Reverse signal indicator on 09 vibe

[jeffgtx]

Hi guys.

Installing a head unit in the folks' vibe and need a reverse indicator to hook up to. Is there one behind the glovebox or is there a wire that ultimately goes to the reverse lamps?

Thanks. Jeff

[KITT222]

You could tap into the reverse signal wire going from the shifter, or find the reverse lamp wires.

[jeffgtx]

Do you know where either are?

[KITT222]

I do not, unfortunately. I do not have a second gen. If you take the trim off around the shifter you may be able to find it. Or trace the wire from the reverse bulb to the front of the car.

[tpollauf]

Jeff. Let me scan the page showing the correct wire & color & location. Sounds like this will be for a back-up camera on the new head unit display? Very interested in how this works out for you. Post pics of your progress so that us 2nd gen owners can learn from this install. I'll assume that it is a base Vibe without steering wheel controls. Give me a day or two and I'll dig up the Helm manuals and post it here ................... Good luck!

[jeffgtx]

Thanks T.

It us an awd with steering wheel controls. I already have the SWI-RC installed in between the head end and the harness. Just can't find the reverse indicator.

The metra harness on this one is extremely disappointing. The switched power line us wrong and they don't include the illumination signal.

The camera is already mounted and attached. I can select to see it but obviously want the auto activation, so your help would be great. The sooner I can see it the sooner I can write my notes and be done.

Ps this is for a pioneer nex unit if you were curious.

[tpollauf]

OK Jeff. Hope these pics help ...................................











Not sure I even understand this manual. In fact I added this fifth photo just to show you how screwed up these manuals are. Numerous
errors either with wrong sketches, wrong component descriptions, and even wrong Vibe model year!

Anyways it looks like your back-up switch may be part of the PNP switch on the transaxle. My Vibe is the 5-speed manual and it strictly
has ONE switch on it which is for the back-up indicator. Good luck and maybe if I find more time I'll research a bit more and make
more sense out of this.

As mentioned earlier, take lots of pics of this mod and share with us in a separate post. I believe several of us wouldn't mind upgrading to
a system such as this. There you have it ........................ Enjoy! ............. Tim

[jeffgtx]

Thanks. That gets me started at least. Neither location sounds easy to get to but I'll have to dig a little deeper.

There's no diagram for the connector under the glovebox?

[tpollauf]

There's no diagram for the connector under the glovebox?

I would think that there would have to be a connector somewhere under there. Let me browse through some of the other volumes and see if anything grabs my attention. I was so used to the older wiring diagrams that were laid out in "ladder diagram" format. In other words one page started withe the headlamps and continued with SEVERAL pages until you got to the tail lamps. That was many years ago and now with airbags and so many other electrical features it would be impossible to show everything. Check back later tonight and I'll try to have more ............... Tim

[jeffgtx]

Thanks tim. I know what you mean. I have the giant 4 volume manual for another car. Getting to where you need can sometimes be monumental in scope. The DVD is way worse though. At least with the books you can flip back and forth quickly. The DVD is a nightmare to navigate.

Thanks for your continued help!

[tpollauf]

OK Jeff, I think I got it pinned down to where you should be able to locate the wire. It is on pin 1 of the PNP Switch connector on your transmission which has to penetrate through he firewall somewhere in order to make it all the way back to the rear of the car. Was unable to see where it goes after it leaves this switch BUT it is a straight run (some connectors obviously) all the way back to the reverse lights. Look over these pics and then start investigating. Good luck!

[jeffgtx]

Thanks Tim. Spent about an hour hunting around for something with similar characteristics but couldn't find it. Will take up the hunt again tomorrow.

If I recall correctly the wire to the backup lamp was white with a black stripe. So maybe it's not red when it comes through the firewall.

[jeffgtx]

Ugh. Never mind. That was the license frame light I was near. Not sure what I was thinking.

[gimmegimme]

When I hooked up my Pioneer unit, I used a reverse signal from the fuse box behind the drawer left of the steering wheel. I'll try to remember to look it up in the manual tonight for you if tpollauf doesn't beat me to it. It was from one of those connectors whose name starts with "X".

[jeffgtx]

Still hunting. The fuse under the ip in mine was always powered even in park.

[gimmegimme]

Sorry, I completely forgot!

This is the fuse block behind the drawer:


The wire I used was X1 pin 30 (red wire). The wire is 12V when in reverse. Your head-unit should be configurable to look for 12V or ground. This is the layout of that connector:

[tpollauf]

Glad others here chimed in with some assistance as I've been very busy and not always home every evening to help out (Vibe manuals are at home) Plus I don't drive my Vibe every day like most of you otherwise I would crawl around and actually find this red wire (take a pic of it's location in the car) and post it. If/when you do find it, try to post it so the rest of us can benefit from your hard work.

[jeffgtx]

Awesome. It worked.

That block is behind the cubby drawer on the left side of the steering wheel. About where you left knee is. The connector it the top left one as shown in the manual. The pin we want is the lower right pin on that connector. Works like a charm!

I just need to figure out why the front camera isn't sending a picture and then I might be done! Will update here.

Thank you both for your help.