I'm installing a rear view camera in the bumper of my 2004 S-type. The install appears to be fairly simple except that the camera gets its power from the reverse lamps. Can't find the reverse switch or the power wiring that goes to the reverse lamp.

Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Thank you

 

JTIS is workshop manual, free on here. Has full electrical guide. Almost everything is live and switched on by pulling to Gnd. Basically... just see the elec guide. In case it's beyond you (not saying it is), get someone to do it for you.

Because there are lots of computer modules and networks, a switch may be in the front on module X and the light in the rear on module Y.

 

Thank you. I have JTIS but it doesn't work with my operating system. I also have the full electrical guide but it's challenging to read. I was hoping someone had already had success finding the power source.

 

It's the best of any car I've fought over many years. Be careful as a single mistake might pay someone to do it for you a few times over.

 

Not sure about your MY - however when I installed the rear-view camera I found there isn't like one wire that I can just tap into and have power when car was put into reverse. Had to rig up a relay to get it to work. The reason is that if I remember correctly there is like constant voltage at the wires running to the lights all the time - even when your car is turned off and on pressing brake or reversing the corresponding wire turns into ground to complete the circuit. The relay I added basically reverses this and powers the camera only while backing up - I followed some directions that I found (can't find it now- will keep looking) on how to wire the relay. I had to use the electrical guide to figure out which wire to tap into for the backup light and also multimeter to confirm. Used JTIS to remove the trunk lining and the one connector that plugs into the taillight - has a bunch of wires for like three lights. Used a multimeter to test the voltage on all the wires when car ignition is off, on, brake is pressed and car is put in reverse to confirm the right wire.

 

Here's the link on wiring the relay for the backup camera from the XJ8 forum - used same principle for my S-type (see user Suprane1's post #9). Would identify right reverse light wire for your car using multimeter and someone to put car in reverse while you check the voltage to wires at the connector.

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...n-nx702-79124/

additional pix
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...problem-79070/

 

What a great thread. Thank you for documenting how to do this. I can't thank you enough.