So I'm in the process of installing a new stereo with a backup camera (2003 F-150 Lariat SuperCrew, 4.6, 2WD). I've been reading dozens of threads on this topic, and hate to add a new one to the mix, but I'm a bit baffled.

The camera itself is wired fine. I dropped it onto the license place, and wired power off a wire tap at the reverse lamp. Easy peasy.

Now, in the cab, I need to connect the signal wire to the stereo so that it knows when to switch video sources. Everything seems to indicate I should be able to tap a pink or purple wire with a black stripe along my driver side door threshold. I cut open the wiring harness there and did find a pink wire with a black stripe, but it does not go hot when I put the truck in reverse.

I did hotwire the signal to test it, and it appears to work fine that way. I thought about just fuse tapping the bus, but the reverse lamps on fuse 5 are apparently part of a larger circuit that has other things on it, so I figure that's out.

Has anyone done this here and would they be willing to post a picture of where they tapped the signal at? I know this is ridiculously simple, but I don't want to go through randomly tapping wires (and wasting wiretaps in the process) until I get it right.

 

My wire is black with pink stripe. Stripe looks purple really, i think over years the black coloration bleeds into the stripe changeing it. Common problem with old wires.

Right in driver kick panel
2003 screw lariat 4wd 5.4

 

Ooh, you know what, I think that's my issue. In my head, I think I was confusing kick panel with the threshold.

 

You totally pegged it, thanks. There's a wire that's similar inside the threshold plate, but it's not the exact same (more pink than purple). Kick panel is the place to be.

 

where does your red wire that is on the other side of the tap led back too?
to the reverse wire that comes out of the dvd player?

 

Thanks for the info and pic. I'm doing this to my '01 Screw tomorrow!
Kenwood DDX24BT

 

Okay, quick follow up question on this. The black/pink wire...it's the same wire at the kick panel on driver's side as well as the same wire near the back bumper that you tap to power the camera correct?

Unrelated side note, when I removed the diver's kick panel there was a really funky eyelet ring terminal dangling and the green ground screw was unscrewed easy 1/2"...weird. Like someone forgot to put it back on. I know the heater core was replaced, perhaps an oops by the mechanic? Anyways, everything works fine with no dash lights, etc with this thing not connected. I find that strange. Looks like may the e-brake ground wire. Not entirely sure.