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Just wanted to show a cool DIY project that will help protect your front bumper/lip while parking. I've scraped/hit a curb a few times while parking so I wanted a way to prevent that from happening again. Basically I installed a small camera to my front lower grill and wired the video feed to the OEM navigation unit. I can turn on the video feed whenever (while driving/reversing/park) by the push of a button. And I still have the original functionality of the rear camera. The parts costed me about $50 and took about 6 hours to complete.
If anyone is interested I can write up a DIY, but unfortunately I didn't take pictures during the install process, so I would only be able to provide instructions, parts needed, and a wiring diagram.
Front camera video feed on the OEM nav unit:
Switch("Driving Lights") to activate front camera:
Picture of the camera installed on my lower grill (and my already destroyed bumper lip):
Parts needed:
- Backup camera. Get one which does not reverse the image. I used
Wiring diagram: Rough instructions (For 2009 ISF, not sure if other model years have the same nav unit)
1. Get access to back of navigation unit. I followed the steps in thread https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...le-moving.html
2. Cut the blue wire on connector J50 pin 13. Make sure not to cut too short on either side as you will have to tap into these wires. This is a 12v signal wire coming from the shifter assembly that tells the nav unit to switch input to camera view. The signal is active when the car is in reverse. See https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ml#post2153467
3. Cut the red wire on connector J51 pin 27. Again, make sure not to cut too short on either side as you will have to tap into these wires.This is the video signal feed coming from the rear camera. See https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ow-to-diy.html
4. Re-route these wires to the relay switch and wire up according to diagram. I placed my relay switch and all wiring in the compartment under the steering wheel, next to the fuse box.
5. Run the front camera video input and power wires from through the firewall out to the engine bay. The firewall is under the steering wheel and you'll see a bundle of wires going through it from the engine bay. I used a straightened wire coat hanger and taped the cables to it and forced it through the firewall into the engine-bay.
Notes: I used add-a-fuse on the mirror heater fuse. This is a 15 amp fuse that is always on. I haven't taken the time to find a fuse that is only on with ignition. I grounded all my wires to a bolt connected to the chassis. If you dig under the carpet next to the driver's side door-sill, you should find a bolt where there are other ground connections made to it.
Last edited by antnguyen; Oct 16, 2017 at 08:10 PM.
Definitely interested in a parts list, especially the camera used; the quality looks great. I was going to tackle this back in 2016, but had trouble finding a good quality camera.
Front camera installed
