I installed a Double DIN headunit in my XC90. I installed a camera but I can't figure out how to wire it. I have it wired to the headunit but I don't know about the camera end. How did you wire it?
Have you seen my write-up posted in the sticky portion of this thread? Here's the link:
2003-2014 Volvo XC90 Aftermarket Radio Install - Install Documentation
The camera end should have two wires, a red (positive) and a black (ground). Essentially, what we're trying to do is make it so that when the car goes into reverse, and the reverse lights on the back of the car turn on, the backup camera should, too. So, we must tap the wires from the camera into the wires going to the reverse light in specific.
In
this specific photo, I have focused on the reverse light wires on the back of the right-side taillight housing (2 10mm bolts to remove the taillight housing,
here's a video on how to do it). The blue wire is the positive (red, +) and the black wires are the negative (ground, black, -). You've gotta connect the red (positive) wire from the camera end to the blue wire on the reverse light, and the black wire from the camera end to any one of the black wires on the reverse light.
You can see in
this image on the top right-side area the harness of wires coming into the trunk from the taillight. Within this harness, you'll see a blue wire, and at least one black wire. Now when it comes to wiring connections, some will say using
Posi-Taps is a good idea, but I really beg to differ. I will say any day of the week that soldering and heatshrinking/electrical taping a wiring connection is the best thing you can do to your future self and your car. All you want to do is strip back the blue wire on the harness using a pair of wire strippers, and solder the red wire from the camera onto this blue wire. Then, cover it tightly and neatly with electrical tape, and do the same for the black wire on the harness and the black wire from the camera.
We don't want to wire the backup camera to a constant source of power, as it'll burn out the camera image sensor as it's being kept on for the duration of the car being on. Also, if you are comfortable making your own ground using a self-tapping screw and a
grounding loop, you can do that as well rather than tapping into the taillight wiring harness's ground.
I hope this helps. Please feel free to reach out to me via PM if you have any questions or need any further help!
Happy Holidays!!!
