Tech question 

"Funktheduck" (funktheduck) 03/04/2016 at 11:14 • Filed to: None

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My car (Mazda3) has a back up camera. Like all back up cameras it only comes on when in reverse. Does anyone know if it’s a physical switch that is turned on in reverse or is it computer controlled?

If it’s physical, I think I could wire up a switch so I could turn it on at will which would help eliminate blind spots, especially important in traffic.

I think it’s dumb that it isn’t an option to begin with.

Jcarr > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 11:17

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My guess is that putting the gearshift in reverse acts as the switch, completing a circuit that turns the camera on.

Funktheduck > Jcarr 03/04/2016 at 11:24

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Boo. I'm hoping there's just a little switch that gets pressed when put in reverse (up and to the left). Don't want to screw up my center consol trying to figure out how to take it apart only to find nothing.

BloodlessWeevil > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 11:27

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Not my area of expertise, but I would guess that it is controlled by the infotainment system. You would need to convince the transmission to sent the ‘in reverse gear’ signal, or the radio to activate the camera without seeing that signal.

jariten1781 > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 11:28

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I think the manufactures aren’t willing to go all-in on full time reverse cameras because they don’t know how the govt would interpret that. Most states have laws stating (paraphrased) ‘No TV, screen, or method of receiving a TV broadcast may be within view of the driver’ or ‘No method of receiving a TV broadcast may be forward of the rear of the front seats’. Precedent has been held that DVD viewers or digital movie players are in violation even though they are not capable of receiving a TV broadcast. A real-time camera and monitor is right in that gray space. Someone (I think it was GM) just got tacit permission to use a mirror with a full time rearview camera display so you may see it start to work in elsewhere.

Rico > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 11:44

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I wish all cameras were like Tesla’s in that you can keep them on while driving.

iSureWilll > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 11:45

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I’ll see if I can find a schematic for you. What year is it? Also, if it has 2 engine choices, tell me which one you have :)

Rico > jariten1781 03/04/2016 at 11:46

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Tesla’s already have this feature though so it definitely falls in line with current regulations. As a matter of fact it was one of the cool things about the large screen in the Tesla, that I could split it in half and keep the map or media in the bottom window and the full time reverse camera in the top window. The rear window was tinted and it made seeing everything behind me that much easier.

Funktheduck > jariten1781 03/04/2016 at 11:46

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Yeah, it was GM on one of their SUVs. It doesn’t make sense that we get limited to just mirrors when cameras can eliminate blind spots completely.

No one seems to enforce tv screens. Every minivan I see and a ton of SUVs have stuff playing for their kids all the time. I've seen people watching movies while driving. Just a few weeks ago I was behind a guy swerving all over the place: he was watching something on his phone which was sitting in his gauge cluster.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 11:47

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If it’s handled by the ECU through a switch, it might be tricky figuring out a way to activate it without also turning on your backup lights.

Funktheduck > iSureWilll 03/04/2016 at 11:47

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2015, 2.0, manual

Funktheduck > Rico 03/04/2016 at 11:49

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It really doesn't make sense that it's not an option.

jariten1781 > Rico 03/04/2016 at 11:50

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Yeah, I knew Tesla had it but they’ve got the advantage of modular deployable software. If NHTSA had come down with a ruling that they were illegal Tesla just OTAs it out of existence. If Hyundai had done it it would have lead to recall fun times. I think with the softly worded ruling for GM everyone's in the clear now.

Funktheduck > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/04/2016 at 11:52

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Good point.

 > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 12:34

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If it’s anything like aftermarket head units, there is a pin on the headunit that goes to the reverse signal. I think the reason they don’t let you turn it on while moving is distracted driving.

Funktheduck >  03/04/2016 at 12:45

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Tesla allows it and it's no different than a mirror

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 12:46

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Dads Volvo wagon has a button on the dash that lets you turn it on whenever. Very helpful for judging distances and curbs.

iSureWilll > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 13:16

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I’ve found this diagram which shows the CMU (Connectivity master unit) connects to the backup camera “Rear Mount Camera”.

Most likely the rear camera function is controlled by the CMU. There is a backup light switch on the trans that probably tells the CMU to switch on the camera and turn on the back up lights. It could also be controlled by the PCM/RBCM (powertrain/rear body control module) or a combination of all 3 of these control units. You would only have to trick the radio into thinking it was in reverse though...

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 14:37

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Just had an aftermarket head unit installed and saw how this worked on my Subaru – based on my discussions with the installer, it seemed pretty standard for most vehicles. The camera gets power from the reverse light – so its not powered all the time (i.e. isn’t always working and doesn’t overheat), and the head unit has a connection to a reverse line as well in addition to the video hookup from the camera. So when you switch the car to reverse the line from the reverse light powers the camera on, and the head unit gets the signal too and knows to switch to that video input. So for your question – I guess, yes, technically it is possible to get the camera to always have a feed by just hooking it up to a different power source than the reverse light – and you’d have to find a way to get the head unit to always take that feed I guess? But not sure how your head unit would know when you want to see the reverse camera feed vs navigation, radio presets etc. – I’d imagine you wouldn’t always want that feed on and to be able to actually use other functions on your head unit. I guess you could hook up the reverse camera to a video input if your head unit has one so you can change source to that when you want it, just like a DVD player. But then you’d need to also disable any hand brake lock up function it has (since most cars won’t let you watch video while moving and only allows when hand brake is on).

Honestly, sounds like more trouble than it is worth to me? Also – assuming you have a factory head unit still, know that the connectors back there are ridiculously funky and proprietory. You’d imagine the camera feed is just an RCA line, USB line just has a standard USB end that hooks up to the head unit, etc…nope. Seems most manufacturers are cheap/stupid/stubborn enough to have their own connectors. In my Subaru I expected the backup camera to be able to hook up directly to my aftermarket head unit, and for the factory USB line in the center console to be connected to the new unit as one of its USB inputs. Nope – they have completely wacky looking connectors – USB line, whatever, I just had a new cable pulled to the glove box…but back up camera – right now I’m trying to figure out whether I will have to get a custom harness built to connec the factory camera to my new stereo, or if I want to have a new completely separate aftermarket backup camera installed on the car. Complete PITA.

Funktheduck > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/04/2016 at 14:51

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Yeah. After reading comments it seems technically doable as in nothing is truly impossible but more of a PITA than it’s worth.

I know what you mean about proprietary stuff. My friends do installs. Most vehicles have adapters. Some times it's cheaper to run all new aftermarket than it is to try to make factory stuff play nice. Some (Land Rover/Range Rover) have no adapters and the only option is factory units.

JDMatt > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/04/2016 at 15:07

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Maybe wire the backup camera to the turn signals as well as the reverse? Similar to the turn signal cameras in new hondas.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Funktheduck 03/04/2016 at 15:26

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Yeah, sadly there is no rear view camera harness for my car either. There is a dude on the subaru forums who makes a harness, but he seems incredibly backed up and just does it as a side gig, so haven’t had any luck with that. So now I’m going to have to either have the installer do some trial/error and see if they can hook something up, or install a separate after market camera...which feels stupid since the car alread has one, and $$$ since it means buying a new camera and wiring it all the way across the car.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > JDMatt 03/04/2016 at 15:28

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Yeah that’s a good idea - esp if he just wants it as an additional “mirror” when doing lane changes. I was recently in an Accord where the guy had turn signal camera to be on all the time...it made me nauseous. I probably shouldn’t have stared at it for as long as I did.