2015 sierra backup camera override

[MGnoob]

I’ve researched this for 10 years and I finally got around to doing it. Nothing on the Internet seems to help.
 

This is a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 WT

So here is the deal there are 6 wires that go to the camera.

Red, white, yellow, brown and 2 blacks

Red wire is constant 12+ volt.

White wire is 12+ volt while in reverse.

 

If you apply an external 12 V source to the white wire the backup lights do come on, but the camera doesn’t. If you cut the wire, you can eliminate the backup lights, but the camera still doesn’t work.

 

The yellow, brown, and two blacks have no voltage or negligible voltage, whether in reverse or not.

 

I’m assuming my problem has something to do with one of the two black wires but I don’t know what it is.

 

What am I doing wrong/missing?

 

The goal is to install a diode, so the camera works in reverse and when a button is pressed in the cab. I already have a wire in between the cab and the Camera. But that’s pretty useless until I figure out how to trigger the camera on… I’m going to take power from the driver side fuse panel, where I have my other accessories connected so it’s only live while the truck is keyed on.

Help would be appreciated.

 

Edited June 29, 2025 by MGnoob

[davester]

Why would you expect the camera to tell the radio when to flip into reverse mode?  I expect the radio receives a digital signal from the ecm/bcm telling it the truck is in reverse, then the radio goes into reverse mode and turns the camera on.

 

I would expect it to be non-trivial to get the radio to switch into reverse mode on command.

 

But, if you really want to find out, a subscription to alldata.com should be able to tell you what all the wires to the camera plug are for.

 

[Buckwild27]

I feel like it would be easier to just do the live view rearview mirror the hardest part of figuring that out is how to mount the camera. It you have auto dimming drivers mirror you'll already have power to the rearview mirror you'll have to get a mirror from a 2020+ truck and you'll have just the camera wire to run to the back of the cab. If you don't have auto dimming drivers mirror then you'll have to get a harness from harnessdr.com. all in all way easier then what your trying to do. 

[MGnoob]

3 hours ago, Homewrecker007 said:

I feel like it would be easier to just do the live view rearview mirror the hardest part of figuring that out is how to mount the camera. It you have auto dimming drivers mirror you'll already have power to the rearview mirror you'll have to get a mirror from a 2020+ truck and you'll have just the camera wire to run to the back of the cab. If you don't have auto dimming drivers mirror then you'll have to get a harness from harnessdr.com. all in all way easier then what your trying to do. 

That’s not a bad idea. That is what I’m trying to achieve. I have a cap on the back of my truck that completely blocks my rearview..

[Buckwild27]

14 minutes ago, MGnoob said:

That’s not a bad idea. That is what I’m trying to achieve. I have a cap on the back of my truck that completely blocks my rearview..

You can get the camera cord on Amazon it comes in several lengths.  Camera and mirror is off a 2020+ truck. 

 

Cord link

https://a.co/d/g1R6T7s

 

Mirror needed

https://ebay.us/m/sW8Yqd

 

Camera needed 

https://ebay.us/m/iNwqHp

 

 

Edited June 29, 2025 by Homewrecker007

[MGnoob]

4 hours ago, davester said:

Why would you expect the camera to tell the radio when to flip into reverse mode?  I expect the radio receives a digital signal from the ecm/bcm telling it the truck is in reverse, then the radio goes into reverse mode and turns the camera on.

 

I would expect it to be non-trivial to get the radio to switch into reverse mode on command.

 

But, if you really want to find out, a subscription to alldata.com should be able to tell you what all the wires to the camera plug are for.

 

Why would a wire from the camera that is triggered by reverse lights, not turned on the radio view? what purpose would it serve?

 

I have read there’s a 20 pin connector behind the radio that you can work with, but that’s for upgrading to a new radio/viewer.

 

they sell kits that you plug directly into the camera that jumps the remaining 5 wires together, but then it only has an RCA, which is video and ground that you plug directly into your new radio. I would just cut that off and connect it to the existing wiring but that my not work. My radio has no option/menu for the camera at all.

I should attempt to try jumping the remaining four wires that I’m not working with together

not the red or white though and see what happens if anything it would leave me with the camera/video monitor constantly on. then I would just interrupt the power on the red to turn it on and off.. I would lose it automatically coming on when I put it in reverse.

[MGnoob]

[MGnoob]

I’d still like to get the rear camera to work similar to the way I’m doing it, but I guess I could always go cheap like this..

I don’t think I have any power up there, though I guess I’d have to figure out how to route it

 

 

[MGnoob]

I guess with the adapter from Amazon and the camera package from eBay I have both cameras on my rearview mirror. I can probably make it work so that the factory system still works.

[Buckwild27]

I added all the things you need for rearview mirror setup. I put this in my 2014 and my 2018 sierra's

[Buckwild27]

https://harnessdr.com/product/2014-2018-rear-view-dimming-mirror-harness/

[MGnoob]

https://ebay.us/m/5OXvOD
 

I’m dumb. I should just buy this. I’m operating off of what I tried to do 10 years ago. I didn’t realize I could just buy this. I’ve recorded front and rear view. Forget the factory system.

 

i’m gonna look into these and the OBD-2 options…

if anyone knows how to make the factory one work the way I want to please tell me.

 

this is similar to the controller. I got for the LED light bars. This modern stuff is great.

 

 

[Buckwild27]

You can also upgrade your radio HMI to allow carplay and android auto and then get this adapter harness so you can push a button on your radio screen and turn on the backup camera while driving down the road. 

 

https://harnessdr.com/product/2016-2019-silverado-sierra-reverse-camera-adapter-harness/

 

https://www.whiteautoandmedia.com/product/car-play-upgrade-retrofit-kit/

 

[Buckwild27]

6 minutes ago, MGnoob said:

https://ebay.us/m/5OXvOD
 

I’m dumb. I should just buy this. I’m operating off of what I tried to do 10 years ago. I didn’t realize I could just buy this. I’ve recorded front and rear view. Forget the factory system.

 

i’m gonna look into these and the OBD-2 options…

if anyone knows how to make the factory one work the way I want to please tell me.

 

this is similar to the controller. I got for the LED light bars. This modern stuff is great.

 

 

I just gave you the 2 easy plug and play options that everyone does. And have personally done myself.  

[silveradosid]

do you have an io3 or io4 radio. the io3 is wired to the radio, the io4 the camera goes throught the hmi

rear camera.pdf