Backup Camera
- gweg_b
- Posts like a Northstar

- Posts: 1700
- Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:38 pm
- Year and Trim: 95 LeSabre Custom
01 Bonneville SSEi
09 G8 GT - Location: Cambridge, OH
- Contact:
Backup Camera
This spring, I've decided to fix what I was too lazy to do right last year, and one of the projects is reworking my backup camera. I just have a couple questions before I can finish:
1. To get the headunit to switch the display to the camera in reverse, my Pioneer unit says to hook a purple wire to another wire to know when the car is put into reverse. The question is, what would be the best place to tap into that, and where could I find it? I assume the headunit is just looking for a signal that indicates that it's in reverse so it can switch the input.
2. Currently, I have the backup camera wired directly to the battery. I think this is a problem as I believe the camera is on at all times because of that. I want to know if there's a better place for it to get power? Remote turn-on wire? My headunit is powered directly from the battery as well, so it's not going through the car's system.
Any help with these would be appreciated! Just trying to do things right this time.
1. To get the headunit to switch the display to the camera in reverse, my Pioneer unit says to hook a purple wire to another wire to know when the car is put into reverse. The question is, what would be the best place to tap into that, and where could I find it? I assume the headunit is just looking for a signal that indicates that it's in reverse so it can switch the input.
2. Currently, I have the backup camera wired directly to the battery. I think this is a problem as I believe the camera is on at all times because of that. I want to know if there's a better place for it to get power? Remote turn-on wire? My headunit is powered directly from the battery as well, so it's not going through the car's system.
Any help with these would be appreciated! Just trying to do things right this time.
- Greg | -- Project Prasinos -- |

1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project

1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project
- haro1225
- Posts like a Northstar

- Posts: 1935
- Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 11:38 pm
- Year and Trim: 2004 GTO
- Location: Lincoln Park, Mi
- Contact:
Re: Backup Camera
I'd say put the camera on the remote power. And as far as making the headunit go to the display, maybe wire it to the reverse lights or maybe even its own switch.

-Ryan
2004 GTO....LS1, LSA supercharged 525whp, 6MT
96 SSEi...September 2010 COTM........GONE
04 GTP comp G.... December 2015 COTM........GONE
2013 Audi Allroad Quattro
yourgrandma wrote:Hi.
- nos4blood70
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 9522
- Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
- Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Backup Camera
IGN3 fuse in rear block will give it power whenever the key is in the ON position. That's where my radio and amp are.
- gweg_b
- Posts like a Northstar

- Posts: 1700
- Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:38 pm
- Year and Trim: 95 LeSabre Custom
01 Bonneville SSEi
09 G8 GT - Location: Cambridge, OH
- Contact:
Re: Backup Camera
Okay, I'll have to give one of those two power suggestions thought. Might play around with it.
I was kind of thinking reverse bulb, but didn't really want to wire it that way since I would need to either run wire all the way to the bulb or trace it back into the cabin. I can't remember, is there a fuse or relay for the reverse bulbs (can't check as I don't have the Bonneville with me today)?
I was kind of thinking reverse bulb, but didn't really want to wire it that way since I would need to either run wire all the way to the bulb or trace it back into the cabin. I can't remember, is there a fuse or relay for the reverse bulbs (can't check as I don't have the Bonneville with me today)?
- Greg | -- Project Prasinos -- |

1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project

1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project
- nos4blood70
- Certified Bonneville Nut

- Posts: 9522
- Joined: Mon May 10, 2010 6:11 pm
- Year and Trim: 2003 SLE
- Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Backup Camera
I don't think so.
- gweg_b
- Posts like a Northstar

- Posts: 1700
- Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:38 pm
- Year and Trim: 95 LeSabre Custom
01 Bonneville SSEi
09 G8 GT - Location: Cambridge, OH
- Contact:
Re: Backup Camera
Figures. Well, looks like I might be running more wire this weekend, unless I come across something before then.
- Greg | -- Project Prasinos -- |

1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project

1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project
- BBamm
- Posts like an LG3

- Posts: 304
- Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2015 1:16 pm
- Year and Trim: 2004 GXP
- Location: Jackson, MI
Re: Backup Camera
I don't have a camera in my bonne but I have had them in several vehicles, I tie the power into the remote wire on the stereo and the reverse wire(to get the screen to switch to the camera mode) right into the reverse wire in the console. I'm not sure of the color on these but it has worked every(3+) time for me.
Also, I HIGHLY recommend that you remove the stereo power from the battery and tie it into that fuse that nos4blood recommends.
Good luck and
!
Also, I HIGHLY recommend that you remove the stereo power from the battery and tie it into that fuse that nos4blood recommends.
Good luck and

2004 Bonneville GXP Crimson Tintcoat- Casual fuel gauge | Brake Performance drilled/slotted rotors front and rear| Retrofit Morimoto mini H1 | clear corners | disabled DRL | 3000K HID fogs | 5% tint | K&N | Yakima rack with fairing, bike rails and kayak rack | Intermittent radio display
1995 Bonneville SSE Deep Amethyst Pearl- SSEI tails | 5% tint | 3 12jlw3v2 in custom enclosure -Gone
1991 Bonneville LE Blue- Alloy spokes -Deceased(deer)
- gweg_b
- Posts like a Northstar

- Posts: 1700
- Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:38 pm
- Year and Trim: 95 LeSabre Custom
01 Bonneville SSEi
09 G8 GT - Location: Cambridge, OH
- Contact:
Re: Backup Camera
I'll have to see if I can find that reverse wire.
I have the radio hooked to the battery (properly fused of course) because last time I had my equipment tied into the fuse box, I melted it and spent almost a year tracking down electrical issues afterwards. Any reason I'm not aware of why it can't be on the battery? I can look into it, but I just don't have to go through that all over again.
I have the radio hooked to the battery (properly fused of course) because last time I had my equipment tied into the fuse box, I melted it and spent almost a year tracking down electrical issues afterwards. Any reason I'm not aware of why it can't be on the battery? I can look into it, but I just don't have to go through that all over again.
- Greg | -- Project Prasinos -- |

1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project

1995 LeSabre Custom: 312K Miles | Custom K&N CAI | Edelbrock SDT Muffler | Camaro Tips | 180 T-stat | LED Interior
& Exterior | 20% Tint | PA Grill & Portholes | Limited Trim | GTP Rims | Ported LIM | Plus Many More Mods | Restoration Thread
2001 Bonneville SSEi: 225K Miles | Instense FWI | Intense MPS (3.4") | 180 T-stat | ZZP Plog | Ported Rear Manifold |
ZZP 3" Downpipe | Magnaflow Cat | Retrofitted HIDs | GenV M90 | GXP Brake Upgrade | 35% Tint | Plus Many More Mods |
2005 Bonneville GXP: 101K Miles | Custom FWI
2009 G8 GT: 89K Miles | 35% Tint | Roto-Fab CAI | SOLO Mach Exhaust | BMR Tunnel Brace | BMR Sub Frames | BMR STB |
Kooks Headers | QTP Electric Cutouts | BMR Sway Bars | Elite Engineering Catch Can | Innovative Dual Wideband Kit
1984 Caprice Classic Wagon: 86K Miles | Restoration Project
- bobgto65
- Posts like an L36

- Posts: 866
- Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 7:52 pm
- Year and Trim: 2002 SSEi
2004 Bonneville GXP - Location: Maryland
Re: Backup Camera
The dock and lock harness has a back-up signal pin B4 (top row, 4th pin from left), and two power leads run on retained accessory power B1 and B1, top left 1st 2 pins. You can connect the radio to one of these and make your back up camera connections from there as well.
bobgto65

2004 Bonneville GXP 62,000 miles purchased 04/13
2009 G8 GXP PBM, M6 9580 miles, no mods, sold 08/15
2009 G8 GT SBM 36,000 miles, modded 430 whp
2002 Bonneville SSEi 203,200 miles (sold 3/2014)

2004 Bonneville GXP 62,000 miles purchased 04/13
2009 G8 GXP PBM, M6 9580 miles, no mods, sold 08/15
2009 G8 GT SBM 36,000 miles, modded 430 whp
2002 Bonneville SSEi 203,200 miles (sold 3/2014)
-
ddalder
- Resident Gearhead

- Posts: 2599
- Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:11 pm
- Year and Trim: 2004 GXP, 2008 STS, 2020 XT6
- Location: Alberta, Canada
Re: Backup Camera
This is incorrect. B4 is the backlight control signal for the radio buttons and display, not a backup (reverse) signal. The two power leads you are referring to are not RAP, they are battery positive voltage all the time. They are connected directly to 12VDC through a fuse. The radio, like every other "module" in the car always has 12VDC.bobgto65 wrote:The dock and lock harness has a back-up signal pin B4 (top row, 4th pin from left), and two power leads run on retained accessory power B1 and B1, top left 1st 2 pins. You can connect the radio to one of these and make your back up camera connections from there as well.
I've been through all of this with my mods. I have my backup camera fused in the rear fuse block with a circuit I added and the reverse lamp signal from the rear fuse block activates the module.

Bose Luxury Sound System w/Touch Screen Navigation, Addition of Factory XM, 2005 MY Antenna, OnStar Upgrade (3G),
RainSense Wipers, Backup Camera, '00 Style Door Panel Courtesy Lights, Heated Washer Solvent, 2X Remote Trunk Release,
Turn Signal Mirrors, Center Console Courtesy Lamp, Rear Outboard Heated Seats, PVD Chrome 18" Factory Rims, Upgraded
Carbon Fibre Appearance Interior Trim, Highly Modified Main Body Harness, Instrument Panel, Door, Door Panel & Headliner
Wiring Harnesses, Custom Fuse Box & Tire and Loading Information Decals, Additional Acoustic Insulation[/size][/color]


