V camera and does it need to be grounded, or can I fix it with a screw anywhere on the head unit?

https://i.postimg.cc/xCGr55Sj/Screen...1-08-38-am.png

[GeeWhizz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeeWhizz]

I took the time to download the "manual". What a useless publication!

Anyway, from the image, the component looks like a voltage regulator. It may have grey lettering on one side of it, which would help me identify exactly what it is.

Edit: to connect the adapter to your new head unit, 1. Screw the ground lug to some metal chassis point. 2. The voltage regulator may get a bit warm if it is not screwed to some metal point too. 3. The purlpe(sp!!) wire needs to connect the wire that previously connected your reverse gear to the old head unit. 4. Connect the 4-pin socket to the matching plug in your Prado's wiring loom (camera wires) 5. Finally, plug the RCA plug into the head unit's video input.

If you follow this youtube video, although it describes how to connect a camera without the specialised Aerpro adapter, it shows you how to find the reverse wire.

[lukeic Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lukeic]

Thanks for that info. Yes, it's bloody useless alright! I confirmed that it is a voltage regulator and wired everything up yesterday.

However, the reverse camera isn't being triggered. My current theory is that my 2005 120 GXL doesn't supply a reverse signal via the main head unit connectors, meaning the purple reverse wire coming out of the Kenwood head unit (which I connected to the camera with the Aeropro harness) isn't getting any power. I checked the workshop manual and couldn't find any reverse signal input to the head unit, but can anyone confirm 100% that a 2005 120 GXL does not have a reverse signal in the head unit connectors?

If not, I'm going to tap into the black and red reverse signal wire on the passenger side that people on here have mentioned. Can anyone share their experience doing this? I want to do it neatly and without damaging the factory wiring.

[blw Member Find all posts View Profile Close blw]

Did you check that Reverse camera interupt is set to On in the Kenwood setup menus?

I found my unit was set to off by default and therefore didnt change to the reverse camera image when selecting Reverse.

[lukeic Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lukeic]

Yep, I remembered that specifically because of your other posts on here. When switching to reverse nothing happens, even if I press the 'cam' button on the head unit to manually swap to viewing the video input.

[teamex Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close teamex]

what does that aerpro harness actually connect between? Camera, reverse signal and head unit?

[lukeic Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lukeic]

Yep, the camera has an OEM style 4-pin connector that plugs into this harness, which provides an RCA connector compatible with my Kenwood head unit. The harness also has a reverse signal wire (purple) that I've connected to the reverse signal wire in the head unit, but this connection doesn't seem to work, which is why I reckon the car doesn't provide a reverse signal connection through the head unit connectors.

[GeeWhizz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeeWhizz]

Did you do a search through all of the head unit wires in the OEM wiring loom plugs for a 12v signal, using a multimeter? Obviously, ignition must be on and the 12v should come and go when reverse gear is selected.

I have to say I don't know what the 120's capabilities are in this area. Did/does the OEM radio/head unit have video capability? You may have to run a wire from the gear lever mechanism, BCM or gearbox to the head unit, depending on where the reversing lights are switched from.

[lukeic Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lukeic]

I haven't checked each plug on the connector with a multimeter yet, was hoping someone would know off the top of their head. Nope, the OEM radio didn't have video. My backup is to splice into the red and black reverse signal wire in the passenger kick panel (which I have tested with a MM) if there's no easier connection behind the head unit.

[GeeWhizz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeeWhizz]

If Mr Toyota didn't need to put a reverse wire behind the radio then he wouldn't have. End of story.

A bird in the hand... If you know where to pick up a switched reverse wire in the passenger kick panel, then use it! Beats spending hours standing on your head rooting around behind the dash board.

[lukeic Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lukeic]

Then that's what I'll do! Thanks for the perspective.