I tried searching and found a lot of different information but nothing definitive. I'm working on installing a backup camera in my 05 LR3 and am trying to figure out which wire that comes out of the tail light is the +12v attached to the reverse light. I need to tap into it to power up my camera when the car goes into reverse.

I think it's one of the two I have circled, can anyone confirm or point me in the right direction? Surely someone has done this job before...

 

The L319 wiring diagram page 168 shows an all green wire for the reverse lamps. You seem to have located the right wire.
Even though it is more difficult to attach the wiring, I prefer to do it behind the access panel in the left rear cargo area. This allows you to completely remove the tail light without having to unplug any additional wires.

I am curious; what are all of the connections at the various lamps for?

Jeff

 

Thanks. I actually have both panels off the back of the car as I've been doing some work back there as well. When you say left rear is that the passenger or driver side? The wiring that you are seeing is from a previous owner who installed a Curt trailer wiring tail light converter, there is a trailer plug at the back of the bumper connected to a module which is where all those wires connect to.

 

Keep in mind that if you wire it this way, when you come out of reverse the camera will turn off. Not sure what system you have, but in the case of the OEM setup the reverse camera image stays on the screen for a while after coming our of reverse. And you can select it in the menus when driving. If you only power is reverse, then that is the only time it will work.

 

Left is always left

 

I spent yesterday installing a wireless backup camera on our 2005.

I tapped the camera's power wire to the gray wire on the left backup light.

 

Thanks-that's what I ended up using as well and it worked out well.

 

Usually a system will want 12v ignition power, and reverse trigger. Is this one wired the same? That way you can use the camera whenever, but have it auto-triggered by reverse.

 

As mentioned, I connected the wireless camera power wire to the power wire on the left backup light socket.

The monitor turns on when the vehicle is in reverse (with a couple of seconds delay) and shuts down after shifting to drive.

 

I was also under the impression it would need a 12v power source and a reverse trigger, but my camera only came with one power wire connector. I connected it to the same wire as Hockey Steve and mine works when I put it into reverse (then automatically turns off when in Drive), but also if I manually turn the rear camera on at any time while driving, it works then too.