What are the effects of installing a rearview camera on a car?
3 Answers
Installing a rearview camera has no impact on the car, as long as the original wiring is not damaged during installation, which could affect the warranty. The car rearview camera, also known as a parking assist system, consists of a wide-angle camera, a control unit for signal transmission, an MMI display, an information display control unit, a TV tuner, and a CAN data harmonization bus. Its function is to allow the driver to see the situation behind the car on the display when reversing, ensuring safe reversing. The reasons for no signal from the car rearview camera are: 1. The data cable connected to the rearview camera is loose or poorly connected; 2. The rearview camera is damaged. The solutions for no signal from the car rearview camera are: 1. Restart the vehicle and turn off the music player; 2. Secure the data cable of the rearview camera; 3. Replace the rearview camera.
I installed the rearview camera mainly for convenience, since the original car only had radar beeps. The most noticeable improvement after the DIY modification is how much easier reversing has become, especially when squeezing into tight parking spaces close to curbs. But there's a potential issue to watch out for: poor wiring can interfere with the car's electrical system—my dashcam once flickered because of this. When having a professional install the wiring, make sure to use shielded cables and route them along the original wire channels in the door frames for safety. Opt for a wide-angle HD camera and mount it above the license plate for waterproofing and dust protection. Regularly wipe off water droplets from the lens; once after heavy rain, the blurred image turned into pixelated mess and I nearly backed into a pole. Although the camera is a great aid, I still rely on checking the rearview mirrors—it's more reassuring to visually confirm what's behind the car.
The biggest advantage of installing a rearview camera is eliminating blind spots, especially for low obstacles like children. After choosing a camera with night vision, I no longer worry about poor visibility when reversing at night. However, during the modification, I encountered an issue: the trunk wiring needs to pass through a hole into the cabin, and improper sealing can lead to water leakage. It's recommended to add dust plugs during installation and use silicone sealant for double sealing. The camera should ideally avoid the exhaust pipe position, as high temperatures can easily deform the plastic casing. After three years of use, my experience suggests that a shockproof bracket is essential—once, after hitting a speed bump, the lens was misaligned, making poles appear slanted in the image. While convenient, don’t rely entirely on it; once, fallen leaves covered the lens, and I nearly scraped a wall. Now, I always check the actual road conditions first before using the camera.
