Coastal E Tech License Plate Rear Camera Install
 

Hi all,

I just purchased the following items to upgrade my 07 Expy EL with a rear camera:

Lockpick 360 (Nav hack to allow camera input)

And:
Coastal E Tech BARCAM221 LockPick Licese Plate Night Vision Bar Camera (BAR-CAM-221)

See both item here: http://www.coastaletech.com/ford360lockpick.htm

Has anyone used this camera yet that can give me some ideas of how to do a nice install? Pictures and guidance would be great on how to run wires through rear hatch and up to the radio module.

I think it will work out nice plus I get the added bonus of using the Nav while rolling (well the wife gets the option of using the Nav while rolling). Any comments at all would be appreciated.

I got my lockpick yesterday. I think my license plate camera arrives today.

I was a little surprised that I have to take the radio apart to run the ribbon cord, but after watching the video it doesn't look so bad.

I'm putting mine into an '07 Navi L... I hope to get on it with the week. Please keep us posted on your progress and I'll let you know how I'm making out too.

Good luck! I think the final results will be well worth the effort.

Greg

PLEASE post your results and install tips if you can. That would be great. I am also ordering a lockpick but have been procrastinating about it.:-D

Finally everything has come in! I will begin the mod of the Radio HU and install of camera next week. I will need to tap into the reverse wire in order to get the rear camera to automatically turn on and activate the nav screen.

Does anyone know a good place to hook into the reverse wire other than running a wire all the way back to the tail light? Wire location, color, etc. Maybe even a pic or two. I am a novice at this so any expert advise on how to hook into the reverse wire will be appreciated.

(FYI the mod to the radio from ecoastal tech does require taking the radio apart enough to switch out the ribbon connector to the screen so the lockpick can take over inputs. They provide very detailed instructions as well as a DVD.)

I did not know that you had to mod the nav unit for the lockpick to work. I am not sure how I feel about this. Mine should be here tomorrow so i will watch the dvd and decide if it is something that i want to do.

I will try to get you a picture of the reverse wires in the passenger door sill sometime this weekend.

Maybe there's a reverse tap-in near the gear shifter? Seems like that must be what triggers the back-up lights.

The ribbon install seemed intimidating until I watched the video, but I think I'm okay there if I just take my time and keep the kids out of the room.

I'm hoping I can sneak the wires from the camera into the tailgate by getting in behind the trim piece just above the license plate. I haven't looked closely yet at our Navigator, but I'd really like to not drill anything there.

It will be interesting to see if the cable from the camera to the lockpick is long enough to run all the way up the tailgate, back down to the floor, and then all the way to the front of the rug near the firewall by tucking it in behind the door sills or if it will need to cut towards the center console just ahead of the front seats.

That's the parts I've been thinking about.

Are you sure we need to find a reverse wire? It seems to me like we would... and I haven't spent much time looking at what I got... but the directions make it sound like a plug & play so I thought the lockpick might just plug into the reverse lead someplace.

Thanks for the update.

I have not received mine yet but I did find some install instructions online somewhere for the chevy version and the camera hooks up straight to the lockpick (rca, 12v, ground) and then the lockpick has a wire that taps into the reverse lead.

I doubt the camera wires will be long enough so you could use a RCA coupler, that is what I am going to have to do.

Yeah, you need to plug into the reverse wire so the camera image will automatically show up on the nav HU. Otherwise, you have to manually bring up the rearcam image by pressing the radio's on/off switch twice. I want it to automatically pop up or it won't be useful.

I am stuck at removing the interior trim from the liftgate. I don't want to tear or damage the plastic tabs that hold it in place. I have started a new thread to address just that issue for everyone who needs the info.

wish I could help you man. I've wondered myself but have been too lazy so far.

Hope someone else knows that can help you. I want to get in there and look around

Open the liftgate glass and remove the 2 scrivets.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...download-4.jpg


Vehicles with power liftgate

1. Remove the power liftgate rod-to-liftgate cover and nut.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...8at92522PM.png
Remove the power liftgate rod from the liftgate.

1. Remove the upper liftgate trim panel.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...8at92534PM.png

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...8at92557PM.png

I got this diagram from berry1234.

The delivery on my lockpick was delayed from this past friday to next tuesday, so i have not started mine yet. Good luck and try to note some helpful hints with pictures if you can.:-X04

Cool, just what I was looking for but the pics aren't coming up. I can't PM yet (need to make 4 more posts after this one), but if you can PM me the instructions that would be great! Otherwise, maybe you can repost.

Are they coming up now? I changed the hosting site.

works...thanks for those

The photos showed up. Now I gotta screw up my courage and actually take the trim panel off.:eek: