Hi all,
I've been hanging around here for a while, reading posts and stuff but have finally decided to create an account and make a post! :slayer:

I have a Fiat Panda 169 and am looking to upgrade the headunit in it. The original owner has already replaced the stock one with a single DIN Sony unit, although I'm looking for something more high tech:
(Not allowed to post links yet, but it's the Pioneer AVH-A240DAB)

The place I'm buying it from has an offer on at the moment where you get a free reversing camera and it'd be cool to fit that into my Panda! I know how the camera is wired in with the video feeds going into the headunit whilst the power cable is hooked up to the reversing light wire. I'm competent at electronics so I have no problem stripping the reversing light wire and soldering the power cable to it (or using splitters if included in the box).

The question I do have, however, is how would I go about accessing the wiring for the reversing light? I've had a quick look, but the interior trim from around that area doesn't seem to easily come off like some of the other parts... If someone could let me know how I can access it, that'd be great!

Also, what do you think is the best way to go about routing the cables for the video feed back to the headunit? I was thinking up along the ceiling in between the weatherstripping and ceiling fabric and then underneath any plastic trim parts along the way.

Another small thing is where do I route wires for the microphone, or a DAB windscreen aerial from the back of the headunit? Would they have to come from under the dash and back round the side or is there a way for them to come up through the top of the dash?

Cheers!

harrythp2003 said:

how would I go about accessing the wiring for the reversing light?

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Open the rear hatch, unscrew the three bolts holding the light cluster in place, and take out the cluster.

access to the wiring.

take the rear light cluster off. Plenty of slack on the connector

routing

not sure how I would do this

over the roof and down the drivers A pillar trim maybe, looks easier than under the carpet

koalar said:

take the rear light cluster off.

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Snap!

jrkitching said:

Open the rear hatch, unscrew the three bolts holding the light cluster in place, and take out the cluster.

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koalar said:

take the rear light cluster off. Plenty of slack on the connector

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Cheers guys! I did see the bolts on the cluster and that was my next option, just checking there wasn't a way through the trim

koalar said:

over the roof and down the drivers A pillar trim maybe, looks easier than under the carpet

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Ah brilliant, really don't want to be bothered with tearing the carpet up

Thanks

I am wiring the camera in today and have taken off the passenger side rear light cluster.
It's all one big module with a plug of wires that go into it - Anyone have a colour guide for the wires? I've looked all over the internet and can't seem to find anything on it, and the owner's manual doesn't mention anything either...

Thanks!

This recent post may help: https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/487...rse-light-operation-switched-2.html?p=4600215
They found the grey wire on the left side connector was the reverse light.

rmjbn1 said:

They found the grey wire on the left side connector was the reverse light.

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Thanks so much! Just what I needed

koalar said:

over the roof and down the drivers A pillar trim maybe, looks easier than under the carpet

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My Panda had a naff reversing sensor when I got it so I replaced it with a new one. The wire to the display unit ran along the top but when I fitted the new one I ran it along the bottom and it tucks nicely under the panels where they join the carpet so there is no need to lift the carpet. I am not sure if this helps. I have several things at the back so it would get a bit crowded if the leads were all up above.

fourbie said:

The wire to the display unit ran along the top but when I fitted the new one I ran it along the bottom and it tucks nicely under the panels where they join the carpet so there is no need to lift the carpet.

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Ah cool, okay, if I have to run anything else along to the back, I'll try it!

The wires from the headunit come out closer to the floor anyway, so it's probably easier to run them along the carpet. I didn't have any issue with running them up the front passenger side pillar and then along the ceiling piece, but that being said, other than the side pillars, there is nowhere in between them along the ceiling for the wires to be attached to; I had to make sure they were tightly pulled else they'd have started slipping away from the ceiling piece...


Tucked under the edge of the carpet, there is no gravity to contend with!

where and how would I mount the actual camera?? please and thank you.

You could follow the same route as @stepheninlincolnshire

I expect that you will also need to fit a dab aerial if yes then i stuck my aerial on the front screen so when running that cable up the passenger piller it was easy to also run the reversing cable up the same channel and you will find it easy to lift the top door seal and hide the wire along the top!