2008 Highlander Backup Camera

[fx72]

Does anyone know if there is a way to enable the backup camera without being in reverse? It would be helpful say when driving with a trailer or have a bike rack on the back, and you want to check on things when driving.

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2008 Highlander Sport

[Jon1084]

I don't have a 2008 but my best guess would be its a computer related activation. When the gear shift is shifted into reverse it signals, the tranny, the dashboard light and the camera.

I would not think this would be an easy fix to setup the way you'd like. Unless the camera is activated separately which I'd doubt.

Just my two cents

Good luck.

[summerwind]

You would have to look at a schematic but if it works like an RV rear monitor there were three wires 12V+, Backup 12V+, Ground. When the tranny was in reverse there was a voltage applied to the backup wire and the camera would go on even if the monitor was off.

Would think you would need a switch to apply a 12V+ to that lead on the plug so you could manually select the normal display or rear view monitoring.

This is Summerwind Wild A_S_S guess (SWAG) here but it might be worth checking the schematic to see if I am guessing correctly

[lqueral]

I think it would be a great idea, but the factory probably doesn't do it because of the legal consequences of it. I can just see someone crackin' up while doing 70mph and looking at the reverse image and slamming into another car or a wall. You just know they would sue Toyota in a hearbeat...and probably get a million dollar settlement as well. Nobody takes responsibility for their actions anymore - they just call a lawyer <grin>.

[ssalava]

I'm new to ToyotaNation and also interested in this same solution. I love my back-up camera (aka "Rear View Monitoring System") for aligning my hitch to the tongue of my utility trailer.

In addition to the benefits noted by the original poster, it would also be nice to keep the camera on when I'm making trailer hitch positioning adjustments while in Drive, not just Reverse.

But since my camera is connected to my "multi-info display", I think it would be more than just sending 12 volts to the camera, somehow the display's brain needs to think I'm in reverse somehow? I'm not sure what that hacking might do to the rest of the car's computer systems?

Reading this thread Reverse \ Backup Camera Multifunction Display Wires doesn't give me any warm fuzzies!

This is beyond me but if anyone else in ToyotaNation with right smarts has come up with a viable solution, I'm open to trying it!