Reverse Camera

The first time I reverse my Nissan Fairlady Z was the time I went to test drive it. There is 2 screens in the car, one is the original factory Japanese screen and the other one is a locally fitted touch screen player by Clarion. When I put the car in reverse gear, I expected any one of the screen would show me a reverse camera because I saw a camera sticking out just above the rear car registration plate. However, nothing shows up. I asked the seller and he told me, the camera is original Nissan spec and is linked up to the Japanese screen but unfortunately, maybe due to hot weather, the screen is all cracked up and you could not see properly. So, I had to get this fixed because I have been reversing and parking with difficulty. I have to park and get down from the car to look. That is extremely troublesome and not to mention, embarrassing as hell. It was on my top 3 to do things when I collected the car but due to time constraint, I did have the time to get it done. One Sunday morning after my basketball session, I went to a car accessory shop near my area to have it done. In the beginning I was planning to ask the shop to reroute the camera and link it to the Clarion touch screen. That would have been an easy and not so wasteful way.

Original Factory Japanese Screen

Clarion Touch Screen (Locally done)

At the shop I was told that the camera cable used in Japan is not the same as the one used in our region. In other words, I will need a new camera instead but I still insist on them checking whether I could still use the camera I have. They had no choice but to take a look and it proves to be not an easy task. In order to get to the camera, apparently the rear bumper has to be loosen. First, the rear bumper was loosen and the rear lights have to come out too. Upon looking at the rear lights, the right side light's plastic lock thing is broken and stuck on the car. The guys from the workshop still could not get to the camera and decided to try to reach from the boot. So, out come the covers in the boot and the cushions inside. Only then, did I realized there are these thick cushions in the boot and could these possibly be for sound proofing? It is really a lot of things to remove, all just to get to the camera. At the end, the camera is confirmed to be unable to use and I have no choice but to opt for a new camera to be installed. After physically installing the camera, the guys have to do some wiring work to link the new camera to the Clarion touch screen.

Have to loosen bumper

Plastic lock thing broken and stuck on the car

Plastic lock thing missing

Everything removed

It sounded like an easy task but it seems to be another hill to climb for the guys. None of them had experience with a 350Z. They were having a difficult time to remove the central console to get to the back of the Clarion touch screen. They try and removed a lot of the interior panel to the point where the car look so bare. Luckily, one of them was smart and actually Youtube for a guide to remove the central console. Then, things started to get done. After 2 hours, everything is done and the new camera was adjusted for the right view. I wanted to change the Clarion touch screen to something more fitting but after this ordeal, I have my second thoughts about it and decided to keep using the Clarion until it breaks. That way I do not have to go through this again and I get to save a couple hundred Ringgit. When it was done and I started the car, I realized that the 3 additional meters were not lighting up. Luckily, I did not drive straight away and was able to ask the guy. Turns out the guy forgot to reconnect one of the cables. So, he had to remove the central console again. I finally got a working reverse camera that will help me whenever I reverse. Just need some time to get used to the distance shown on screen.

3 additional meter