DIY Reversing Camera in a 2007 GT TSI 1.4

***No responsibility taken for using these tips and tricks. Seek your own professional help to perform your installation***

I fitted the reversing camera that came with my AVC 9000 head unit. I have a few tips and tricks for you.

The power wire that goes to the rear reversing light is in the connectors under the dash. In one of the flesh coloured plugs you will find a black and blue wire in a position just beneath the number 12, written into the plastic of the plug. So you will see "12" in the plastic and below that the black and blue wire coming out.

Splice into this wire to power your camera and also have this wire going back to your head unit's reverse checkup wire.

Now you just need a wire that grounds the cameras ground wire while the spliced wire above which you have run to the back of the car will provide the cameras power only when reverse is engaged.

The camera can be fitted without removing the bumper or doing any cutting except to the bumper plastic. Simply route the wires down through the air escape flap that is hidden just below drivers side rear tail lamp. If you pull the carpet back you will see a plastic square with silver mesh. If you push the mesh with your finger it is hinged and you can just poke wires down through the flaps and they come out directly underneath the car, basically in the back corner of the bumper. This is for RHD cars by the way. Flap may be on other side in LHD, I don't know. This flap is located almost in a straight line between the rear cigarette lighter and the back of the tail lamp (not the hatch one, the one in the body). So it is in the side section of the car near bottom corner of the boot if that makes it clear.

For a ground, you can use the bolt that is at the back of the tail light.

Now that you have the wires going underneath the car easily, just cut a circular hole using the hole saw in the middle of the bumper about 2cm above the crease in the bumper, the line that goes across half way down. This will place the hole in an area just below the bumper crush support and foam and you will be able to push your hand up there to tighten the back of the camera up.

You will need to undo the torx screws at the bottom of the rear valance just so u can pull it out a bit to get your hand up there to tighten the back of the camera.

Now just connect up the AV and power which you fed down through the air escape hatch and your camera install is done. Tighten the back of the camera once you have got it pointing straight.

Cheers

Polarbear

no pics? anything?
do you have that 170hp version of 1.4 TSI ?

I have the 170hp version.

There are no pictures because by the time you remove the trim you will be looking at all the things I described. Also there are pictures in other threads of the C12 connector. I was just pointing out that on the TSI the wire is black and blue instead of white and grey as shown in the GTI photographs.

sorry for off topic but what is your normal fuel consumption? how often do you have to fill your tank?

I get about 620km out of the tank before the light comes on in normal city driving (probably half freeway, half short traffic trips like to gym etc). I would say total range is between 660-780 if you are on highway more.

I fill up about once every 2 weeks. Usually only have to put in 49-51L. So I am not even using the last little bits of the tank.

By the way. I also drive fairly fast and use manual mode often when I want too. I chirp my wheels at least once a trip

can you show a pic of the reverse camera mounted on the bumper?
I just want an idea where it is mounted.

Polarbear666 last question (till next time ) Where about under the dash is this plug connected ? Is it under the glovebox side (assuming RHD veh) ? My last thing to fit is the reversing camera, would be great not to have to run the lead all the way back, I already ran the video cable and forgot to do the reverse cam wire at the same time, might save me another 30mins and skinned knuckles pulling all the trim apart again

Cheers

Tim

It is under drivers side dash ... kinda near the OBD2 port. It is very close to that. if u take the panel away that has the obd2 port in it ... you will see a bunch of plug connectors ina whole cluster. It is in one of those flesh coloured ones there that you will find the blue and black wire that you need. That wire is part of a plug connector that has like 8 or 9 wires coming out of it and it is directly below the number 12 which is imprinted in the plastic on that particular flesh coloured connector.

Just stick an auto testing probe light into the various wires holes until you find one that only makes the probe light up when reverse is engaged.

Cool Will save me a bunch of time running a cable back there so yet again, Many thanks..

My Problem is I have a Tow Bar, so should i put it to the slight left or right? Hmmm.. Anyone got any ideas?

I would put the camera mounted underneath the actual tow ball.... so that it is only slightly further back than the furthest point.

That way its in the middle and with the towball u wont really notice it.

But there is no plastic bumper under the tow bar.. I would have to fit it to the actual towbar somehow..

craigblues said:

But there is no plastic bumper under the tow bar.. I would have to fit it to the actual towbar somehow..

Click to expand...

You could just screw a small black metal box onto the bottom of it... and mount the camera into that using the provided hole saw to make a hole in the front of the box... drill a hole in back of box to allow cord to come out.. bingo.

there is a black connector behind the drivers side c pillar and you can find that wire there also