Installation of rear-view / reverse camera on GX

[neowatcher Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close neowatcher]

As you all know, the GX does not come with a rear view camera. Since it would make hooking up a trailer so much easier, I decided to install a rear view camera and upgrade the standard radio with an after market head unit that is capable of displaying the camera input.

First things first, the head unit. I got a good deal on a new Philips CED 1910BT of ebay, that includes all I needed and is also GPS ready. To remove the old unit:

1. Remove the AC control unit by holding the top and bottom and gently pull it out. Unhook the connector and it's loose.
2. Gently remove the fascia around the radio and air vents and it should come off its clips. Unhook the emergency light connector.
3. Now you'll see our screws holding the radio together. Undo them and the radio should come out. Unhook all connectors.

The aftermarket unit uses ISO connectors, so I got a Toyota to ISO connector adapter. One end simply connects to the two Toyota connectors and the other end to the head unit:



The radio antenna slots straight into the head unit. This basically installs the after market radio and is really easy to do. No soldering or crimping required. However, I wanted to hook up the rear view camera, so I need to attach some other wiring. I need to get hold of the reverse signal. While I'm at it, I might as well install the park-brake wire as well. This prevents the video to be used on the head unit while driving, although you are able to direct video to a rear monitor, if attached. Since the camera only uses a minimal amount of power (< 300mA) and is only on for a small amount of time, I decided to use the obvious place to get these from: the middle console (we have an automatic). I just splice off the signal to the gear selection LED lights.

I also wanted to install an override switch, such that I can view the camera while driving (and keep an eye on the hooked up trailer). For that, I need an accessory power line that I get from the cigarette lighter from the same middle console. The schematics are (simplified) as follows:



To get access to the middle console, you'll have to

1. Gently pull out the two side silver side panels (one has the passenger seat belt warning light)
2. Undo the two screws that hold the storage box in place and remove it
3. Gently pull out the panel with the L4/H4 switch. No need to disconnect anything, we only need to gain easy access to the middle console.
4. Pull down the plastic grey level underneath the gear level and screw out the knob.
5. Now it is just a matter of gently pulling up the middle console at the front side.
6. The back side of the middle console seems to come loose by gently pulling it out from the edges at the back side. Bit of a firm pull should do it.

Now, disconnect the two connectors underneath the LED panel and you should be able to lift it out:



Looks worse than it is These two sockets contain all we need. The smaller one (G67) has the wires to the LED signals. The park brake is the blue line at pin number 5 and the reverse is the red line at pin number 4:



The other socket is the bigger one and contains the accessory power (green) and ground (white/black) on the two side pins of the socket:



A bit of in-line splicing and soldering as specified in the schematics and you're done here.

[neowatcher Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close neowatcher]

I have a Prado 150 style override switch placed close to my left knee. Connecting these wires to the head-unit and you're done. Don't forget the camera video signal to connect to the head-unit. Now you can close the middle console and the other panels.



The positive power wire and the camera video signal is then wired at the driver side to the back door, through the big grommet at the side of the back door. Take the panel off the back door (There are three screws to undo: one at the inside door handle, one just underneath the window in a little compartment and one hidden behind the fold down panel. The whole panel should then pull off with a bit of force. The clips they use here are more difficult to undo. I then drilled a hole here for the cables to run though:



The ground for the camera can be found at the door as well, so it is easy to get it from there. I use some cold-gal to prevent any rust and inserted a grommet to run the wires through. I also put some silicon to seal it. Finally, I drilled a hold at the back of the spare wheel cover to attach the camera and its all done:



Finally, a picture of the head-unit as well:

[Early Member Find all posts View Profile Close Early]

Wow. Good work and thanks for sharing.
The new facelifted 150 GX prados come standard with reverse cameras now. Cars get updated too quickly.

[newb Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close newb]

Mate good write up, unfortunately im not as tech savy as you, although where did you mount your GPS receiver/antenna?

[neowatcher Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close neowatcher]

Well, I'm not tech savvy either. Just reading many forums, common sense and taking things slowly.

I've put my antenna on top of the cooling vents. Just take the surrounding case off and you'll see you have some space there to place the GPS antenna.