I have a license plate mounted rear view camera ($9 on ebay, fingers crossed on quality)

I am in dire need of getting the wire into the car.

I have taken off the handle that helps you close the lid and the little plastic piece next to it (there are about 8 of those and one comes off)

If I can just get into the cargo lid or trunk/hatch I can fish the wires through there.

But I can't seem to get into it.

there is one big bolt next to the license plate lights but it didn't seem to help that panel come off.

Any help appreciated.

TL;DR need to bring in wire from the license plate for rear view camera (video wire)

 

You don't need to remove the plastic cover, one of eight. You did remove the recessed handle, good. Now you need to remove two black plastic rivets from the edge of the panel. Open the hatch, look straight up at the bottom edge of the panel and you will see near the center line two small fasteners. They look like a small diameter pin inside a washer. All plastic. To remove, push in the center rod with a small screwdriver or other drift, even a 8 penny nail will work and pull out the entire rivet/washer assembly. There are no bolts to unscrew. The fasteners that hold the panel on are invisible, inside. There are at least 12 such clips along the edges and in the center of the panel near the license plate assembly.

You need to be aggressive and pull down on the panel at the edges to release the male ends of the clips from the holders attached to the metal body work. Start where the rivets were and pull straight down. As the clips start to release, you can proceed along each edge toward the hinge of the hatch. You really have to yank to release these clips which can break. I discovered this when I removed my panel to install a rear view and side view camera. My dealer had installed a new wiper motor and broke several clips and didn't bother to replace. There were 4 missing. Those clips at a dealer if they have in stock can cost as much as $5 a pop. I found a supplier online called clipsandfasteners.com for cheaper replacements by the box.

There are also some clips at the middle of the panel behind the license plate light assembly that have to be released. As the panel starts to pull away from the body, you will have more leverage to pull and release the clips. It's a balance between yanking and not torquing too much to avoid breaking any clips. I removed the entire head liner to snake my two camera cables to the front monitor installed in the center glove box. I posted my install several months ago. Pulling out all the interior panels was the worse part of the install. I do have the full service manual for the HHR, so feel free to ask more questions and good luck.

 

Did my bi-focals malfunction, or did you forget to mention removing the third brake light housing? It might be there, but I have been having trouble with these new glasses malfunctioning.

 

Yes indeed, I did forget to mention the brake light cover which needs to be pulled off as well to fully remove the hatch panel. Not sure about your stab at humor, you may want to keep your day job.

 

Ok I got all that off.

Where should I route the wire though?

I've circled where I think it should be able to go...


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You should be able to sneak it through the factory wiring hole for the license plate lights, but you may have to file or cut a recess for it to sneak under the "Beauty Bar".

 

well I don't see any space unless I cut a small notch in the plastic of the license plate light cover...

I think I might drill a hole behind the license plate and put a grommet in there

that way it would be hidden.

Any thoughts on this?

 

I was thinking more of notching the license plate light cover, drilling an extra hole is just a place for rust to start. If you're concerned about seeing the wire sneaking up from the license plate to the cover/beauty bar, you can always paint that little section of wire with matching touch-up paint.

 

Glad I wasted all those words. I just drilled a hole with a step drill to the left of the mounted camera in the body work and used two grommets. If you don't want to see the wire, then drill the hole behind the license plate and camera.

 

Reality, not humor. Computer screens are not made for cataracts & new bifocals. Just covering my bases, could have been there. Day job sucks too.