How To Install A Rear Camera Dash Cam

Steps on How to Install the Camera Dash Cam

1. Purchasing the necessary equipment.
   • Buy a mountable dash camera for your particular vehicle. For safety, make sure you purchase equipment specifically designed to be a rear-view camera. Purchasing one made specifically for your car will make it easier to install than a standard camera. These cameras are easier to install. Also, look for a camera you can directly mount behind your license plate. Consumer electronic stores usually have this equipment available.
   • If you already know how to install rear camera dash cam and have an existing rear-view mirror you want to keep, you can opt to purchase an external monitor instead. An external backup monitor is a compact video screen that mounts on your windshield to a GPS. They take up more space than internal monitors; however, external monitors are considerably easier to see and replace if necessary. You can also use a standard video monitor. But, the features may not be the same, as well as the output.
2. Installing camera cables.
   • Take off your rear license plate. The first thing on how to install rear camera dash cam is to take the license plate. Using a head screwdriver, remove each screws holding your rear license plate in place. Then, remove the plate off and set it aside. 
   • Remove the trunk’s interior panel. Open your trunk and look for the firm interior panel that covers the opposite side of your license plate mounting area. Then, insert a trim removal tool or another thin device behind the panel to pry it off. Doing so will expose your car’s rear wiring chambers.
   • Drill a hole in the license plate mounting area. There should be no obstructions between the license plate mount and the rear wiring chamber. Next, create a small hole in the car using a power drill with a high-speed twist drill bit. Line up your hole so it is right behind where your camera’s power and video cable will go. When drilling a hole, make sure that it’s large enough for the power and video cables.
   • Place the rubber grommet around your camera cable. Before installing your camera cable into the car, slide a rubber grommet near the non-splitting end of the cable. These small rubber washers, accessible at most home improvement stores, will keep the wire stable and prevent leaks.
   • Run the camera cable into the trunk. Pull the splitting end of your camera’s video and power cable through the drilled hole into your car’s trunk. Pull it tight, so the rubber grommet tightly lodges into the drilled hole.
   • Find your car’s 2 reverse light wires. Reverse light wires are cords that attach your car’s tail lights to the dashboard. They hook directly into the vehicle’s tail lights and are located in the hatch or trunk of your vehicle. If you can’t find them, try to consult your car’s manual for model-specific information.
   • Peel and separate your car’s reverse light wires. Using a wire stripper or pliers, strip back the rubber covering the cables. Then, use a screwdriver to poke a hole through the middle of each wire, separating the individual wire strands.
   • Fuse your camera and reverse light wires. Attach one of the bare wire cables to the camera cord’s power connector. Next, push your bare wires through the center of the exposed reverse light wires and twist them together. Make sure to poke the positive wire through the positive reverse light wire, and the same goes for the negative wires. For protection, make sure you wrap the wires in electrical tape.
3. Installing the monitor.
   • Route the camera’s video cable to the front of your car. Connect the RCA cable to the camera cord’s video connector. Then, run it through your car to the area near the fuse box. Peel back the automobile’s headliner or side panels and pull your cable through the opened chamber. The fuse box is usually located under the steering wheel.
   • Fix the external monitors to the front windshield. If you’re installing an external monitor, attach your device’s mount to the windshield by following your manufacturer’s manual. Then, hook your monitor into the mount. Most monitors come with a suction mount, making them easier to install and set up.
   • Attach the internal monitors to your rear-view mirror or mirror mount. Some internal monitors require you to clip the new device into your current rear-view mirror. While for other models, you’ll need to take the mirror and slip your monitor into the pre-existing mirror mount. 
   • Run the monitor’s splitter cable to the fuse box. Hook the monitor’s power and video cable into the device. Then, route the wire from the monitor to the area next to the fuse box.
   • Connect the monitor’s camera cable to the RCA cord. After routing your monitor’s splitter cable, connect the video end of the cable to the camera’s RCA cord. Next, bind the connected cords with electrical tape to keep them stable. 
   • Connect your monitor’s power cable to the fuse tap. Connect the remaining wire cable to the backup monitor’s power cord. Then, push the positive end of the bare wire cable into the open end of the fuse tap. Finally, crimp the two cables together with a pair of pliers.
   • Plug the fuse tap to the fuse box. Find your fuse box and open it. Then, plug your fuse to tap into an open fuse cell. Check your fuse box’s lid or your car’s instruction manual to see which slots are open. Bind all wires together using electrical tape.
4. Mounting the camera.
   • Connect your backup camera to its power and video cable. Return to the back of your vehicle once you’ve installed the rear-view monitor and all the camera cords. Close the trunk and connect the backup camera to its power and video cable.
   • Mount your camera to the license plate. If the camera connects to the front of your license plate, fix it to the plate using the instructions from your user’s manual. If the camera attaches to the back of your license plate, line the device with the plate’s fastener holes and insert the screws through them.
   • Reattach license plate and trim panels. Using a screwdriver, put your rear license plate back. Once you’ve reattached, give the license plate and backup camera firm tugs to ensure they’re secure.
   • Test the camera to ensure everything works properly. Before using your camera on public roads, test it in a safe area first. If it turns on, place a big, durable object behind the camera to see how distorted the image is. If it does not turn on, refer to your manual on how to install rear camera dash cam for troubleshooting.