Backup camera manual switch on?
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,606
Likes: 149
From: SE Georgia
well damn. Guess Ford up and redid everything again. sorry for the bad info. using the troubleshooting you've done so far though, we can get there. see below
does your truck have sync? is the mic pickup in the rear mirror or in the sunvisor?
the 2 wires you tried were most likely the microphone +/- or compass +/- wires. that leaves you the white wire and the blue with white chaser.
1 of the 2 remaining wires is hot anytime the key is in the "on" position. do you have a voltmeter? I'd put the key in the "on" position and test the 2 wires left. Whichever one has 12 volts is the main power
place key in "on" and put the truck in reverse (not running). check which wire runs 12 volts. trigger wire
My mirror only has 5 wires total:
black - ground
white
Green w/ purple chaser - microphone/compass
Light blue w/ white chaser
White w/ blue chaser - microphone/compass
I located these wires behind the passenger side A pillar, stripped a small section of insulation on green w/ purple chaser, then ran a wire from the Aux 4 lead (brown) and wrapped it around the stripped section of wire, fired up the truck and flipped aux 4 and NOTHING, did the same with the blue w/ white chaser with the same result. I put the truck in reverse and the video display on the mirror worked as it normally does.
I assume this rules both of these wires out as the trigger wire even though I did not wire in the diode. Can someone please tell me if I'm correct in my assumption that if I had the correct "trigger" wire for the mirror video display, it would turn on even without the diode? This is just for testing purposes to locate the correct trigger wire, so I don't care if this turns on the reverse lights and backup proximity sensor.
OR, would it not function at all (as it did) without the diode?
The main reason I didn't wire the diode in was to avoid cutting the wires. Please let me know your thoughts. Tylus?
Thanks,
JD
black - ground
white
Green w/ purple chaser - microphone/compass
Light blue w/ white chaser
White w/ blue chaser - microphone/compass
I located these wires behind the passenger side A pillar, stripped a small section of insulation on green w/ purple chaser, then ran a wire from the Aux 4 lead (brown) and wrapped it around the stripped section of wire, fired up the truck and flipped aux 4 and NOTHING, did the same with the blue w/ white chaser with the same result. I put the truck in reverse and the video display on the mirror worked as it normally does.
I assume this rules both of these wires out as the trigger wire even though I did not wire in the diode. Can someone please tell me if I'm correct in my assumption that if I had the correct "trigger" wire for the mirror video display, it would turn on even without the diode? This is just for testing purposes to locate the correct trigger wire, so I don't care if this turns on the reverse lights and backup proximity sensor.
OR, would it not function at all (as it did) without the diode?
The main reason I didn't wire the diode in was to avoid cutting the wires. Please let me know your thoughts. Tylus?
Thanks,
JD
the 2 wires you tried were most likely the microphone +/- or compass +/- wires. that leaves you the white wire and the blue with white chaser.
1 of the 2 remaining wires is hot anytime the key is in the "on" position. do you have a voltmeter? I'd put the key in the "on" position and test the 2 wires left. Whichever one has 12 volts is the main power
place key in "on" and put the truck in reverse (not running). check which wire runs 12 volts. trigger wire
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
well damn. Guess Ford up and redid everything again. sorry for the bad info. using the troubleshooting you've done so far though, we can get there. see below
does your truck have sync? is the mic pickup in the rear mirror or in the sunvisor?
the 2 wires you tried were most likely the microphone +/- or compass +/- wires. that leaves you the white wire and the blue with white chaser.
1 of the 2 remaining wires is hot anytime the key is in the "on" position. do you have a voltmeter? I'd put the key in the "on" position and test the 2 wires left. Whichever one has 12 volts is the main power
place key in "on" and put the truck in reverse (not running). check which wire runs 12 volts. trigger wire
does your truck have sync? is the mic pickup in the rear mirror or in the sunvisor?
the 2 wires you tried were most likely the microphone +/- or compass +/- wires. that leaves you the white wire and the blue with white chaser.
1 of the 2 remaining wires is hot anytime the key is in the "on" position. do you have a voltmeter? I'd put the key in the "on" position and test the 2 wires left. Whichever one has 12 volts is the main power
place key in "on" and put the truck in reverse (not running). check which wire runs 12 volts. trigger wire
I do have a voltmeter and will check into isolating the trigger wire when I have the chance.
Also, I misspoke about the coloring of the wires. There is Green with brown chaser which is 12V switched power - turns on and off with the key (my radar detector is wired to this). Blue with white chaser, White with green chaser, black, and dark grey wires. I'll post my findings shortly.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,829
Likes: 3
Yup, the 2011 F-150 diagram you posted is not even close to the 2011+ SuperDuty. Prior to 2011 the Super Duty reverse camera was controlled on/off via a 12v trigger from the reversing lamps circuit. Just like what you posted from the F-150 diagram. The 2011+ Super Duty reverse camera on/off control is a actual "communication" received from the BCM via MS-CAN on vehicles equipped with navigation and via LIN (Local Interconnect Network) on vehicles equipped with the mirror display.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Yup, the 2011 F-150 diagram you posted is not even close to the 2011+ SuperDuty. Prior to 2011 the Super Duty reverse camera was controlled on/off via a 12v trigger from the reversing lamps circuit. Just like what you posted from the F-150 diagram. The 2011+ Super Duty reverse camera on/off control is a actual "communication" received from the BCM via MS-CAN on vehicles equipped with navigation and via LIN (Local Interconnect Network) on vehicles equipped with the mirror display.
I'm guessing this comm via the LIN does not allow the mirror video display from turning on via an electrical signal from the upfitter switches?
Thanks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 4
From: Lakehills, TX
Right now Ford has had hell trying to get my reverse camera (in the mirror) to work correctly (turns blue half the time I start it up and back out of my driveway in the morning). I'm on the 4th camera and second tailgate wiring harness. Started just a couple weeks after I bought it. If it ever does get fixed properly, I'd love to know whether there really is a way to trigger it manually.
Tell that to Jeep! Those *******s switch wire colors in mid year sometimes! I build rock crawlers as a hobby, and sometimes I think Jeep just hates me.
With very few exceptions, Ford uses the same wire colors and layouts. My 2006 F-150 uses the same layout/colors as my 2006 F-250. My 08 Expy has extremely similar wiring and colors to the 06 F-150. My 09 Mustang used the same color wires and bundles
it's a streamlining process that makes sense when you think about it. The more things are different, the harder it is for Tech's and Engineers to do their magic when there is an issue
it's a streamlining process that makes sense when you think about it. The more things are different, the harder it is for Tech's and Engineers to do their magic when there is an issue
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Houston
Might want to check if lockpik makes a module for your model. I like my lockpik I installed on my 09 250. Don't know if it will work on camera on rear view mirror. I have the nav unit and my lock pik let's me pull up my camera while parked or while driving. Also it bypasses the DVD while in motion lock.
New User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Might want to check if lockpik makes a module for your model. I like my lockpik I installed on my 09 250. Don't know if it will work on camera on rear view mirror. I have the nav unit and my lock pik let's me pull up my camera while parked or while driving. Also it bypasses the DVD while in motion lock.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Houston
Google lockpik watch out for autocorrect because it will change it to lockpick. If you can not find it look up Coastal Technologies - Web Designers, Ecommerce, Marketing Consulting, Online Marketer | Upper Montclair NJ
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Houston
New User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
2013 tailgate camera on a 2011 F250.
I recently purchased a 2011 F250 with the back up camera in the rear view mirror. Unfortunately something happened to the original tailgate and it had been replaced with a plain-jane tailgate off of an older model. I bought a 2013 tailgate with a camera from a salvage yard and they told me it would work on the 2011 and that the camera was working when it was taken off of the newer truck. They shipped the tailgate to me, so I couldn't test it before I bought it.
The plugs on the truck and tailgate match, but when I connected them, no image in the rear view mirror. I did notice that the plug on the truck only has 5 wires and the plug on the tailgate has 6. I took it to a Ford dealer and they told me the 13 would not work on the 11 because the 11 doesn't have a module. Are they blowing smoke at me or can it be wired to work?
The plugs on the truck and tailgate match, but when I connected them, no image in the rear view mirror. I did notice that the plug on the truck only has 5 wires and the plug on the tailgate has 6. I took it to a Ford dealer and they told me the 13 would not work on the 11 because the 11 doesn't have a module. Are they blowing smoke at me or can it be wired to work?
New User
Joined: Jul 2013
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I bought a used 2011 pick-up that originally had a back up camera, but the owner had damaged the tailgate and replaced it with one that didn't have the camera. I bought a 2013 tailgate on line to replace the 2011 tailgate. The seller guaranteed me that the tailgate had come off of a new vehicle and the camera was working and it would work on a 2011 truck. The connectors match-up, but all I get in the rearview mirror is a blue screen. Any suggestions? Duplicate post, sorry. Don't know how to delete it.
Last edited by Pale-pony; Jul 23, 2013 at 09:41 AM. Reason: duplicate post
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