I have this in my Abarth (haven't connected the rear view yet admittedly) and think maybe you might want to consider it as an option.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010H0SL9O

This is a pretty easy install and the added mirror size is really nice. I find it best to have the camera timeout and vanish after around 30 seconds, really nice unit. It is also cheaper and the cable routing is about all that you need to worry about and that shouldn't be overly difficult.

Also, welcome to the forum.

 

Hi Tweak,

Thanks for the link! I should check them out as I was also wondering if I can get blackbox as well and your suggestion might just be the best option out there. But couple of question to wiring camera to the reverse light. I noticed with fiat 500 (im assuming it would be the same case for Abarth as well), wiring for reverse light is little bit different to other vehicles where wirings are connected to the socket which plugins to the reverse light unit. Hence i am curious
A) which two wires are positive and negative wire to the reverse light
B) if i managed to splice/connect into the wrong light, just wondering how hard it would be to change it back.
Sorry my question might be a little stupid to the experts out there but yeh since its my first go at modifying i just want to be extra careful.

Thanks

Asj1031

 

I just decided to get yada cam just because its wireless hence no wires being needed to run from the back to the front as im not very experienced with these type of work. Just wondering, which two wires are reverse positive wire and reverse negative wire from the picture below????? *Desperate and exicited to connet my reverse camera this weekend*

 

Hmm, this is a very good question and as stated I had not connected the backup camera but only tested the camera resolution and such. Quality is nice but not yet attached to the reverse lights. I'd be happy to check and see what help I could offer but I am leaving out of town in the morning and it is raining (and has been all day...sucks). Hopefully someone else will have an answer but if not I can try to assist once I have some time when I return. I have appointments and a very long catch up once I get back so I won't promise it will be fast! Most likely you'll have figured it out or someone will have responded so I apologize on the timing currently.

Wireless could be a nice alternative but buy quality as some do not offer the greatest quality.

 

Try this organic reverse sensor!

 

Managed find wiring diagram but very words on tail light seems to be bit blurry! I doubt anyone will answer it as most ppl do not really worry about installing reverse light on these small cars!! I guess the option is to wait. All good though because it would be a long time until i get the camera that I ordered. Thanks for your post anyway!! And drive safe!

 

Not easily answered I suppose. I'm back from the driving event...rained the entire time but we pushed harder than ever and slide a lot but no accidents or problems...maybe a little more fun than normal due to the added danger, don't think everyone felt that way about it though. Everyone liked it but some wouldn't feel it was MORE a rush and more fun.

 

I, too, would be interested in this. I'm planning on fitting a reversing camera, most likely under the rear plinth, with a wireless video transmitter to minimize routing of cables. Indeed, with a wireless unit I'd be able to have the whole setup inside the tailgate, save for one thing: power source.

Apparently the license plate bulbs are of the canbus type, meaning if I draw current for the camera off their wires, the car will throw a fit? What would be the closest 12V source? Trunk light?

 

Some, maybe most tie to the reverse lights as I understand it.

 

So.... How do i connect my reverse camera? Sorry I am new to car diy and i have no idea what you are talking about lol. I tried to get an auto electrician to install my wireless camera and he said that it cant be done on Fiat 500 apparently which I think is not true since Ive seen 500s with rear view cameras.....

 

Weird, did he give a reason why? I can test the wires at work tomorrow(I have all my tools). But literally there is a positive and negative wire that goes to the bulb. You connect them to the pos and negative of the cam, or ground the negative.

Routing the wires may be the only "challenging" thing.

If you have a multimeter/volt-o-meter I can guide you through the process.

 

That would be great... Would you know which one is positive wire and ground wire??? I am in Australia btw and my little fiat is made in Poland instead of Mexico (For cars in the states i think). The reason why the auto electrician couldnt install was onlu because the current flowing from the wires were too weak or something.

 

The reverse light positive wire is the grey green wire. The negative wire is the solid black that provides ground for all the rear lights

 

/what about a constant power source?
I would like to hook up the backup camera in ’always on’ mode so it can be used independent of reverse.
Is there a location for constant power in the back anywhere?

 

Install an add-a-circuit type fuse tap at the fuse box, and run a wire from it to where you need it to be.

Basically, you unplug a fuse that has constant power, plug that fuse into one of the fuse positions in the tap, plug the tap into the now-vacant location in the fuse box, and plug the fuse for your camera or whatever into the other fuse slot in the tap.

They look like this, and cost a couple of dollars at an automotive or electronics supply store.

 

The car is only 11 feet long. What do you need a camera for. Does nobody remember turning your head? Looking over the shoulder. Maybe even open a door? Oh well.

 

when you’re 80 you can’t turn

 

Thanks for the Tip about the add-a-circuit! It looks like F49 is the circuit to use for an accessory like a backup camera. One thought was to add a switch the line. This would work like the ‘reverse light solution’, only I could activate the camera whenever I wanted [for example while I Mr. Bean into a Micro-Parking Spot].

I’ve include a YouTube that shows how to get the wire through the hatch grommet and other handy tips from minutes ~12-16.

Like that example, I would like to run an 18 Gauge wire from the hatch gate to along the headliner above the door and down the A-Pilar to the fuse box. If I ground at the hatch, I should only need one wire. It looks like it should slip in nicely between the panels and I may not need to remove anything.

>But what about the airbags? Is there any concern about running the wire along the headliner above the door? There is an air bag indicated on the B-pillar. However, I would be above that.

>Is there a better \ alternate route for the wire?

Installation Tips:

Fuse Diagram:

 

There are solar powered wireless dash cams out there. Zero wiring necessary.

 

That's the second time in this thread you've failed to read why the OP wants a reverse camera specifically: to protect his child. It's one thing to skim over a post and reply without actually reading, but doing so disrespectfully is a great way to drive people away from a forum.