XC60 Rear Camera Wash Modification - finished!

[RussJ759]

Hi All,
The weather has turned (a bit) warmer so I thought I’d have a go at the rear camera wash mod on my XC60.

You’ll need:
Nylon trim removal tools
20 and 25 Torx screwdrivers
Stanley knife or scissors for the pipe
Zip ties
Washer jet – https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal...72.m2749.l2649
Washer pipe and connectors - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200cm-Win...72.m2749.l2649
Tap (optional) - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4mm-Micro...72.m2749.l2649
Loads of patience to thread the pipe!
Link to Volvo instructions for hatch trim removal - https://accessories.volvocars.com/en...XC60(18-)/2021

I followed the Volvo instructions as suggested by nu11eaf and so removal of the hatch trim panels was easy.
Once the panels were off, I could access the three retaining screws for the camera assembly.
First remove the two electrical connectors - one for camera and one for number plate lights.
Turn the screws anticlockwise about 2.5 turns which allows the whole lot to drop down a few mm and gives access to three plastic clips.
Gently unclip the ends and the whole assembly pivots down and comes out.
You’ll need to drill a 9mm hole for the washer jet - see photos for positioning.
Take care here as there is not much room and you need to position the jet so it can hit the camera lens.
I tapped into the rear screen wash, inserted a flow restrictor tap and threaded a pipe down the offside of the hatch and pulled it through, ran it across the tailgate and connected up to the washer jet.
You may need some very hot water or a lighter to soften the pipe end to get it over the washer jet connection.
Threading the pipe was a real pain and took an hour or more. I used a fairly stiff wire and started from the hinge end. You need to keep the wire against the glass to pass all the way through the hatch moulding.
I fished the wire out through a hole using a hook and then long nosed pliers to bend the wire and pull it through the hole. May well be easier to use a long zip tie as suggested by Volvo but I didn’t have one to hand.
I then attached the pipe and carefully pulled the wire back towards the hinge.
The new pipe was zip tied, not too tight, along its length to avoid rattles (my pet hate!) and I put some foam behind the tap for the same reason.
You now need to adjust flow rate and aiming for the jet. I used a pin in the jet ball to get it about right and then fiddled around to get the best combination of pressure and aim.

I’ve attached some photos to illustrate the method but its all pretty self explanatory.

Hope this is of interest and if anything isn’t clear please feel free to ask.

Russ

[Haldex]

Nice work! Factory-like!

Glad to see people are starting to modify the SPA cars

[harcos1983]

Really Nice Job

[Davebbass]

I love jobs like this, and so tempted to do it with mine! Out of interest, should something go wrong with the camera or rear wiper, would Volvo use it as an excuse to not put it under warranty as it's been (still very well) modified?

[Lost Medic]

Brilliant work.

[RussJ759]

Originally Posted by Davebbass

I love jobs like this, and so tempted to do it with mine! Out of interest, should something go wrong with the camera or rear wiper, would Volvo use it as an excuse to not put it under warranty as it's been (still very well) modified?

If the camera failed I doubt they'd offer any warranty. But I'm prepared to take the risk.
Wiper should be OK as its not been touched.
Russ

[Philip Fisher]

Great job! Really impressive.

Just a question, what is the implication of not putting the flow restrictor tap in place? Are you worried it would steal too much water from the screen wash?

[RussJ759]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

Great job! Really impressive.

Just a question, what is the implication of not putting the flow restrictor tap in place? Are you worried it would steal too much water from the screen wash?

There's quite a forceful spray from this jet which uses a lot of fluid so I thought it would be useful to be able to reduce it if full power was overkill. I've left the tap open fully at the moment to see how things go. Its easy to access the pipe to install a tap or adjust the flow - just prise off the upper hatch cover.

Two issues have arisen so far.
Firstly you can see a black line in the 360 surround view which is an image of the jet. Doesn't cause a problem though. I'll take a shot of the screen and post it.
Secondly, after completing a squirt any remaining fluid in the pipe leaks out overnight so next time you use it there is a delay while the pipe is refilling. This might actually be useful as you can clean the rear screen without blasting the lens.
Alternatively, I might try fitting a check valve in the pipe just before the jet which should stop the leakage.
Neither of these problems occurred in the SQ5 though. The camera wasn't a surround view, just rear only so was probably a narrower angle of view. The pipe to the camera wash was much shorter (15cm) as the supply was picked up from the rear wipe pivot, not from the top of the hatch as in the Volvo.
Still, you live and learn!
Russ

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by RussJ759

There's quite a forceful spray from this jet which uses a lot of fluid so I thought it would be useful to be able to reduce it if full power was overkill. I've left the tap open fully at the moment to see how things go. Its easy to access the pipe to install a tap or adjust the flow - just prise off the upper hatch cover.

Two issues have arisen so far.
Firstly you can see a black line in the 360 surround view which is an image of the jet. Doesn't cause a problem though. I'll take a shot of the screen and post it.
Secondly, after completing a squirt any remaining fluid in the pipe leaks out overnight so next time you use it there is a delay while the pipe is refilling. This might actually be useful as you can clean the rear screen without blasting the lens.
Alternatively, I might try fitting a check valve in the pipe just before the jet which should stop the leakage.
Neither of these problems occurred in the SQ5 though. The camera wasn't a surround view, just rear only so was probably a narrower angle of view. The pipe to the camera wash was much shorter (15cm) as the supply was picked up from the rear wipe pivot, not from the top of the hatch as in the Volvo.
Still, you live and learn!
Russ

Ive bought the parts for me V70, thanks, do you have a link for the check valve, please, as i think i will add it all in one go to save faffing about

[RussJ759]

I haven't got a link but try a search on eBay or Amazon for "screen wash check valve".
Or Halfords perhaps?
Russ