Fitting a dashcam
Q I have a Nextbase 412GW dashcam with a hardwire kit that I am intending to fit in my 2010 Lexus RX 450h, but I am having difficulty finding the fusebox in the passenger footwell. I’m thinking of using fuse No1, which is for the power socket located in the central armrest. I am concerned about routing the power cable up through the A-post where an airbag is located. Also, on the passenger side, the switch for turning the passenger airbag on/off is located in the trim at the end of the dashboard. I am not too keen to remove this in case I damage the wiring. I do have a set of trim removal tools. Dave Brown
A The fusebox is quite high up under the passenger footwell and is located as far as it can go to the nearside of the vehicle. You will need to remove the trim below the glovebox area to access it. As you say, fuse No1 is the power point and should be suitable for your dashcam. Do check with a voltmeter that the fuse is only live with the ignition switched to the on and/or auxiliary position.
The great thing about the Nextbase hardwire kit is that any suitable fuse outlet which is not live with the ignition off will be OK, as the bypass fuse allows you to take power from the fusebox while retaining the original amperage to the circuit. It then provides a second fuse slot for the dashcam outlet.
By removing the door seal rubber, you should be able to see a small gap along the A-post trim which is sufficient to receive the hard wire cable from the fusebox. You should also be able to see a small gap at the lower side of the dash where the cable can be fed through from the fusebox. There should be no need to remove the side panel containing the passenger airbag switch. When the cable reaches the top of the A-post it can be gently fed into the edge of the headlining panel and across to the centre position, or you may wish to position your dashcam towards the nearside of the windscreen.