thanks for response. Hu is a pioneer avic-940bt. the camera is some cheap thing made by ouku, I think. anyway. I have everything connected right. I have the video coming from the camera going to the video port on the HU. I have the 12+ and the gnd going to the backup lamp's +12v and gnd for pwr. and I have the 'sense' line from the HU also going to the backup lamp+12v . the problem is that when I turn on the car, the HU sees a signal from the 'sense' line because when the car starts I can see the reverse (backup) lights flash very briefly. when the HU sees that it has a positive signal before the HU fully starts, the HU will show the backup cam screen and will not disengage it until I press a button. then, it will not automatically come on when I put it into reverse. I need to stop the HU from seeing the positive signal on the 'sense' line before I put the car in reverse or at least until the HU fully starts. that's what the cap and transistor is for. just to slow down the current and buy enough time to let the HU start up. does that make sense?