Awesome! I really need to leave my car with you?
CR-V Navigation + JDM Reverse Camera Accessory on a USDM CR-Z
16
After some research into the various OEM nav units found in Hondas, I discovered that the 2010-2011 CR-V with navigation has a set of connectors that are almost identical to the CR-Z navigation unit, with the only exception being an additional input for a backup camera! The Honda factory installed cameras, such as the one found on the CR-V, and the Honda Access cameras, such the one available for the JDM and EDM CR-Zs, appeared to have similar wiring to each other. Provided that I could find a way to connect the camera to the head unit, I could have a 100% OEM backup camera setup without using a NavTool module. I found a used CR-V nav unit on eBay, along with the connector pigtails cut from the donor vehicle, and I snatched it up almost immediately. Problem solved.
Once again, instead of the usual DIY, I'll describe my install with a captioned pictorial:
![]()
Let's not beat around the bush. Here's the JDM camera installed on my bumper. Bumper removal required.
![]()
CR-Z nav unit shown on the left and CR-V nav on the right. The two have identical connections on the rear panel, except for the camera connection by the exhaust fan on the CR-V nav unit.
![]()
CR-Z volume knob vs...
![]()
...CR-V volume knob. This is the only difference between the headunit faceplates, besides the XM Radio markings (It still requires an external XM receiver).
![]()
The CR-V backup camera connector that was cut from donor vehicle harness.
![]()
Another nav unit connector from the donor CR-V. This connector has some pins with wires that better match the JDM harness wire colors...
![]()
...backup camera connector wires now color matched to the JDM camera harness.
![]()
Wires stripped before soldering. Original pins cut from the JDM harness shown on top.
![]()
Soldered and sleeved with heat shrink tubing.
![]()
This hole is where the wiring will pass through to the exterior behind the rear bumper.
![]()
The camera wiring has a lot of excess length. I also added my own wire looming to it, as it didn't come with anything that seemed long enough.
![]()
Harness running along driver door...
![]()
...past the rear tray/partition...
![]()
...under the IMA fan ducting...
![]()
...and finally to the rear with the excess harness length folded and zip tied to itself a few times.
![]()
I had to take most of the rear interior trim out to route the harness. I wasn't sure which side to route it to at first, so I took out both side liners to investigate...
Video of the camera in action:
The Honda nav units already have a reverse gear signal going to them, so just plugging in the camera connector enables the backup camera function. Pretty simple. Just put it in reverse and that's it. Removing the interior trim was the most annoying part of this install. Lots of the orange clips got destroyed when I removed the panels, so I still have a lot of my interior apart while I wait for replacements.
The only issue is that it seems that the screen viewing angle may be a tiny bit off for what's appropriate for the CR-Z seating position. It's not too bad though, especially since I can still play with the contrast and such to compensate for it. I actually tried swapping the headunit faceplates to see what happens with no success. The backup camera video will not display on the CR-Z faceplate; it just shows a black screen... Ah well. Other than this small issue, which you can correct with some adjustments, this mod was well worth it for me.
I didn't think this needed a full on DIY, since all information you need to do this is illustrated pretty well in the pictures. The part numbers that I used are listed below. There are a few other camera attachment kits with slightly different part numbers that are also available for the CR-Z which will probably work just as well; the difference is probably in what device they are designed to be connected to and the market it was intended for.
Anyways, this should be the last wiring project that I have planned for my CR-Z, that is until I find out about something else cool that involves wiring that I'm not yet aware of... Reply to this thread if you have any comments or questions. Thanks!
JDM Accessory Part Numbers
08A21-6H0-360 - JDM Camera
08B77-SZT-A00 - JDM CR-Z Camera Mounting Kit and Wiring Harness
Once again, instead of the usual DIY, I'll describe my install with a captioned pictorial:
Let's not beat around the bush. Here's the JDM camera installed on my bumper. Bumper removal required.
CR-Z nav unit shown on the left and CR-V nav on the right. The two have identical connections on the rear panel, except for the camera connection by the exhaust fan on the CR-V nav unit.
CR-Z volume knob vs...
...CR-V volume knob. This is the only difference between the headunit faceplates, besides the XM Radio markings (It still requires an external XM receiver).
The CR-V backup camera connector that was cut from donor vehicle harness.
Another nav unit connector from the donor CR-V. This connector has some pins with wires that better match the JDM harness wire colors...
...backup camera connector wires now color matched to the JDM camera harness.
Wires stripped before soldering. Original pins cut from the JDM harness shown on top.
Soldered and sleeved with heat shrink tubing.
This hole is where the wiring will pass through to the exterior behind the rear bumper.
The camera wiring has a lot of excess length. I also added my own wire looming to it, as it didn't come with anything that seemed long enough.
Harness running along driver door...
...past the rear tray/partition...
...under the IMA fan ducting...
...and finally to the rear with the excess harness length folded and zip tied to itself a few times.
I had to take most of the rear interior trim out to route the harness. I wasn't sure which side to route it to at first, so I took out both side liners to investigate...
Video of the camera in action:
The Honda nav units already have a reverse gear signal going to them, so just plugging in the camera connector enables the backup camera function. Pretty simple. Just put it in reverse and that's it. Removing the interior trim was the most annoying part of this install. Lots of the orange clips got destroyed when I removed the panels, so I still have a lot of my interior apart while I wait for replacements.
The only issue is that it seems that the screen viewing angle may be a tiny bit off for what's appropriate for the CR-Z seating position. It's not too bad though, especially since I can still play with the contrast and such to compensate for it. I actually tried swapping the headunit faceplates to see what happens with no success. The backup camera video will not display on the CR-Z faceplate; it just shows a black screen... Ah well. Other than this small issue, which you can correct with some adjustments, this mod was well worth it for me.
I didn't think this needed a full on DIY, since all information you need to do this is illustrated pretty well in the pictures. The part numbers that I used are listed below. There are a few other camera attachment kits with slightly different part numbers that are also available for the CR-Z which will probably work just as well; the difference is probably in what device they are designed to be connected to and the market it was intended for.
Anyways, this should be the last wiring project that I have planned for my CR-Z, that is until I find out about something else cool that involves wiring that I'm not yet aware of... Reply to this thread if you have any comments or questions. Thanks!
JDM Accessory Part Numbers
08A21-6H0-360 - JDM Camera
08B77-SZT-A00 - JDM CR-Z Camera Mounting Kit and Wiring Harness
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
Install a TV in your car 
The part number that's actually on the CR-V navigation unit label isn't the same as what's used by the electronic parts catalogs for Honda; the CR-Z headunit has a similar situation. Either way, only use it to confirm that you are purchasing the correct nav unit and not to buy one from the Honda dealer; that would cost you thousands instead of hundreds...
Also, getting one used from a wreck with connectors cut from the vehicle harness is the only way I know of so far to get the video connector. Perhaps, by chance, some other variant of the CR-Z camera attachment kit will have the correct connector for the nav, but I wouldn't rely on it...
Anyways here is a shot of the label on the nav unit:
The part number that I got from an electronic parts catalog is:
39540-SWA-336ZA
2
I get my JDM parts from japanparts.com, but that's only because I don't know anywhere else to get them from. I don't think I'm getting the best prices possible from them, but they aren't all that bad either. That's just what JDM stuff costs I guess...
With that said, if I could do it all over again, I would have tried a little harder to get the EDM SSD version of the camera kit (Part Number: 08A21-SZT-KIT1). I did a little more research into it and I think the connector from that kit will actually plug in in the CR-V nav with no splicing required. I found a picture of the back panel of one of the SSD nav units available in Europe for the CR-Z and there was connector that looked identical to the one on the CR-V nav. However, I have no idea how to get parts from Europe at all, so we may never know the truth on that one...
Here is the picture of the EDM SSD nav back panel with the connector of interest highlighted with a red box:
EDM SDD NAV part number: 08A40-2N6-400
1 - 20 of 44 Posts
