I was thinking that you might try to hide it in the grille somewhere to be less conspicuous. It'll be interesting where it ends up and how it functions.

 

Since Lexus did not recommend connecting power to back up lights, did you consider connecting to license plate light? It would just mean flicking the parking lights on when you needed it and the wire would not have to be routed so far.

 

Not sure if that's a good idea. The license plate lights are LED so there's not so much current running to them to begin with - adding the camera to draw more power may not be the best choice. Furthermore, if connected to the license plate light, then the camera would be on as much as your lights are on instead of just on when you are backing up. Wouldn't that shorten the life of the camera?

 

The reason for using the back-up light is to have the camera turn on only when in reverse. The distance from the licence plate to the back-up lights is only about one foot. I had to remove about 24 extra inches from the wire. For those who will be doing this instalation, be careful when shortning that wire. Part of the wire is the entena that sends the signal to the monitor. They have a sticker on the wire that says "do not cut above this point" (or something like that).

I believe that the dealer wasn't interested in any aftermarket "gadget" being added to a LEXUS.

The camera manufacturer said the power required is only 500mamp which is nothing as far as power draw.

I did the instalation myself and the car hasn't blown up yet.

 

I removed some of the fasteners from the trunk lid liner and took a peek inside. I see what you mean about the short distance to the back-up light. I would also like to install an after market camera (I wish I had gone for the GPS package which included this feature ...no matter what the cost). I would recommend anyone who is considering an ES350 to go for it because of the bad rear visibility. In any case, since you have already done this, how did you get the camera wire from the outside up through over the license plate area. I thought about snaking it through an opening in the bezel of one of the license plate lights which are right there, but there is a enclosed panel (I think) on the inside which prevents wire from going all the way through to the inside of the trunk. I would assume, drilling a hole here would also lead up into the same panel.
I would appreciate any advice in this matter. Thanks,

 

JARON5438
I removed the lisence plate and found a hole already there. The hole is only on the outside panel. You will need to drill through that hole to get by the inner panel. To complicate things, there's a bracket behind the inner panel. You will need to feel with your fingers between the bracket and the inner panel to see if everything is clear before you drill. It's quite tight there. Mine was okay (but just to be on the safe side). Hopefully, the American models are wired the same as the Canadian models.
It's not as bad as it sounds. Just go easy and everything will work out for you. Don't forget to dab a bit of paint around the hole you drilled to prevent future rust.
oakplank

 

OAK,
I took the plate off and saw the hole you mentioned (there are actually two on my car.....one next to each of the plate mounting holes). It looks as though they might have been put in as possible alternate mounting locations for oversized plates if ever needed. In any case, it will work out fine for feeding the wire through. I think the material which has to be drilled is vinyl veneer on my trunk and rust should not be a problem. I will make sure though, to put some flexible sealer around it to prevent any possible leakage.
Thanks for the info,
Jaron

 

So I removed the trunk liner to install new CREE LED backup lights. The procedure is easy.
1. Snap off the plastic cover in the middle of the trunk liner.
2. Remove the black fasteners around the trunk liner. I found the fasteners popped off easy with my special tool
3. Unsnap the two white fasteners (little tug), on each side of the lock and expose the trunk lid. Pic is unfocused but they are the same type of white fasteners found in the pillars, mouldings,etc.



Love CL for this sort of info

 

and now that I notice, in the last pic what is that plastic holder behind the locking mechanisn for? Why does it need to protrude throught the trunk liner? I thought it was a trunk light but there doesn't seem to be a bulb in there.