Installing OEM backup cam

[Mpgrimm2]

Going to repost this as a start to helping Loveracing1988's camera install...

Well, I decided to tell my wife what to get me for christmas, so I told her a couple different things. One of them was the setup to get the rear backup camera installed. Per this post I had her order 68197873AA thinking that it is all I needed, low and behold I have to camera, that is an extra $110. So the kit is $250 for all of the wiring front to back and all of the parts needed, or the Handle and camera separate are $185? At this point I think I am going to have her return the handle because I'm still missing a $110 camera and $90 to have the stupid sales code added. So much for thinking I was all set with a handle...

Yeh , just get the whole kit and install it yourself, pretty easy install a 4 out of 10 imo , two soldered wires and the rest is plug n play . As for the XAC sales code it took the tech @ my dealer 7 minutes, so I convinced the Service Mgr. To not charge me because I purchased the kit from them instead of less money from eBay .
Hope this helps ! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Check this out if you haven't already , it's cptwings thread on installing the OEM back up cam . IMPORTANT INFO check out Mpgrimm2 's POST # 10 , It's loaded with good info .
Hope this helps !

Installing OEM backup cam
http://www.ramforum.com/showthread.php?p=974372

Pm me your VIN. I will check your wiring schematic and verify you have the wiring... More often than not, you will not have the full wiring installed that you think you do and end up needing parts that you can only get with the kit.

We can continue in Cptwing's Camera thread.

Sent from my LG G4 on Tapatalk.

 

[Mpgrimm2]

@Loveracing1988,
Got your VIN, thanks. I'm currently out of town the rest of this weekend without access to all my files (thought it was on my laptop).
I looked at your VIN's schematic briefly and found the "Generic" schematic for your 2500 6.4L Tradesman 4x4/RA1.

I need to keep digging and find the link to the very specific/as built schematic for your truck (can't recall how I did it for MTGTS).

We went though almost the exact same thing on adding the backup camera with 70chall440 and MTGTS with their 2500 series trucks.

So here is the deal and some links you will need to review and to visually check some of your harness wiring/conenctors:
Some of this is from my post 10 where most of these notes are linked.

- It seems many of the 2500's (3500's too?) have a short "Extension" at the i550 Tailgate connector that has all 8 wires in it (only the extension), yet the chassis side of the harness going forward of the extension only has the 2 lock wires.

- Some of the 2500's come partially wired for the 3rd Brake Lt (CHMSL) cargo cam. There may be a harness in the headliner that goes from the CHMSL (disconnected) to the back of the radio at pins 31,32,33 (connected) where the non-existent tailgate cam will need to go on your RA2+ radio. You may end up de-pinning these 3 wires and moving them to a different set of pins.

- Factory 2500's with the CHMSL cam on the radio and backup cam will normally have the backup cam displayed in the mirror.


Links:
- Post 14+ 70Chall440's install starts around here

- Post 228+ Install issues with MTGTS's 2500 & pictures of the connectors to check for verifying existing wiring against the schematics (also has pn's to verify proper harnesses in the tailgate).
Note he had the short i550 Tailgate Extension issue (Also look at post 231, 234, & 254)

- Post 250: MTGTS's "Detailed" 2500 schematic showing the missing wiring for the camera. Your is likely the same.
Note he had the short i550 Tailgate Extension issue (Also look at post 231, 234, & 254)

Post 25 - Additional pictures of the i550 Tailgate connector and the i550 Tailgate Wearout Extension Cable that may be installed on some vehicles (i.e. 2500's & up?)
- See also post 254 (MTGTS's picture)

POST 26 - Detailed picture of the back of the Radio connector for identifying the correct pin locations for the rear camera (Primary Camera input. There are actually inputs for 3 cameras). ** PAY ATTENTION HERE - MANY PEOPLE GET THIS WRONG **

Post 51 - Some basic details about the 3 Cameras/Input pins on the 8.4 (RA3/Ra4) Radios for use with the "Lockpick" or the "Customtronix Jailbreak" software.
(i.e. Tailgate/backup Cam, Cargo/CHMSL Cam, & Front Cam)

 

[R.L.K.]

Wow ! That's a lot of info , fantastic !
Mike you are a machine !

 

[R.L.K.]

Don't forget the OP , cptwing, had a 3500 tradesman that was prewired , he installed the handle and the tailgate harness only and XAC Code and it worked ...

 

[loveracing1988]

Don't forget the OP , cptwing, had a 3500 tradesman that was prewired , he installed the handle and the tailgate harness only and XAC Code and it worked ...

That is what I don't get. I have everything in the tailgate, and going forward from the tailgate under the bed has all 8 wires. If it is that much work it isn't worth it to me, it is more of a luxury than a necessity, I wanted to spend $75, have it flashed and be done, not spend a week in the freezing rain and snow going through every wiring harness in the truck. I just feel bad telling my wife she has to return the handle she bought me.

 

[R.L.K.]

If you think your good , then get the XAC Flashed in , take the panel off the inside of the tailgate temporarily plug up the camrea and see if it works if not send it back .
Does your handle and camera have the pigtail harness attache to it ?

 

[loveracing1988]

If you think your good , then get the XAC Flashed in , take the panel off the inside of the tailgate temporarily plug up the camrea and see if it works if not send it back .
Does your handle and camera have the pigtail harness attache to it ?

That is the part that started this whole thing. I asked CuylerTech in the other thread of all I needed was the handle and a flash and he said yes, so my wife bought me the handle for Christmas and come to find out the handle and camera are two separate pieces you have to buy. I thought the handle came with the camera and come to find out it is another $120ish to buy it. If I had everything I would just connect it and see of it works, but I don't want to go through the hassle of buying the camera only to find out something else is missing further up.

 

[R.L.K.]

Damn , togh spot .

 

[loveracing1988]

Damn , togh spot .

Exactly...

 

[Mpgrimm2]

If I can nail down the exact detailed schematic for your truck I will be able to confirm it for you.

But I have to pack to drive home tomorrow so it won't be until during next week (Mon/Tue).

Sent from my LG G4 on Tapatalk.

 

[R.L.K.]

Well if you go ahead and get the code flashed , return the handle . Pay close attention to your buddies 2013+ 1500 Rams , ask them to let you temp install the cam and litle harness that attaches directly to the camrea just to see if it works ( less than 30 mins job .)
If it does buy what you need and install . If it doesn't work , no worries you didn't need it anyway .

If your getting the Blue screen in reverse and It bugs you just depopulate pins 31,32,33 from the radio connector and tape & label them out of the way .

 

[millerbjm]

I was given an OEM camera with tailgate handle and harness etc (tailgate was replaced due to paint damage so I have the whole tailgate with camera) I would like to install in my 2014 1500 Big Horn but my body harness only has the 2 wires - question is does anyone know of a source for just the body and radio harness without buying the whole kit?

Thanks

 

[R.L.K.]

Several have tried in the past , maybe you could run the p/n s again now . Honestly it wouldn't be hard to make .
P.M
Cuyler Tech with the harness connection, he was talking about making the harness you need a while back .

 

[Mpgrimm2]

Well, I decided to tell my wife what to get me for christmas, so I told her a couple different things. One of them was the setup to get the rear backup camera installed. Per this post I had her order 68197873AA thinking that it is all I needed, low and behold I have to camera, that is an extra $110. So the kit is $250 for all of the wiring front to back and all of the parts needed, or the Handle and camera separate are $185? At this point I think I am going to have her return the handle because I'm still missing a $110 camera and $90 to have the stupid sales code added. So much for thinking I was all set with a handle...

@Loveracing1988,
Got your VIN, thanks. I'm currently out of town the rest of this weekend without access to all my files (thought it was on my laptop).
I looked at your VIN's schematic briefly and found the "Generic" schematic for your 2500 6.4L Tradesman 4x4/RA1.

I need to keep digging and find the link to the very specific/as built schematic for your truck (can't recall how I did it for MTGTS).

We went though almost the exact same thing on adding the backup camera with 70chall440 and MTGTS with their 2500 series trucks.

So here is the deal and some links you will need to review and to visually check some of your harness wiring/conenctors:
Some of this is from my post 10 where most of these notes are linked.

- It seems many of the 2500's (3500's too?) have a short "Extension" at the i550 Tailgate connector that has all 8 wires in it (only the extension), yet the chassis side of the harness going forward of the extension only has the 2 lock wires.

- Some of the 2500's come partially wired for the 3rd Brake Lt (CHMSL) cargo cam. There may be a harness in the headliner that goes from the CHMSL (disconnected) to the back of the radio at pins 31,32,33 (connected) where the non-existent tailgate cam will need to go on your RA2+ radio. You may end up de-pinning these 3 wires and moving them to a different set of pins.

- Factory 2500's with the CHMSL cam on the radio and backup cam will normally have the backup cam displayed in the mirror.


Links:
- Post 14+ 70Chall440's install starts around here

- Post 228+ Install issues with MTGTS's 2500 & pictures of the connectors to check for verifying existing wiring against the schematics (also has pn's to verify proper harnesses in the tailgate).
Note he had the short i550 Tailgate Extension issue (Also look at post 231, 234, & 254)

- Post 250: MTGTS's "Detailed" 2500 schematic showing the missing wiring for the camera. Your is likely the same.
Note he had the short i550 Tailgate Extension issue (Also look at post 231, 234, & 254)

Post 25 - Additional pictures of the i550 Tailgate connector and the i550 Tailgate Wearout Extension Cable that may be installed on some vehicles (i.e. 2500's & up?)
- See also post 254 (MTGTS's picture)

POST 26 - Detailed picture of the back of the Radio connector for identifying the correct pin locations for the rear camera (Primary Camera input. There are actually inputs for 3 cameras). ** PAY ATTENTION HERE - MANY PEOPLE GET THIS WRONG **

Post 51 - Some basic details about the 3 Cameras/Input pins on the 8.4 (RA3/Ra4) Radios for use with the "Lockpick" or the "Customtronix Jailbreak" software.
(i.e. Tailgate/backup Cam, Cargo/CHMSL Cam, & Front Cam)

That is what I don't get. I have everything in the tailgate, and going forward from the tailgate under the bed has all 8 wires. If it is that much work it isn't worth it to me, it is more of a luxury than a necessity, I wanted to spend $75, have it flashed and be done, not spend a week in the freezing rain and snow going through every wiring harness in the truck. I just feel bad telling my wife she has to return the handle she bought me.

@LoveRacing1988,
I haven't forgotten about you. Still trying to dig up the specifics.

 

[Mpgrimm2]

@LoveRacing1988,
I haven't forgotten about you. Still trying to dig up the specifics.

Alright folks I finally figured it out again.

Sorry man, you are missing the 6 wires from the tailgate connector forward to the cab connector behind the left front wheel, and that's all. You were probably looking at the 8 wires in the tailgate wearout extension on some of the 2500's.
Your wiring diagram almost exactly matched MTGTS's 2500 which I updated it slightly with your info (minus full vin).

Here is the link again for you to see what you are missing:
2014 Ram 2500 MTGTS Existing Camera Wiring - Partial for Forum.png

Here's a complete schematic for comparison:
2013 Ram1500 Laramie V8 Crew OEM Camera Schematic.pdf

You would have been a perfect candidate for Jeepguy1980's harness if he was still around. Perhaps CuylerTech would be willing to make you a chassis harness using a 20awg 5 conductor cable + 5.5ft Gnd wire. If you have a 140" WB truck, I know the length (just under 17ft) ...
JpGuy Camera Harness Notes - partial.jpg
(I was mid process on diagramming it out with parts but never researched the part number for the 6 Female pins (sockets) at the i550 Tailgate connector. Also see HERE for more original info before the thread was locked).

Here's the references from post 10 again if you want to look under the truck and verify it ...
- Post 25 - Additional pictures of the i550 Tailgate connector and the i550 Tailgate Wearout Extension Cable that may be installed on some vehicles (i.e. 2500's & up?)
- See also post 254 (MTGTS's picture)

- Post 228+ Install issues with MTGTS's 2500 & pictures of the connectors to check for verifying existing wiring against the schematics (also has pn's to verify proper harnesses in the tailgate).
Note he had the short i550 Tailgate Extension issue (Also look at post 231, 234, & 254)

- Post 250: MTGTS's "Detailed" 2500 schematic showing the missing wiring for the camera. Your is likely the same.
Note he had the short i550 Tailgate Extension issue (Also look at post 231, 234, & 254)

PS: I still plan on having a look to see if any of the CHMSL wiring is in your truck, but the techAuthority site is being wonky and not displaying the detail when I click the links.

 

[skeeter4x4]

Hey guys, I just installed my camera, had the dealer flash the radio today. Replaced items C, and E. And I'm getting a blue screen with System is unavailable on the display. The tech tried a couple of things while it was at the dealership. But that was before I switched out the tailgate wire. Any clue what could be wrong?

 

[R.L.K.]

Hey guys, I just installed my camera, had the dealer flash the radio today. Replaced items C, and E. And I'm getting a blue screen with System is unavailable on the display. The tech tried a couple of things while it was at the dealership. But that was before I switched out the tailgate wire. Any clue what could be wrong?

Did you install the rest of the kit ? Or just C & E ?

 

[skeeter4x4]

Just C and E

 

[R.L.K.]

Most likely the connector you populated under the dash going to the radio . Check and make sure the 3 wires going to the radio are joined within that connector to the same color wires , if that is good , next make sure the radios C1 connector is correct @ 31,32 &33 .

If the C1 connector is confusing to you ( it has been for several ) look at the back of the radio , pin 31 is clearly marked

 

[R.L.K.]

Just C and E

Oh , well then simply install the rest of the kit .