Pass through (firewall/rearend) for backup cam video wire??

[Tie]

Hi,

I started taking things apart yesterday to install a backup camera. The monitor is an onstar rearview mirror, and the camera is a small ebay camera that I plan on mounting to the underside of the bumper, just above the hitch receiver. The mounting spot seemed like an easy option, as the wires can easily pass through the existing slot in the bumper to the underside of the car.

The power should be straightforward, as you can tap into the trailer wiring, or up from below into the taillight. I'm not finding an easy spot to pass the video wire. I can cut the RCA end off and spice it later, so the hole need not be large at all.

I really hate drilling into anything, and and for such a small gauge wire, it seems there should be something to pass through, hopefully without cutting a grommet or boot. It could pretty much be anywhere from the back of the car along the bottom, all the way to the firewall (pref the drivers side, but could always get more wire).

Behind the taillights, there is a piece of rubber "tape" that seems hollow behind it, but is painted along with the body. Looks like you could possibly punch through that into the cargo area. There are the grommets for the parking brake cable, though these seem like tough polyurethane that you could not easily push (stretch) to pass a thin wire through. It looks like the main pass through the firewall could be used, but do you have to cut into that nice boot?

Anyway, I've searched the forum looking for a no brainer spot to feed the wire through. Most discussions are about larger gauge amp wire, etc. If anyone has any ideas on "non-invasive" spots to feed this small cable, I'd be very appreciative.

Thanks,

Tie

2012 Suburban LT

 

[karlh]

Planning the same project myself. Keep us posted.

Thanks,

 

[Tie]

Karl,

I think I found exactly what I was looking for. If you pop off the back trim on the floor of the cargo area (where the tailgate latch is) there is a hole that goes through the undercarage (it has to pass through another wider hole, then the wire comes out by the spare tire). This hole accomdates a plastic peg to align the trim. The peg is x shaped, so the wire can be placed along one of the inside edges, and taped, requiring no cutting of the trim piece.

The RCA plug, to pass through, has to be shaved ever so slightly with an razor blade. The wire can then be run inside the car under the back trim, then underneath the door thresholds.

Since nothing ever seems to go smoothly, the surprisingly difficult part I'm still struggling with is removing the pins from the rearview mirror plug. What should take seconds has taken me what seems like hours, using a pin to remove the terminal latch. I have two of four removed. It should not be as hard as I'm finding it.

-Tie

 

[vt_hokie2008]

Hi,

I started taking things apart yesterday to install a backup camera. The monitor is an onstar rearview mirror, and the camera is a small ebay camera that I plan on mounting to the underside of the bumper, just above the hitch receiver. The mounting spot seemed like an easy option, as the wires can easily pass through the existing slot in the bumper to the underside of the car.

The power should be straightforward, as you can tap into the trailer wiring, or up from below into the taillight. I'm not finding an easy spot to pass the video wire. I can cut the RCA end off and spice it later, so the hole need not be large at all.

I really hate drilling into anything, and and for such a small gauge wire, it seems there should be something to pass through, hopefully without cutting a grommet or boot. It could pretty much be anywhere from the back of the car along the bottom, all the way to the firewall (pref the drivers side, but could always get more wire).

Behind the taillights, there is a piece of rubber "tape" that seems hollow behind it, but is painted along with the body. Looks like you could possibly punch through that into the cargo area. There are the grommets for the parking brake cable, though these seem like tough polyurethane that you could not easily push (stretch) to pass a thin wire through. It looks like the main pass through the firewall could be used, but do you have to cut into that nice boot?

Anyway, I've searched the forum looking for a no brainer spot to feed the wire through. Most discussions are about larger gauge amp wire, etc. If anyone has any ideas on "non-invasive" spots to feed this small cable, I'd be very appreciative.

Thanks,

Tie

2012 Suburban LT

Well for future reference, I just ran some wires through the firewall for an amp install and some other electrical toying and just went through the main grommet. I took a metal coat hanger, unfolded it with one end bent in half, pushed it through and had my wire taped to the hanger. Went through with the other wires pretty easily, even my 8 gauge wire wasn't an issue.