Parkview Camera Set-up

I bought an 06 Limited with Nav but it did not have the backup camera installed. For some reason, there is not a mopar kit to install the camera and have it work through the Nav unit. I really dont want to add a separate screen, so I am trying to figure out what stands in my way from putting the factory optioned camera in my Jeep.

The camera and mounting bracket are available as a replacement part from Jeep so what stands in my way from buying these pieces and doing the install myself. I am guessing that there is probably a wiring harness that should be back there that may not be since this was not a factory option.

Does anyone know why this won't work? Has anyone tried this or looked into this? Let me know if you have any experience or ideas about this! Thanks!:D

Hi, I was in the same boat over here in the UK, and I didn't want another screen in the car when I already had the factory sat nav, so found this company....
www.avelectronic.com, the interesting bit here is they sell a unit that can convert your existing sat nav screen to become a rear view camera even if this was not an option at the factory.
Just received my unit from them here in the UK, now the 'worrying' bit is it needs a bit of soldering on the main unit for the jeep/Chrysler units to work. They have sent through detailed instructions...leaving it to an exp car audio specialist to install and adapt, bit nervous but will let you know how it goes. The guys at the web site seem quite helpful. good luck.

thanks for the info, I am really interested in hearing how yours turns out. Be sure and post a follow up. I am going to check out that site. Thanks!

Hi Ricky O.

Could you let me know a bit more about that unit. Did you get the budget one or the AV switcher? How much was it and how long did it take to arrive? Does the mod to the Nav require any parts? If no parts could you somehow let me know what the mod is? Thanks

Mark

Hey,

I will let RickyO answer as to what unit he got but I will tell you what I learned when I called the company yesterday. They are located in Georgia and the basic unit is $299, the license plate camera they offer is $199, so the whole thing is going to cost $500 plus shipping. He tells me they have to disassemble the NAV unit and actually solder in a 9 pin wiring harness onto the circuit board of the NAV unit behind the LCD screen. That is why RickyO probably did not want to attempt the solder work himself. The mas says that they can have your unit modified and shipped back out the next day if you send it to them. I suggest you give the guy a call, he was very knowledgeable about everything. I think he really knew his stuff.

Paul

Hi all, thanks Paul you basically summed in all up in one. They have sent detailed instructions re the alterations, if my guy is not confident might end up sending over the unit as a last resort to the company in the US...looking at the instructions it looks like major brain surgery to me!
Have only just recieved the kit, took about 3 weeks to get here. I chose the basic system, that's all you need for the rear camera kit. I also chose the miniature camera they advertise. Have not had the chance to see my tech guy yet for his opinion on the work. Will keep you up to date with what happens...Richard

kfbagt and RickyO,

Thanks for the info. I too want the video camera but definitely DO NOT want an extra screen. I can't wait to hear how it turns out. Please post when it's done! Many thanks.

I can offer this bit of information regarding the install of the back up camera after factory to work through your nav radio. If you remove your radio and look at the back there will be a 3 prong plug that is open on the lower left rear of the radio (looking from the back). That is where the back up camera wiring would plug in (so I am told). If you do not have that plug then you would have to have the nav radio modified, if you do then you need to find the part numbers for the wiring and camera and then simply install it if you feel up to it. All I can say is I am not sure all of the nav units have that open 3 prong plug or if it was added on later year 06 and 07 Commanders. I have a newer model (9/06) and have the open plug but never researched to see what the parts numbers would be to simply purchase the camera and wiring to do it myself. If anyone does please let us know and I plan to look into it this week. Hope this helps.

that helps alot. I am giong to take my unit out tomorrow and look at it. Great work on tracking this down!

I have that open 3 pin connector on my head unit.

Does anyone know of an online technical resource for these head units?

It would be great if the rear camera could connect to this plug without modifying the head unit. I know that the ave system allows you to connect their video switcher so that you can input camera &/or DVD/TV. It's possible that the open socket supplies power to the camera on one of the pins and is therefore unsuitable for their switchers or other devices.

Interesting...I was going to say to Frank that I dealt a European JC would have this as this is not an option over here, and you say you have this 3 pin connector which means I must have it as well? I am still waiting to hear back from the Company that was/is doing the modification and installation - will chase them up today.
When you say unsuitable for the switcher, I take it you are talking about the box I had sent over from AV Electronics...will pass this info on to the Company doing the work for me. Have to admit the thought of them doing fine soldering and having seen the black & white instructions with an arrow saying 'solder here' does make me kind of nervous will it ever work again!!! Keep you all posted...

If you have the open 3 pin plug on the rear of the nav unit you do not need to have any radio modifications or switch box. When you place the Commander in reverse the camera comes on and it automatically displays onto the radio.

The 2 wires are the video feed and the third is for the back up lights.

I am trying to track down some part numbers for the camera and wiring harness. The camera/bracket part numbers are easy but we are working on finding the part numbers for the wire to go from the camera to the rear of the radio.

I will keep you all posted if I can find the part numbers for the wiring.

As a follow up: If you do have the open 3 pin on the nav unit there are some parts needed. I am working with a dealer to locate part numbers for the plug that would go into the 3 pin on the radio as well as plug into the camera as a direct wire install. The dealership is working on this and says that the part numbers and pricing are not released yet for these plugs but he will keep watching and thinks they will be released soon. They will be looking at simply making a 3 wire harness to go from the camera to the radio with one of those wires connecting/splicing into the back up lights. This same dealership has done similar mods to install after factory uconnect by making a "jet harness" so that can be installed as well. They will do this camera harness once they get all the proper plugs since they can sell a lot of them to other chrysler and jeep owners due to demand. All I can advise is to be patient and this should all be available in a month or 2 according to the dealership. If I learn anything more I will let you know.

Hi Ricky,

Would you consider letting me have a copy of those instructions?? If you have a scanner maybe you could e-mail them to me or post a copy and I'll send you the postage....or tell me to naff off and stop bothering you!!!!! ;)

I want to patch my freeview tuner straight in. (before everyone lets loose with the safety implications I'd never watch it while driving!!)

Just to follow up on the post by Commander Ron. It would be really important to get the connections right on the three pin connector if connecting without the manufacturers wiring harness. It would seem that this input is switched by voltage being applied to one pin so that input is only active when the vehicle is in reverse. If you connected the feed from the reversing lights to one of the video inputs by mistake it could damage the head unit. Using the soldered on modified input will allow the input to be used all the time so you could connect other video inputs via the switcher. All cameras need a power source and that probably means there is DC across the video input pins of the three pin connector. I don't think any interface device like the one ricky o purchased will like having DC connected across it's output. Allegedly.:)

MWESTCREW - I agree 100% with you. That is why I am allowing a dealership to work on this. They are going to track down the correct parts so that we use the plugs that are being used by Jeep as well as the wiring. We already have the wiring diagram for the 3 pins into the radio so we know what feeds go where. Thanks for the advice and I agree...I am not about to plug anything into this radio for what it costs.

Not a problem, the box is currently sat at the car audio shop that is going to do the modification. I will just advise they are photocopies which are not brilliant not sure how well it will scan for such detailed work. If you can wait will do it as soon as, ping me again to remind me!!

Sorry Commander Ron. I didn't mean to suggest that you would make any connections that might do damage. I was just kind of rounding off your advice to Ricky O.

The problem for us this side of the pond is that parts like the camera and harness or connectors will be very hard to get from U.K. dealerships even with the part numbers. They simply can't understand that we might want to make mods like these. We don't have the rear camera or for that matter U-Connect as options so our dealers have never even heard of them.

A Bluetooth phone module was listed in the accessory brochure for The U.K. spec commander so I ordered one, only to be told that they weren't supplying them because the voice command system couldn't recognize our English accents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :confused:

Specification for U.K. cars is very limited. 2 Engines,1 Drivetrain,2 Interior Colours,2 Trim levels, and pretty much no optional kit apart from Nav & VES

Do you have the pin configurations for the 3 pin connector? If so would you mind letting me have them please?

You know, if you have this 3 pin plug and it is activated by a dc input then it would be no problem to splice in a three pole single throw switch that would turn the camera on whenever you wanted it on. Also, the feed and ground could be cut and spliced into a simple video selector switch to allow any other video feed (although this would be video only with no audio). I really want to add the camera to mine and the additional video feed does not really interest me at all. However, having the ability to push a button and see the camera feed at anytime would be a great feature.

Someone had for sale on EBay a little while back a Nav radio and Backup camera for an 05 Grand Cherokee. It looked like the same radio as in the 06 Commander. They showed the item in a picture and it had with it a 3 pin wiring harness. Maybe it would be easier for the dealership to reference this harness out of the Grand Cherokee service manual? Just a thought.

Hi guys, no update from me yet on this, spoke with the guy who runs the company and he not had a chance to check it all out yet, (he'd been off with a bad back'!)I am being patient as I want this done right and he is the 'man' or so I'm told when it comes to technical. Will chase again next week. Just wondered if anyone else had any more up to date info on this subject? MWestcrew, you seemed to be on it..any luck your end?

All I can add is the three pin connector, wire harness, and camera part numbers have not been released yet. Once they are I plan to order those and install the camera myself. I will post as soon as I hear the numbers are released by Jeep.

cheers Commander Ron..

Hi Folks,
ok, attached should be some photos of my sat nav now converted to show rear image. Taken some time (long story) but just to say very pleased. Now have fully working rear view image when in reverse which is a god send when the 3rd row is up. Made the mistake of walking in when the tech guy was still working on it, dash in bits, sat nav unit in bits, and him telling me he could get a green and red feed but no blue. As we mention in the thread the unit I got needs to be adapted for Chrysler. Turns out this is like 'soldering hairs' he said, I think he had a sweat on doing it. I left him with it, patting him on the back telling him it will be fine! Fingers crossed I left wondering what had I done!! Suffice to say he called next day, he'd cracked it, needed some more soldering.
So all in all I would say a great useful mod, well worth doing, and great not to have to have a separate screen!

ricky_o, Any reason why he/you chose to mount it on the rear bumper? Just curious.

The factory rear view camera mounts at an angle under the license plate brow. This allows you full view of anything that may be laying on the ground directly behind the Commander.

to be honest it was a quick decision, the tech guy asked me as I was leaving. Didn't fancy drilling holes into the bodywork, so the bumper seemed the obvious place. Hadn't seen the factory set up, we don't have it in the UK. I guess now thinking about it that's not a bad spot.:rolleyes:

to be honest it was a quick decision, the tech guy asked me as I was leaving. Didn't fancy drilling holes into the bodywork, so the bumper seemed the obvious place. Hadn't seen the factory set up, we don't have it in the UK. I guess now thinking about it that's not a bad spot.:rolleyes:

Not a big deal... was just curious.

All I can add is the three pin connector, wire harness, and camera part numbers have not been released yet. Once they are I plan to order those and install the camera myself. I will post as soon as I hear the numbers are released by Jeep.

Any updates to this?

TIA

I am also very interested in the rear view camera with all th factory stuff. When it all is said and done, that will be a nice thing to have. I know you will keep us updated as you know.

Hi, what updates did you want to know? My last comments ended with a successful installation, best upgrade I've done.

Are the part number available now for doing this with factory parts ?

Are the part number available now for doing this with factory parts ?

Shoot me a PM with a email address I have a JPG that shows the part #'s (to big to upload) Depending on the year of you'r Commander this may or may not work.

I have gotten a few requests for part #'s for the Parkview Camera, At this point in time it is not possible to install the ParkView Camera in a 2006 or earlier model without additional 3rd party hardware. Here is a link to another forum I belong to that has researched and even has had communications from a engineer at Chrysler the post is lengthy if you go to the last page you will see what I am talking about:
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=805734

Sorry---MARKA2K just posted the same info.

Not to burst anyones bubble, but assuming the wiring is the same between the Grand Cherokee and the Commander, then there is an issue of adding the camera to the 06's. The navigation may have the 3-pin slot on the back, but the are more components needed. The signal for the camera to come on in reverse comes from the transmission control module. The 06's have a different version than the 07's. Here is a write up from a Grand Cherokee forum about the same topic. http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=805734

The camera and wiring can be purchased as a set from JustForJeeps. http://www.justforjeeps.com/pacapa.html

I have gotten a few requests for part #'s for the Parkview Camera, At this point in time it is not possible to install the ParkView Camera in a 2006 or earlier model without additional 3rd party hardware. Here is a link to another forum I belong to that has researched and even has had communications from a engineer at Chrysler the post is lengthy if you go to the last page you will see what I am talking about:
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=805734


I'm just curious, if the Parkview camera does not work in a 2006, what was the camera that was available as an option with the Nav system in late 2006? When I got my 06' Hemi, there were two other 06' Hemi's next to it on the lot with the camera that came on the Nav when in reverse. :confused:

I'm just curious, if the Parkview camera does not work in a 2006, what was the camera that was available as an option with the Nav system in late 2006? When I got my 06' Hemi, there were two other 06' Hemi's next to it on the lot with the camera that came on the Nav when in reverse. :confused:

It was switched during the last couple of months of 2006 model year. They started phasing in the 2007 goodies at the end of the 2006 model year.

My 06 came with the Parkview Cameria, I will have to check the "Made On" date one of these days, but I would assume then that it is a late 06 model.

I'm just curious, if the Parkview camera does not work in a 2006, what was the camera that was available as an option with the Nav system in late 2006? When I got my 06' Hemi, there were two other 06' Hemi's next to it on the lot with the camera that came on the Nav when in reverse. :confused:
Hi,

As you probably read in my threads I have installed the camera via the factory Sat Nav system, the only way this was going to work was by me buying the additional hardware that I got from a company called AV electronics. (http://www.avelectronic.com/products.htm) In order for this additional hardware to work, the head unit had to have additional fine soldering done. They explain on their website that for certain manufactures this needs to be done. Unfortunately its not as straight forward as just attaching a camera, unless I guess you have an 07 model with the camera as an option?

Hi,

As you probably read in my threads I have installed the camera via the factory Sat Nav system, the only way this was going to work was by me buying the additional hardware that I got from a company called AV electronics. (http://www.avelectronic.com/products.htm) In order for this additional hardware to work, the head unit had to have additional fine soldering done. They explain on their website that for certain manufactures this needs to be done. Unfortunately its not as straight forward as just attaching a camera, unless I guess you have an 07 model with the camera as an option?

This company does something simliar but no sending the radio in.

http://www.tvandnav2go.com/index.html

wkjeeps.com/wk_parkview_camera.htm

Hey guys, any word on the parkview camera setup for the '06?

Hey guys, any word on the parkview camera setup for the '06?

From the other forum I frequent look at the two last posts.


http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=805734&page=5

milous runs wkjeeps website (just fyi)

There may still be hope....

I was told by the dealer that if there were to be a camera on my XK, that it would be mounted in the middle brake light. On the right bottom of the third brake light, there is a groove with a rubber piece in it. Anyone else have this?

The reason I ask is because other people in the forum were saying that the factory camera mounts below the license plate.

The reason I ask is because other people in the forum were saying that the factory camera mounts below the license plate.
The factory camera mounts under the license plate brow (not below the license plate itself).