Help w/ Finding Reverse Line in Dash area
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Help w/ Finding Reverse Line in Dash area
Hi All,
I am almost finished installing a backup camera. I have successfully hooked the camera up to the reverse lamp but I also want to hook the mirror (with the display) also to a reverse indicator (+12V only in reverse). I can run a cable up from the dash area pretty easily, but I cannot find anything in the service manual that would work well.
I have a 2002 F250 SuperCab. If you are able, please let me know the connector its on or color of the wire.
Thanks for all your help. Due to your help before, I was able to get this far (actually installed a front camera, console w/dvd, fixed my power mirrors, and replaced my speed control deactivator switch too). Unfortunately, my speed control is still not working, but I will leave that for another thread. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Caleb
I am almost finished installing a backup camera. I have successfully hooked the camera up to the reverse lamp but I also want to hook the mirror (with the display) also to a reverse indicator (+12V only in reverse). I can run a cable up from the dash area pretty easily, but I cannot find anything in the service manual that would work well.
I have a 2002 F250 SuperCab. If you are able, please let me know the connector its on or color of the wire.
Thanks for all your help. Due to your help before, I was able to get this far (actually installed a front camera, console w/dvd, fixed my power mirrors, and replaced my speed control deactivator switch too). Unfortunately, my speed control is still not working, but I will leave that for another thread. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Caleb
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Dallas, Oregon
All of the following description applies to a 2001 truck, and I think is the same from 1999 to 2001. In 2002 Ford made some major changes to the wiring, and this may not be accurate.
There is no switched reverse circuit inside the cab. The switch for the reverse circuit is on the transmission. It is part of the selector indicator switch on the left side of the automatic transmission, or a sensor switch on the manual transmission. From there, the switched power comes up to a connector on the left frame rail under the master cylinder ahead of the firewall. If your truck has a trailer tow package, a wire comes up from that connector into the trailer tow relay box to the left of the master cylinder.
The switched wire is BK/PK (black with a pink tracer).
I have heard that some people have hooked the reverse camera to the backup light circuit back at the rear bumper. This works if your display is turned on by the camera being energized and sending a video signal. It will depend on how the display is controlled. Even if you had to run a wire up to the display unit, it is 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other, since you would otherwise be running a wire from in front of the firewall back to the camera anyway.
There is no switched reverse circuit inside the cab. The switch for the reverse circuit is on the transmission. It is part of the selector indicator switch on the left side of the automatic transmission, or a sensor switch on the manual transmission. From there, the switched power comes up to a connector on the left frame rail under the master cylinder ahead of the firewall. If your truck has a trailer tow package, a wire comes up from that connector into the trailer tow relay box to the left of the master cylinder.
The switched wire is BK/PK (black with a pink tracer).
I have heard that some people have hooked the reverse camera to the backup light circuit back at the rear bumper. This works if your display is turned on by the camera being energized and sending a video signal. It will depend on how the display is controlled. Even if you had to run a wire up to the display unit, it is 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other, since you would otherwise be running a wire from in front of the firewall back to the camera anyway.
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I found a wire that is black with a pink stripe along the right side of the dash (heading to the back of the cab), but I do not detect a voltage change on it when I go in reverse.
Where is the "master cylinder"? I have the camera hooked up to the reverse lights, but the display does not activate when a signal is received (I believe -- I am getting a new display since the one originally shipped was broken).
I have tested that the camera works when I am in reverse.
I do have the trailer/tow package. Does the wiring for it go in/near the cab?
Caleb
Where is the "master cylinder"? I have the camera hooked up to the reverse lights, but the display does not activate when a signal is received (I believe -- I am getting a new display since the one originally shipped was broken).
I have tested that the camera works when I am in reverse.
I do have the trailer/tow package. Does the wiring for it go in/near the cab?
Caleb
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Scio, OR
The trailer tow backup light relay is probably somewhere in one of the relay boxes on the drivers side towards the rear under the hood. You may be able to pick it up there.
I can't say which one it is exactly on a 2002, though. You need a 2002 service manual with relay locations.
I can't say which one it is exactly on a 2002, though. You need a 2002 service manual with relay locations.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
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From: Scio, OR
You may be in luck. The 2002, much like my 2004, doesn't have a Power Distribution Box under the hood, like other models. There is only the Central Junction Box, under the removable panel below the steering wheel. I have wiring diagrams for the 2004. They MAY be the same as the 2002.
There are two diagrams below. One is the wiring diagram that show wire colors for the trailer tow reversing lamp relay. The only problem may be that the wires quickly disappear into looms behind the Central Junction Box and may be hard to find. The second diagram shows the location of the relay in the Central Junction Box.
There are two diagrams below. One is the wiring diagram that show wire colors for the trailer tow reversing lamp relay. The only problem may be that the wires quickly disappear into looms behind the Central Junction Box and may be hard to find. The second diagram shows the location of the relay in the Central Junction Box.
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Thanks a lot, David. I will check it out later today. I found the corresponding diagram for the 2002 and it seems to be the same (for the reverse part, anyway). It looks like I can tap into the Black/Pink (pin 1 on C270F) or either the Black/Light-Green pin 7 (described as "Trailer tow connector Reversing Lamps") or Black/Pink pin 10 ("Voltage applied in reverse") on C270J. Both of these connectors appear to be behind (and attach to) the CJB which I will attempt to remove to get behind (it appears to be just a few screws holding it in).
I will take a look at it this evening.
I will take a look at it this evening.
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I found the wire you were referring to -- Black/Pink off of cable attached to connector C270F. I tested it and it works well (12V when in reverse and nada when not).
I had to remove the Central Junction Box and the connector was at the bottom all the way to the right. It was a bit tricky to split the wire, but it works well now.
Thanks for all your help. If anyone else is facing the same problem and wants more details, send me a note.
Caleb
I had to remove the Central Junction Box and the connector was at the bottom all the way to the right. It was a bit tricky to split the wire, but it works well now.
Thanks for all your help. If anyone else is facing the same problem and wants more details, send me a note.
Caleb
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I found the wire you were referring to -- Black/Pink off of cable attached to connector C270F. I tested it and it works well (12V when in reverse and nada when not).
I had to remove the Central Junction Box and the connector was at the bottom all the way to the right. It was a bit tricky to split the wire, but it works well now.
Thanks for all your help. If anyone else is facing the same problem and wants more details, send me a note.
Caleb
I had to remove the Central Junction Box and the connector was at the bottom all the way to the right. It was a bit tricky to split the wire, but it works well now.
Thanks for all your help. If anyone else is facing the same problem and wants more details, send me a note.
Caleb
Not sure what's up there. Lights work as they should, but I was only getting 5V. Maybe because I didn't have the engine on - only the key switch?
No idea.
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JIA,
Assuming that you are not experiencing other symptoms of a weak battery (dim headlights, problems starting, etc.), perhaps your meter is bad? Are you testing between that wire and ground (like the screw that holds the CJB in place).
It has been my experience (very limited) that whenever the service manual indicates that a wire carries a current without mentioning the voltage, then it is +12 volts. I think that I actually measured +13V but attributed the increase to a freshly charged battery as I understand that voltage can fluctuate by 1-2 volts during normal use.
I also wanted to mention that I had the engine on, foot on the break, parking break engaged, and I put the truck in reverse in order to see the 13V.
Caleb
Assuming that you are not experiencing other symptoms of a weak battery (dim headlights, problems starting, etc.), perhaps your meter is bad? Are you testing between that wire and ground (like the screw that holds the CJB in place).
It has been my experience (very limited) that whenever the service manual indicates that a wire carries a current without mentioning the voltage, then it is +12 volts. I think that I actually measured +13V but attributed the increase to a freshly charged battery as I understand that voltage can fluctuate by 1-2 volts during normal use.
I also wanted to mention that I had the engine on, foot on the break, parking break engaged, and I put the truck in reverse in order to see the 13V.
Caleb
Last edited by CalebC; Aug 3, 2010 at 03:14 PM. Reason: Initially submitted by accident
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JIA,
Assuming that you are not experiencing other symptoms of a weak battery (dim headlights, problems starting, etc.), perhaps your meter is bad? Are you testing between that wire and ground (like the screw that holds the CJB in place).
It has been my experience (very limited) that whenever the service manual indicates that a wire carries a current without mentioning the voltage, then it is +12 volts. I think that I actually measured +13V but attributed the increase to a freshly charged battery as I understand that voltage can fluctuate by 1-2 volts during normal use.
I also wanted to mention that I had the engine on, foot on the break, parking break engaged, and I put the truck in reverse in order to see the 13V.
Caleb
Assuming that you are not experiencing other symptoms of a weak battery (dim headlights, problems starting, etc.), perhaps your meter is bad? Are you testing between that wire and ground (like the screw that holds the CJB in place).
It has been my experience (very limited) that whenever the service manual indicates that a wire carries a current without mentioning the voltage, then it is +12 volts. I think that I actually measured +13V but attributed the increase to a freshly charged battery as I understand that voltage can fluctuate by 1-2 volts during normal use.
I also wanted to mention that I had the engine on, foot on the break, parking break engaged, and I put the truck in reverse in order to see the 13V.
Caleb
I decided to work on the side of safety and not check with the engine running, vehicle in gear, and rely on the parking brake so I just checked with keyswitch on and engine off.
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Why is it not safe to put the car in gear with my foot on the break and parking break on just to test a wire to a trailer connector I am not using? Additionally, I was in my driveway with plenty of space behind me.
Unfortunately, I do not know enough about how the transmission communicates back to the trailer relay to know if your low voltage reading is due to the engine not running. I would not be surprised if this was the case.
Does anyone know if this is likely the reason why the voltage JIA reads is less than what I am reading?
Caleb
Unfortunately, I do not know enough about how the transmission communicates back to the trailer relay to know if your low voltage reading is due to the engine not running. I would not be surprised if this was the case.
Does anyone know if this is likely the reason why the voltage JIA reads is less than what I am reading?
Caleb
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If you were checking under the dash with connections made prior to firing up the truck you were good. I didn't feel like finding the clips in the garage.
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