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Add backup cam & nav on 2011 ??


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Hey guys,

So I just got myself a used dodge journey 2011 RT and was wondering if I could add a backup camera & nav to it.

I'll try and give you as many details about my journey as possible.

It has the 8.4 screen with satellite radio. I noticed that it already has a plastic cover where the backup cam would normally be and by popping it out with a flathead screwdriver, I noticed that it's attached to 2 grey wires (photos below). Does that mean my journey is already pre-wired and I could just buy a camera, plug it in and it would work right off the bat? If so, do you have any suggestions about where I could get one?

I would like to avoid having to bring it in to a dodge dealership because it's an hour away from where I live and I have two young kids.. if I could do this on my own it would be great. Otherwise, it's not that big of a deal, but I also know that they would charge me a ton of money.

I'm in canada.. not sure if that changes things.

Also, is there a way to find out if I have an 8.4A or 8.4N.. I heard that may change things as well.

Thanks in advance for any tips you can give me!!

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no they are not pre wired. check with your dealer using your vin they will tell you what radio you have. also check out the topics that refer to back up cams. cost is about $265 -305 U,S, for the cam and dealer install from $90. and up.. and from what i hear the navigation is more expensive and really not worth the cost and trouble.. check out the different topics in the forum for more info.

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Backup Camera

What you posted was a photo of the rear lock/unlock button that you've pulled out.

If you have an '11 or later and an 8.4" display you can add a backup camera - if does not matter what version of the radio you have. I've included a link to the installation instructions, along with a couple of other threads on the topic at the end of this post below if you want to read up on it before making your final decision.

No, the wiring is not in place, but it isn't hard to run. I added the OEM camera to my Crossroad - takes a few hours if you do it the way the kit suggests as I did, but it could take less if you get lazy and simply tuck the wiring under the panel edges and such, or as suggested you might go wireless, though I personally chose and recommend wired connections where the choice is available.

No matter how you do it (wired or wireless) there is a sales code that must be flashed into the BCM by the dealer to enable the video display.

The OEM camera kit replaces the entire panel that has that switch, the license plate bulbs, the manual release lever and the camera itself, which is located in the center of that panel. The panel itself, complete with the camera can be purchased for about $95 . . . the entire kit, with the cable harness is about $265. If you decide to install it yourself note that the simplest thing is to NOT take the power from up front, but to connect it to the rear 'cigarette lighter' socket located in the left side trim panel - it is a LOT easier to make the connection there than to extract the one in the instrument panel.

The cost to flash the vehicle depends on the dealer, but they usually charge an hour or a half hour for the service.

Since they were already charging me for an hour of labor I decided to use up that hour and had mine make the connection to the back of the radio because the pins to which the wires in question are supposed to go were occupied (which, if you think about it ought to have been for wires to a camera, since it IS the video input to the radio, but I tried to trace them before starting to run the wire and they do not seem to do to the rear of the vehicle).

It works as expected.

Navigation

Adding nav is as simple as replacing the radio module with one that has the nav components inside - it takes all of 10 minutes to do and then you need to switch your Sirius subscription from the old radio to the new if you have the satellite service enabled. You need a subscription if you want traffic data, and for some reason Sirius Canada does not provide it, but the US division DOES. So you would cancel your Canadian service and sign up with the US - you would need a US reference address to get them to accept your order. Go figure.

From a hardware perspective, since you have SiriusXM and an 8.4" display your vehicle has all the rest of the hardware required to install a nav radio - I did it on mine and so far have no complaints, though there are a few people out there with units that have had multiple issues (I have some thoughts on the subject as to why this might be) and there is no warranty when you do it yourself. Cost for the radio used varies from about US$600 to as much as $1400 (check out online sources) and $2,000 or more if you want to buy a new one.
If you happen to be in the 514/438 area code you are local to me.
Links

Here are a few links about the backup camera installation for you to review . . . . . don't be intimidated by the photos in the second one and realise that he was also moving from a 4.3 to the 8.4" diaplay, it really isn't as bad as it looks - take it from someone who has done it himself:

Edited by bramfrank
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You can save a hell of a lot of $ by using your cell phone for GPS. I am not sure about Android, but with my iPhone I pair it via Bluetooth, and plug it into the powered USB port in the console. I put my trip into my phone, and the phone will stay on until I reach my destination; plus it is being charged by the USB port. Siri will interrupt the radio when calling out directions, through the car's speakers. I have a neat mount made by Insignia that clips to the center vents, putting the road mounts at eye level.

When I bought my DJ last June, I worked out a deal with my Dealer. The left rear panel needs to be removed, the hatch cover needs to be removed, the camera is part of the piece of plastic where the license plate lights are, so it has to be replaced. If you have a 7 seater, the left rear seat has to be removed to remove the panel. The door sill panels on the left side and the drivers kick panel need to be removed. The center part of the dash needs to be removed along with the radio. My Dealer bought the camera, and I paid for the labor. The book says 2 hours, so I paid $172.00. They had my car for 4 days and had to get me a rental!

Edited by dhh3
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Your dealer's tech was clearly incompetent.

It took me 3 hours from start to finish with the exception of plugging the video wires into the back connector of the radio - and I am not a mechanic and it was certainly my first time working with any of the interior parts on the vehicle.

As to 'they had to get you a rental? I suppose that depends on what your arrangement was.

I'll bet that if you decide to do that again on your next vehicle they won't be charging you the same amount of money and/or assigning the same tech to the project.

Edited by bramfrank
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Wow, thanks bramfrank for giving me so much information!

Really useful information, I will definitely consider getting a cam and wiring it myself.

As for nav, I found an RB5 for 400$ in montreal on ebay, which is an hour away from where I live. I asked a dodge dealer if replacing my current radio with an RB5 would allow me to instantly get nav without activations or any other steps and he told me it was much more complicated.. that I needed a brand new antenna, it had to be flashed and a few other things..

dhh3: I would use my phone for my GPS, but I have a terrible 1G data plan with my phone and it takes up a ton of data when you use it a lot..

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Dealers are complete idiots - or they are conniving thieves. I've seen both types.

If you have an RE2 (8.4 inch radio with satellite) all you do is follow the instructions in the backup camera installation manual as far as getting out the radio and disconnecting the cables (the first few steps). You then plug those same cables into the new radio, slide it back into the slot and do up the 4 torx screws that hold in the radio, plug the lower bezel back in and do up the 2 screws that hold THAT in and press the trim back in place.

Don't bother disconnecting the battery for either the radio swap OR the camera installation, by the way.

Ten minutes. That's all it requires. And that's if you are slow and very careful.

Depending on the version of the radio you get (you are getting a GREAT deal at $400, by the way), you might need an unlock code. In mid 2012 there was a hardware change and along with that they implemented the code requirement. We have a member here who can generate one for you . . he will need the serial number of the new radio and the VIN of your vehicle.

Before you plunk down your money make absolutely certain it is a nav radio - I assume you found it at a scrap yard and those guys are also clueless, which is why you are saving as much as you are - verify the part number - and there are LOTS of them. If the radio is from the right model year range and comes from a Chrysler 300, a Dodge Charger or a Journey then you are good to go. IF IT COMES OUT OF A DART IT WILL NOT WORK even though it is the same hardware. If it comes out of a Journey from 2009 or 2010 forget it, it is a different unit altogether - the same applies to radios from the other possible donor vehicles.

Sometimes these guys think they have nav radios when they don't. There is no way to distinguish between the RE2 and RB5 except through the part number, they look identical.

PM me the part number (or do your own research) to be certain what you are getting.

You will need to know your Sirius account number (assuming your radio is active) and/or your OLD radio ID in addition to the new one to activate the new one on the existing account - you find that on satellite channel zero. As I wrote before, if you want traffic, you'll need to fudge an account from SiriusXM in the US.

Good luck.

Edited by bramfrank
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buy a garmin for $90. with lifetime maps and save yourself a lot of $$ and hassle also big $$ for map updates as been mentioned from some posters. ask your dealer how much to install your back up cam for you mine charged me $90. last yr ,and if you put it in yourself you will still have to flash your car and they will charge you for that, might not be that more to let them do it and then they are responsible for any damage or something not working right , just a heads up..... good luck on what ever you decide

Lee Auto Parts | Car Parts & Accessories LeeParts.com $285.00 for mopar production back up cam list is $305. Edited by 2late4u
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Your dealer's tech was clearly incompetent.

It took me 3 hours from start to finish with the exception of plugging the video wires into the back connector of the radio - and I am not a mechanic and it was certainly my first time working with any of the interior parts on the vehicle.

As to 'they had to get you a rental? I suppose that depends on what your arrangement was.

I'll bet that if you decide to do that again on your next vehicle they won't be charging you the same amount of money and/or assigning the same tech to the project.

Tech started at 8AM on a Thursday, and was almost done on Friday. He doesn't work Saturdays. He drove to Toledo to help a friend move. His truck broke down on the way back Sunday evening, so no work was done to my car on Monday. The Service Manager didn't want to put another tech on it because there was no way of knowing where he left off. That is when they got me the rental, and thanked me for my understanding. My tech got back to Fort Wayne late Monday afternoon, and finished it up by Tuesday morning. S**t happens every once in a while. I never lost my cool, and just told the tech to do a good job, which he did. They told me that I would not have to pay any more than the 2 hour quote: $172.00. I would think that the DJ would have to be prewired for the book to say 2 hours installation time.

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You can't reasonably state that the installation took 4 days - clearly he took somewhat more than two working days but you really can't count the time he wasn't there.

But with respect, the fact that the tech took more than 4 hours to do the job is a pretty serious indictment of his skill set.

That your dealer gave you a rental is only decent business practice - you can't be expected to suffer for his inaccurate estimate and decision not to have another tech finish the job (he could well have assigned another, since the entire project is very straightforward - it isn't as if this was an engine teardown after all, interior panels are removed, a wire is run and the panels are re-installed, then the connections are made at either end, and with the exception of the power lead, it all plugs in).

If I'd had any experience with dealing with the various body panels on the vehicle - and if I'd had reasonable lighting (I did it in a relatively dark garage) it wouldn't have taken me the 3 hours that it did, but I was feeling my way around, and being extraordinarily careful - I didn't want to break any fasteners since I had no access to spares and I had no idea where the clips and retainers were located on the various panels.

And, I'd have been done a bit sooner, but I wasted almost 20 minutes fiddling before I figured out that there was a nut and screw holding in the stupid panel that gets holds the camera, latch and license plate bulbs in the back in place in addition to the snaps.

Edited by bramfrank
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I said that my Dealer had my car for 4 days. I did not say that the installation took four days.

Thursday at noon, I snuck around the back, and walked into the service bay where my car was. The left side third row seat was sitting on the floor, and all of the interior trim on the lift gate as well as all the trim from back to front on the driver's side was out of the car. The center stack was out along with the radio. So, it took him 4 hours just to do this. I took the shuttle home. I called the Service Manager on Friday afternoon, and he said the car would be done before noon on Monday. On Monday, I called the shuttle to pick me up and that is when I found out about the mishap. That is also when I was offered a loaner through Enterprise. I have no way of knowing if he worked on it all day Thursday and Friday, but I did get it back Tuesday before noon.

The quote came from the Mopar Service Manual. Rearview Camera: 2 hours.

Edited by dhh3
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Whatever . . . . all I know is that I am not a mechanic and that it took me 3 hours to do the install in a non-optimum environment with the exception of connecting the 3 wires to the connector at the back of the radio, because the pins were occupied; since I had to pay for an hour to flash the BCM to enable the camera I let them pull out the extra wiring from the connector and insert the pins from the camera so that all connections to the vehicle were made by the dealer.

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Did you just tuck your wires under your interior panels? He removed all of my panels; maybe he didn't have to do this. There is a jack that looks like an ethernet jack on the back of the radio. This where the camera plugs in, so I'm not sure what 3 wires you are referring to.

I installed a camera on my Nitro, using a LockPick. I just tucked the 2 wires under the interior panels. I did take the right rear one out, as it takes less than 5 minutes to remove. Not sure of the DJ. I had my camera and LockPick installed in about 3 hours, like you. The MyGig radio comes out from the front. 4 screws - very easy. All I can say is that the Mopar Service Manual Says 2 hours. I have no way of knowing who came up with this figure. Now, it's all water under the bridge. I got my DJ back, and the camera works fine. No rattles or squeaks from having all of those interior panels removed.

Plus, you have the self satisfaction of knowing that you did yours yourself. I know the feeling. My hat is off to you!

Edited by dhh3
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I guess you did not read all that I wrote.

I suggested to the OP that he might save some time if he wished by tucking the wires under the panel edges - but I was quite clear in explaining that I did not do it that way, that I was careful because I did not want to break any of the retaining tabs and such.

I did the full installation, right down to the ridiculous power connection to the front side cigarette lighter - the camera power ought to have been taken from the backup lights or the rear power outlet, either of which involves a lot less wire and each is more accessible than the one in the dash.

And no, it does NOT plug in to the USB connections (what you thought is Ethernet - there are two of them). They are both used in the vehicle; One is used for the Bluetooth module and the other goes to the USB socket in the console. The cable in the camera kit has 5 wires that run from rear to front. There is no connector on the front end of the cable. Three of those wires have pins crimpled on them. Two for the video and one for the shield - those are inserted in to three of the pins on one of the large connectors at the rear of the radio. The other 2 wires are unterminated and power the camera. They are spliced into the wires that go to the up front cigarette lighter.

Having done it myself, and not having had ay experience in dealing with DJ (or any automotive) body panels it took me all of 3 hours from start to finish, following the installation instructions. And that is why I suggested that the person who installed yours was less than competent - he should have been trained in removing the panels and such - he would have had the specified trim tools and should have had expertise in using them. He had the same instructions I did - and still be took at a very minimum 33% more time than I did (likely 3 or 4 times as much, given that the work he did was done over 3 working days as you explained (Thursday, Friday and Tuesday).

Self satisfaction? No. I simply followed the instructions and was careful not to mess up. And I know that nothing was stressed and that the vehicle was not abused. Now that I know how it all fits together, should the need arise I can probably get things apart and re-assembled that much more quickly.

Edited by bramfrank
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I never saw the instructions because the Dealer bought the camera. The tech showed me a cable that looked like an ethernet cable, which he said he had to run from the back. There is a cable in my DJ hanging behind the radio; not plugged into anything. He was hoping that it was for the camera; but, alas, not to be. No idea what it is for.

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I'm certain the dealer installed the OEM camera, as did I - the fact that the installer thought the camera had it's own connector is a indication that he wasn't familiar with the device or hadn't read through the instructions, because they are very clear as to what goes where. And the very first thing I did before ordering the kit was to go online and read the instructions. The only thing they seem to have missed was to mention that the rear escutcheon that has the camera and everything else in the rear is held in place with a nut. And it is not obvious that it is there nor is it as accessible as it might have been - so I wasted about 20 minutes trying to pull the plate off before I realised what the problem was.

Edited by bramfrank
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