How to 2013 Tech Package Backup Camera

[Coltzxli]

This a writeup on how to install a rear backup camera for under 30 bucks without removing or cutting your rear bumper. Intermediate difficulty, mostly just requires patience.

Tools needed:

Wire strippers
Spade terminal connecters
Back up Camera ($20) (amazon "Esky EC170-06" Camera Link
Mazda Headunit Harness ($8) (Amazon "AX-MAZCAM" Harness Link
20 feet of 20ish gauge wire


First wiring the Camera. Pull the weather stripping and at the rear of the hatch and youll see a small crack between the bumper and frame. Slide a wire hanger though the hole and bend down above the license plate to see the exit hole. Tough to explain but here is a picture.




Now tie the positive and negative to the hanger and pull it through. To feed the yellow RCA video cable though I cut on of the ends off and did the same thing with the hanger.





Optional -- I drilled a hole in the frame and fed the wires though to prevent any bending or mis-shaping of the wires or weather strip


Put the camera up, measure the center; screw it in, and tuck the extra wires behind the license plate



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Now lets focus on the headunit portion of the install. Here is a DIY to removing the headunit
How to remove Gen 2 tech package head unit


The harness plus in on the drivers side of the headunit (yellow and black harness)



Splice the RCA cable that you cut back onto itself, here is a picture of what the inside looks like + to + and - to -



Connect the RCA from the camera to the unit. Take your 10 feet of + and 10 feet of - and run wires from the harness to the camera. Tuck the wires any way you want, here is where I ran them.

From the Headunit through the center console (passenger side)


Down the rear door sill and into the trunk




And you're all done. No need to tap into the reverse lights or a fuse, the headunit supplies the power. so it's as simple as connecting the positive, negative, and video feed from the camera to the adapter to the headunit.



you may have to center your camera, I did.



NOW pay the puppy tax because she was a good girl while I did this

[dagrimey1]

Awesome job! I'll work on this soon enough

Sent while doing Time Attack...

[SofaKingAwesome]

Brownies serving up good threads, I like it!

[dagrimey1]

Originally Posted by SofaKingAwesome Brownies serving up good threads, I like it!

You should call us Tasty Kakes

Sent while doing Time Attack...

[Coltzxli]

Originally Posted by dagrimey1 Awesome job! I'll work on this soon enough Sent while doing Time Attack...

Originally Posted by SofaKingAwesome Brownies serving up good threads, I like it!

[aznpersuazn]

Would any back up camera work with this head unit wire harness?

[Coltzxli]

Originally Posted by aznpersuazn Would any back up camera work with this head unit wire harness?

The Harness supplies 1. power 2. ground 3. a video hook up

those 3 hookups should be universal and I think any would work fine.

[_MS3orDIE]

WHOA WHOA WHOA, this is done with the stock head unit, clearly I can see, I just cant believe it. I didn't know this was possible. How?

[Yatta]

Originally Posted by _MS3orDIE WHOA WHOA WHOA, this is done with the stock head unit, clearly I can see, I just cant believe it. I didn't know this was possible. How?

The head unit is based on hardware from several models and the option was available for them; plug is present on the back so it is functionality that just doesn’t appear until it senses it. I have one of these head-units (and all the parts pieces except the wire) for my 2012... still looking for a proper wire harness from a 2013... still a damned $1000 unicorn from Mazda...

[_MS3orDIE]

Originally Posted by Yatta The head unit is based on hardware from several models and the option was available for them; plug is present on the back so it is functionality that just doesn’t appear until it senses it. I have one of these head-units (and all the parts pieces except the wire) for my 2012... still looking for a proper wire harness from a 2013... still a damned $1000 unicorn from Mazda...

I have a 13 tech. So I'm definitely going to try this especially since I have 5% tint. Hard to see when it's dark. This will help a lot. The harness you are looking for isn't the one the OP post in his link? You could always buy the eonon one since you don't have the stock tech unit. I am unfamiliar with this work but seems simple enough to try.

[Coltzxli]

Originally Posted by _MS3orDIE WHOA WHOA WHOA, this is done with the stock head unit, clearly I can see, I just cant believe it. I didn't know this was possible. How?

Originally Posted by _MS3orDIE I have a 13 tech. So I'm definitely going to try this especially since I have 5% tint. Hard to see when it's dark. This will help a lot. The harness you are looking for isn't the one the OP post in his link? You could always buy the eonon one since you don't have the stock tech unit. I am unfamiliar with this work but seems simple enough to try.

Unfortunately that isnt the harness he is looking for. He is trying to convert a 2012 to a 2013 tech, which would be tricky without that unicorn harness.

I love having the camera as my tint is super dark too. Best of luck, if you have an questions let me know.

[Yatta]

Originally Posted by Coltzxli Unfortunately that isnt the harness he is looking for. He is trying to convert a 2012 to a 2013 tech, which would be tricky without that unicorn harness. I love having the camera as my tint is super dark too. Best of luck, if you have an questions let me know.

yes... but this makes me want to convert it even more... I have the BT module, the SD (TomTom) module, and the USB/aux harness... the radio works in the car excluding SAT/iPod/phone/NAV/SW controls... (it can see and control the SAT, just can’t hear it) the main (large) harness part is the same... but no-one aside from Mazda can seem to source that harness; so, if I owned a 2013... I would NEVER cut it... cause replacing it will suck. one of these days .....

[_MS3orDIE]

Originally Posted by Yatta yes... but this makes me want to convert it even more... I have the BT module, the SD (TomTom) module, and the USB/aux harness... the radio works in the car excluding SAT/iPod/phone/NAV/SW controls... (it can see and control the SAT, just can’t hear it) the main (large) harness part is the same... but no-one aside from Mazda can seem to source that harness; so, if I owned a 2013... I would NEVER cut it... cause replacing it will suck. one of these days .....

keep a look out on the fb pages for part outs, do you have a pic of said harness, maybe I can do some searching myself to help.

Originally Posted by Coltzxli Unfortunately that isnt the harness he is looking for. He is trying to convert a 2012 to a 2013 tech, which would be tricky without that unicorn harness. I love having the camera as my tint is super dark too. Best of luck, if you have an questions let me know.

I'm ordering a camera and harness of amazon in a few minutes, still deciding on a camera, will probably arrive for next weekend which is cool cause the weather will be nicer. But I'm going to pull the radio this weekend and just take a look to get familiar with what I will be dealing with.

[Yatta]

Originally Posted by _MS3orDIE keep a look out on the fb pages for part outs, do you have a pic of said harness, maybe I can do some searching myself to help. I'm ordering a camera and harness of amazon in a few minutes, still deciding on a camera, will probably arrive for next weekend which is cool cause the weather will be nicer. But I'm going to pull the radio this weekend and just take a look to get familiar with what I will be dealing with.

I have yet to find a 2013 with Tech parting out... I have a 2012 with Tech.. the 2013 radio works as is, but no SW control and no BT for phone (which I use)... so until I find the harness I am kind of out of luck.. funny thing.. I suspect if I could find the radio end plugs... I could make it work as is...


thanks!

[Ten2Four]

So this will automatically trigger the camera when in reverse?

[Coltzxli]

Originally Posted by Ten2Four So this will automatically trigger the camera when in reverse?

correct

[Ten2Four]

Fuck ya. Parts ordered!

[jeffdevo]

does anyone think something similar can be applied to a 2010 with tech package?

[Ten2Four]

Easy install, spent more time tucking wires than anything.

I did not have much luck routing the wires directly behind the license plate and through the original hole from OP, so I found a closed hole on the passengers side by the gas tank. Cut an X in the black plastic filler piece and ran the wires through there.

[Coltzxli]

Originally Posted by Ten2Four Easy install, spent more time tucking wires than anything. I did not have much luck routing the wires directly behind the license plate and through the original hole from OP, so I found a closed hole on the passengers side by the gas tank. Cut an X in the black plastic filler piece and ran the wires through there.

Been super busy, just saw this, but I'm glad this helped you some. Enjoy seeing out the back

Originally Posted by jeffdevo does anyone think something similar can be applied to a 2010 with tech package?

If the headunit is the same or similar then you should be able to no problem