Back up camera?

[didget69]

Not a backup camera, but a Bluetooth Backup Sensor device -

https://fensens.com/

Not really legal in North Carolina, as it obscures the license plate at the bottom where 'NORTH CAROLINA' is stamped into plate.

bnc

[sTeeve]

Here's some pics of installing the camera solder found at: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/hot-sale ... 78821.html

The light bulb holder is not correct.


So I propose to cut the original on the black line


and glue the piece onto the new camera-bulb holder like so.


Seems to work ok !

So, I bought this same camera... https://www.aliexpress.com/item/hot-sal ... 0.0.QKCiSJ

...and it looks like this:


So, I installed it:





Fits like factory. Hmmph. Running the wires may not be so much fun; I'll get to that later. I was surprised, however, that the camera assembly fit, the license plate light socket transferred as if factory. My concern is the aim of the camera. It looks as if it will point at the ground. I'd be happy to be wrong. I have tested the camera and it is functional; however, that test was not with the camera installed in the hatch. So, that's next.

I'll prolly have the wiring done by the shop that installed my sunroof, then I'll ship my head unit off to WAMS for programming. That should get me the wiring harness necessary to make this almost plug and play.

At least, that's what I think it will be. Happy to entertain thoughts, comments, criticism, beer...

-Bob K.

[Firemom233]

Just wanted to add to this thread that I will be getting this set up (https://www.amazon.com/AUTO-VOX-Rearvie ... r+dash+cam) today and was wondering why any of you that wanted a rearview camera didn't also get something along these lines?

I just got my Spark EV last week and have really missed having that back up camera since my previous 2 cars had it. Even though this car is tiny I'd still like to have one so I'm going to give this a go. I like that it has the built in dash cam too so I can get rid of that from my front windshield and I've read that if you don't hook the wires up to the wires for your reverse you can have that camera active at any given time (think the Chevy Bolt that has that feature in the premiere trim model) Pretty cool and I'm hoping it works good enough for me!

Has this thread only been about trying to get it hooked into be able to broadcast to the center stack and that's why this type hasn't been brought up?

Also for anyone interested, someone posted a link to that wireless Pearl back up camera earlier in this thread and I just thought I would mention that it is on sale right now so instead of $499 it has dropped to $425. (I still think it's outrageous!) You can find it here...(https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-RearVision ... kup+camera)

(Please excuse the fact that I don't know how to post the url in these forums!)

[JeffTAC4]

My concern is the aim of the camera. It looks as if it will point at the ground. I'd be happy to be wrong. I have tested the camera and it is functional; however, that test was not with the camera installed in the hatch. So, that's next.

sTeeve, how did it turn out? Is the camera angled too low? Do you have any pictures of it working?

[sTeeve]

My concern is the aim of the camera. It looks as if it will point at the ground. I'd be happy to be wrong. I have tested the camera and it is functional; however, that test was not with the camera installed in the hatch. So, that's next.

sTeeve, how did it turn out? Is the camera angled too low? Do you have any pictures of it working?

I'm going to assume that I'll make an "ass" out of j"u"st me and say that I didn't test the camera installed in the car. Since the description of the camera included the Aveo (kissing cousin of the Spark), I assumed it would work.

I really didn't have any way of testing the camera in the car, anyway. I *did* test it outside of the car. It worked fine, displaying its image on my 42" plasma TV. It does have static "parking lines", or whatever they're called.

I am sending my unit to WAMS http://www.whiteautoandmedia.com/index. ... &Itemid=54

See this link for more: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php ... Link-cars)

Chris from WAMS has chimed-in on this thread; we appreciate his advice and feedback.

I talked with a local installer, and they initially said they could do it, but upon further conversation and research (and I insisted that they research the Spark EV), they backed off and said "you're right, the Spark EV is a no-go for us, so go ahead and send your unit to WAMS; we'll do the wiring and installation of your unit when it returns". They advised me to wait to have them install the wiring until the unit has been programmed by WAMS; that way they could confirm that it works.

So, my unit gets sent tomorrow. I'll post a followup when the install has been completed.

-Bob K.

[nikwax]

Just wanted to add to this thread that I will be getting this set up (https://www.amazon.com/AUTO-VOX-Rearvie ... r+dash+cam) today and was wondering why any of you that wanted a rearview camera didn't also get something along these lines?

the wireless Auto Vox: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M260I3Z

[sTeeve]

Sent my unit to WAMS 04/27. Received e-mail from WAMS 05/06: "Just an update. We weren’t expecting this unit out of the blue and had to finish the development of the EV version which we completed today. We got your rear camera with optional guidelines (you can turn them off) as well as video in motion from USB to watch movies etc and removal of the majority of the motion locks from the unit. If we had more time we could probably get the vehicle config motion lock removed as well but most people don’t care about this and I’m sure you want your radio back Will be going out Monday!"

Therein ensued an e-mail exchange of me asking questions and WAMS giving me the necessary answers and prudent advice. "Mirrorlink in theory can be installed but its the older version that none of the new phones support from what we’ve seen and its incredibly unstable."

Received unit 05/11. Quick and Dirty Tested it in the car (camera not connected yet). Turned the car ON, MyLink booted up as usual. Shift into R, screen goes dark with message "Service Rear Vision System". There is now a menu selection in "Settings" for turning ON/OFF the parking guidelines.

So, my next task is running the wires from the tailgate to the head unit and connecting the camera + power. I'd really like a plug and play connection, but I'm not so sure that exists. I'll contact a local shop for these next steps (they are waiting for my call).

Moving forward...

-Bob K.

*Update 05/13: Installed unit in car. Forgot to connect USB cable. Fixed that. Took some pictures/video. Scheduled visit to Auto Accents, the shop that installed my sunroof. Will talk to them about running the camera cables from the hatch to the MyLink unit. Looking for a plug and play solution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9u0dP2piOE






*Update 05/15: Project completed by the guys at Auto Accents. They had to "research" the car and the pinouts of the MyLink connector. They ended up using the "padavos" technique (as they described it, they tied into the wires in the usb and aux panel). Made two test video clips, listed below. There is a 1 - 2 second lag when selecting reverse, and a 5 - 6 second lag when exiting reverse:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vOnq7YtTWI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CidPvc9w4Zg

Nighttime view is very good. Me like!
I can live with this! Woo-Hoo!!

[Nashco]

Cool! What was the final cost from WAMS?

Bryce

[sTeeve]

Cool! What was the final cost from WAMS?

Bryce

$250; $175 for running the cable/connecting the camera.

Yep, way too GD much.

-Bob K.

[SilentGreen]

i was able to add a camera to my 2016 spark ev without programming,
it takes some effort but you will have a nice back up camera for $20

enjoy

Hell to the yes!

Awesome write up. Time to cash in that cup of coins and get this done.