2013 Expedition EL XLT - OEM camera in tailgate but no screen

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mokosai

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I just bought a 2013 Expedition EL XLT. I noticed that there's a camera built into the tailgate, but the radio system is the basic on with no screen. There's no screen in the rearview mirror either, as far as I can tell.

Does anyone know if I can use the existing OEM camera with an aftermarket head unit and have a working backup camera? Is there likely a wiring harness already that connects the camera to behind the head unit area?

Thanks!!
 

Shantheman73

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I just bought a 2013 Expedition EL XLT. I noticed that there's a camera built into the tailgate, but the radio system is the basic on with no screen. There's no screen in the rearview mirror either, as far as I can tell.

Does anyone know if I can use the existing OEM camera with an aftermarket head unit and have a working backup camera? Is there likely a wiring harness already that connects the camera to behind the head unit area?

Thanks!!

Automakers weren’t required to have rear view cameras until 2014. My guess is...maybe someone replaced tailgate or part of the tailgate from a model that had the camera option? That’s pretty odd you don’t have a screen for it, either in mirror or dash radio.


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Clemson82

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Did you check the rear view mirror? Our 2014 displays the backup camera image in the rear view mirror, and it's OEM. When the camera is off, you can't even tell that there is a display there.
 
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mokosai

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Well, looks like it is indeed in my mirror, but I didn't see it at first because it's intermittent. It comes on most of the times you put it in reverse, but not every time.

So I guess my new question is, can I install a stereo unit and use the feed from that camera? Is it also available behind the radio, or only at the mirror?
 

Clemson82

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I'm sure it's possible. I replaced the standard OEM CD player with an OEM DVD / Nav screen. Now, when I put the vehicle in reverse, the screen changes to a blank screen (I think it says "check surroundings" or something, I'm not sure) but the video still shows only in the rear view mirror. I asked the company I purchased the Nav head unit from (infotainment.com) if the video could be changed to display on the head unit screen, and they said "no".

I still think it's possible because the head unit obviously knows that the vehicle is in reverse (since the screen goes blank), I'm just not sure where to connect the video. I also don't know where the signal to the rear view mirror comes from.

I would bet that a decent car audio place would be able to do it though, especially with an aftermarket head unit. Since I did everything myself , I didn't feel confident enough in my abilities to deviate from the instructions, and I sort of like it in the mirror. It's smaller, but it's a more natural place to look when you're backing up.

That said, I don't know if any manufacturer sells them in the mirror anymore, I think they're all on the head unit / lower screen because bigger is better!


https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/factory-dvd-headrests-and-head-unit-radio.31457/#post-254900
 
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