reverse lights are not plain 12 VDC applied to the bulbs, it is a Pulse Modulated Wave, that is coming from the LCM in order to mionitor the status of the light bulbs - as a result, the pulsed voltage applied via relay will flicker the screen.

Do you have a factory PDC installed in your car?

yes front and rear

hmmm....SO does your post above mean I've got the pulsed 12v from the reverse lights instead of a steady 12v from somewhere else?


Dubs

the PDC module is located under the spare tire in the battery compartment, next to the BM radio, and it has 3 plugs. The middle plug has multiple pins, and the Pin #7 supplies signal voltage to the green light in the front of the car in the button module in the center console. When PDC is engaged, the green light on the PDC button lights up via Pin #7 on the middle plug - the voltage and amperage are very low, and that pin supplies (+) voltage.

If you will take that (+) signal and convert it via a low voltage/low amperage relay to a (-) ground, and apply that (-) signal to the wire for the reverse signal, you will have the reverse camera engaging everytime when the PDC is engaged. It also will give you an ability to activate the camera by pressing the PDC button on the center console switch panel (module A169).

there is a drawing of that connection somewhere on this forum, rather easy to accomplish if you have a factory PDC - only one tap to pin 7, one relay and reliable ground.
So, if you tap into Pin #7 on the middle plug on the PDC module, apply that signal to a coil of a relay, and have relay contact apply ground to the reverse camera wire off the TV module, you are done...

Doesn't matter, it's not there to give you a steady 12V, you don't need a steady 12V. It's there to trigger the Relay so the Relay can trigger the TV to switch into reverse mode.

It make more sense to use the PCD wiring to wire up your reverse cam if you have the time.

Cool, I'll give it a try, thanks

Dubs

do you have a picture of your actual camera?

will grab one in an hour so after work

Dubs

Stoopid work getting in theway of my DIY.

here's a pic of the cam, I am hoping to have it fully installed this weekend too.

Dubs

This is what I thought that your camera will look like...

Have you tried to fit it into the license plate light opening yet? If it fits nice and snug, please post pictures of how you did it - otherwise, you might be in for some cutting of the light circuit board, that is under the license plate light cover lens...

Also, when you have the camera's light connected for the license plate illumination, you might (or might not!!) have to program the Cold Monitoring of the lilght circuit to be turned off. Well, we'll cross that bridge once you are there...

Hackety hack went my weekend.
It's not going to fit, the camera is too deep for the space where the factory license plate light fits.
Oh well, at least most of the wiring is done, any thoughts on an alternate?
I am thinking something like THIS or THIS.



Q: in the PDC i tap #7, on which colour connector? Blue black or white?

Can anyone assist with what parts to get to replace the hacked bits?
Will it be just 27 as a package or 27-31?


Ta

Dubs