Prado Newbie

[aceventura Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close aceventura]

Hi Guys,

This is my very first post on this forum, and my very first Prado. Two weeks ago, I became the 2nd owner of a 2009 Prado 150 VX (or Kakadu) with 160k on the clock. FHS with Toyota. I have a few questions as I am starting to learn my new vehicle. Previously I owned a 2008 Nissan Patrol GRX, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the Prado will compare.

One of my main issues is that the rear is bottoming out - especially with a full tank of petrol. I guess the shocks is due for a replacement and this is turning out to be a costly learning exercise. I'm still getting quotes and reading up on the different options. Anyone have experience with fitting Bilsteins?

Next, the reverse camera is extremely cloudy/grainy. Mine has the square 4 pin (red, yellow, white & black wire). The colour coded wires is similar to any other aftermarket cameras, except that the Toyota camera uses 5/6v I believe. When I have time, I will try to play around with the wiring to see if I can get an aftermarket one to work.

Tyres are 265/65/R18 and I need to replace two. Might as well replace all 4, but I'm thinking going back to 265/60/R18 since the spare wheel is still that size. What is the largest 18" size tyre I can fit without a lift? How about fitting 33" 17" tyres?

Propshaft U-Joints - please see pictures. Should I get this checked out immediately?

Then when I tested the rear difflock - my understanding is that the rear DL will only work in 4L + with the center DL engaged. So when I tested it, the rear DL indicator light does not stop flashing. Is this a sign that it is not working? (i did go forward and backward to see if it would engage)

My Prado has a replacement bullbar - the front PDC was removed and now the rear does not work when I turn on PDC function. How do I 'bypass' the front in order to make the rear ones work?

Last question for now - has anyone fitted an aftermarket navigation system, but kept the CD changer?


Thanks in advance,

[RedAdventureWagon Member Find all posts View Profile Close RedAdventureWagon]

aceventura

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aceventura On the subject of the reversing camera - my head unit is a Pioneer and uses Pioneer RCAM2 reversing cameras. Same wire colours I think and these use 5v as well - I learnt the hard way by feeding one 12v and seeing smoke come out of it! With the wiring two will be supply (red and black) and two a composite video picture (yellow and white).

[Prado_The_2nd Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Prado_The_2nd]

aceventura

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aceventura Welcome to the forum. I can't help with too many of the questions, but will try to help with a few.

Bilstein Shocks - literally just fitted some yesterday together with Dobinsons Coils. So far really liking them, but I haven't really given them a good test yet! You do need to make sure they are properly matched to your coils and setup. There is a lot of information on this forum if you search.

By the way, where are you located - South Africa as per your profile?

In terms of navigation upgrades (I have a 2012 150 Series Altitude). I went a different route and I'm using a Samsung Galaxy Tablet (or you can use an IPAD etc). After trying a few tablet mounts, I bought the Industrial Revolution mount (https://www.industrialevolution.com....o-kakadu-2010/) together with a RAM tablet holder for my Galaxy. The Industrial Revolution mount is incredibly solid, as it bolts to the dash behind the radio. I then have the luxury of using any navigation app I want - I tend to use Waze for city navigation and various offroad apps when out of the city.

As my Sat Nav headunit does not have bluetooth for music playback (only for phone), I bought one of these which plugs into the stereo plug on the centre console and powers from the USB port in the same location: https://www.tp-link.com/au/home-netw...-device/ha100/. I can then use the tablet for Spotify/Audiobooks and anything else I want.

With the camera - silly question, but have checked that the lens is clean and not scratched? Cloudy is what tends to happen when it's dirty. Could be something else though!

Sorry - can't help with the other questions.

[Bennlexx Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Bennlexx]

I have a similar problem with my reverse camera in my 2012 GXL - quite grainy. However, my 4 pin plug wires at the camera are different??? Red, black, brown and white (no yellow in site) Have purchased a replacement camera and am having difficulty getting it to work. The red and black presumably are straight forward as + and - but not sure about the brown and white. The aftermarket camera comes with a yellow video plug and the extension cable that comes with it has 3 wires, yellow, black and red. I thought perhaps that the 'brown' on the Toyota plug might be the video feed but no luck. Have you had any success changing your camera?

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

I have a similar problem with my reverse camera in my 2012 GXL - quite grainy. However, my 4 pin plug wires at the camera are different??? Red, black, brown and white (no yellow in site) Have purchased a replacement camera and am having difficulty getting it to work. The red and black presumably are straight forward as + and - but not sure about the brown and white. The aftermarket camera comes with a yellow video plug and the extension cable that comes with it has 3 wires, yellow, black and red. I thought perhaps that the 'brown' on the Toyota plug might be the video feed but no luck. Have you had any success changing your camera?

I have successfully wired a 3-wire camera that I mounted on my camper trailer to my Jan-2017 150-series Prado. It works really well. The wire colours are not what you'd expect.

Firstly, the OEM camera operates on 6 volts. Do not connect 12 volts to it!

For the 150-series camera circuit:

Black or Black with Silver stripes: +6v OEM camera supply
 Red  or  Red  with Silver stripes: Video+ (video live)
White or White with Silver stripes: Video- (video return)
       Grey,  Orange   or   shield: 0v (-ve) camera supply/Ground/(electrical noise shield)

Connect the camera's -ve supply wire (usually black) to the Prado's 0v wire AND the Prado's white wire (Video-)
Connect the camera's video output wire (usually is wired into a yellow RCA line socket's central pin)
Connect the camera's 12v supply wire (usually red) to a 12v source in the Prado (you can use the reverse light wire for reversing cameras or Accessory wire from a rear cigar socket)

RQ1 plug on a 150 series (this is located just above the floor in the driver's side rear pillar):

Edit: Oops. I thought the 2012 was a 120 series. I now see it is one of the earlier 150 series and I have corrected the text, above.

[Bennlexx Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Bennlexx]

Thanks GeeWhizz will get back into it.