Removing rear view mirror and auxiliary 12V power

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beavermosh

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I bought a dash camera didn't want the wire hanging down plugged into the cigarette lighter so I hardwired it to the power for the rear view mirror. I'll detail how to remove the mirror and how to tap into some auxiliary power

How to remove the rear view mirror (see pictures for more detail below):
1) First remove the smaller of the two plastic assembly at the base of the mirror, this can be done using a small screw driver and slightly sliding the piece up
2) Now you can remove the mirror by gently grabbing the base and rotating it counterclockwise
3) Remove the larger plastic piece by spreading inside clips apart

Remote ON/OFF auxiliary power (see pictures for more detail below):
The black wire is ground and the pink with yellow strip is +12V when truck is ON. I used the simple wire tap connectors.

Mini 0801 dash camera: $100 on eBay
Fulree 12V to 5V mini usb converter: $4 on eBay

Before removal
IMG_0933.jpg

Two piece plastic assembly
IMG_0935.jpg

Inside two piece plastic assembly
IMG_0936.jpg

Inside larger plastic peice
IMG_0937.jpg

Bolt thing that holds the mirror on
IMG_0938.jpg

This is where the mirror connects to the bolt thing
IMG_0939.jpg

Rear view mirror wiring harness
IMG_0940.jpg

Black is ground and pink with yellow stripe is +12V when truck is ON
IMG_0941.jpg

Black is ground and pink with yellow stripe is +12V when truck is ON
IMG_0942.jpg

12V to 5V adapter for dash camera
IMG_0946.jpg

Spliced 12V to 5V adapter to wires
IMG_0950.jpg

Clean wiring! No wires hanging down over the dash
IMG_0951.jpg
 

LOFSFIRE

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Great write up, I have been wanting to hard wire my radar for sometime now but have not had the time to figure out how to get that plastic cover off. Thought I was going to break it for sure!

One suggestion, don't use the crimp on splice wire connectors. They will cut the wire and weaken it. (not much problem here but can be in other spots) But for here take the end of the wires you are hooking up and put some Sub-D pins on the end.
Radio Shack sells them (you will have to look for the right kit, but all you care about is the pins)
15-Position HD Male Solder D-Sub Connector : D-Sub Connectors | RadioShack.com
The pin:
8656352064LF.jpg

Add a little shrink wrap to the end with the wire it will look like it was made for this.

Then take the ends of your wire with the Sub-D pins on them and push them in the back of the correct wires/ plug harness. In this case Black and pink with yellow stripe. This can be remove with no trace of ever being installed as well.
IMG_0940.jpg

Thanks Again!
 
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Heywood

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Thanks for the write up.

I have a new Blendmount radar detector holder coming and an Escort Live Direct Wire set up. I was hoping to grab the power from the mirror. Maybe mount the Bluetooth Escort interface above the mirror.

Thanks again

This will make it so much easier.
 
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beavermosh

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Great write up, I have been wanting to hard wire my radar for sometime now but have not had the time to figure out how to get that plastic cover off. Thought I was going to break it for sure!

One suggestion, don't use the crimp on splice wire connectors. They will cut the wire and weaken it. (not much problem here but can be in other spots) But for here take the end of the wires you are hooking up and put some Sub-D pins on the end.
Radio Shack sells them (you will have to look for the right kit, but all you care about is the pins)

Add a little shrink wrap to the end with the wire it will look like it was made for this.

Then take the ends of your wire with the Sub-D pins on them and push them in the back of the correct wires/ plug harness. In this case Black and pink with yellow stripe. This can be remove with no trace of ever being installed as well.

Thanks Again!

You actually need the female version if you were to do this. The male pin sticks out of the housing of rear view mirror. The connectors are specific to manufacturers, i.e. Deutsche, Molex, AMPSEAL, etc. so be careful which connect you purchase.
 

Bigdaddy

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Hey thank you for this write up I too have a radar detector and a dam cam that I want to install and when I get a change I will be doing this myself so I might need your help.
 

LOFSFIRE

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You actually need the female version if you were to do this. The male pin sticks out of the housing of rear view mirror. The connectors are specific to manufacturers, i.e. Deutsche, Molex, AMPSEAL, etc. so be careful which connect you purchase.

No, you need exactly what I showed, I will get some pics in the next week. once the mirror was off it took 5 mins to do. Now I know how the mirror comes off its much easier! Thanks!
 

Heywood

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I just ordered the Invisicord for my RD. Has a built in fuse. Price was pretty good and you can get different lengths.

I'm going to run the Escort DW Live under the Passport Max. I'm running the Blendmount RD clip off the rear view mirror stalk. No more suction cup for me.

I can't post the link, but if you search Ivnisicord Products, you'll find it.

The mirror on my 2010 was a littler easier to get off. Just one Allen head screw. No plastic cover. Just the one over the wiring.
 

LOFSFIRE

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Ok so here are the picture sorry phone camera suck in low light.

You can see the main wire harness you will take the Male prong I showed above and push it in the back of the factory harness. this will make a connection with the wire inside. Once you get that plastic cover off the whole job takes 5 minutes.

Factory harness - Black wire going to the left is the new wire pigtail I made.
IMG_20140129_232312.jpg

Left side of plastic plug is what plugs into the mirror - Factory wires top - Black wire going to the bottom right is the new wire pigtail I made.
IMG_20140129_232406.jpg

Hope this helps.
 

LOFSFIRE

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I just ordered the Invisicord for my RD. Has a built in fuse. Price was pretty good and you can get different lengths.

I'm going to run the Escort DW Live under the Passport Max. I'm running the Blendmount RD clip off the rear view mirror stalk. No more suction cup for me.

I can't post the link, but if you search Ivnisicord Products, you'll find it.

The mirror on my 2010 was a littler easier to get off. Just one Allen head screw. No plastic cover. Just the one over the wiring.

Is this the cord you got?
bannerleft.gif

If so this is basicly what you would be making above.
Here is what your would look like finished.
2b7b64c7.jpg

Google Ivnisicord Products look at images then look for ones on a "myG37" site the guy did a great write up. Good luck!
 

Hawgjo

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Dash Cam review feedback

Hi! Great article thanks, been looking for this "how to" for a while to equip my 11 Ram as well. My question is...been looking at the Mini 0801 dash cam reviews on Amazon and quite a few of them are less than flattering...wonder if you've experienced any of the prevalent "issues" noted by quite a few of the dash cam buyers?
Again thanks for the excellent "how to" article.
 

5.56x45

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I am quite puzzled by the application of this modification. Who needs a dash camera in a non-government car(don't get me started on government surveillance)? And who is driving so fast in a pickup truck they need a radar detector? I mean, past 90 mph these trucks get scary and start to walk all over the highway. I have a feeling this thread is being ran by a three letter agency of some sort who is promoting video documentation of citizens.

How does a GoPro that can be purchased for 200$ and be suctioned to your windshield and be used for many more applications than driving, not satisfy your requirements of being a convenient camera for driving?
 

BoldAdventure

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Reasoning for trolls

I am quite puzzled by the application of this modification. Who needs a dash camera in a non-government car(don't get me started on government surveillance)? And who is driving so fast in a pickup truck they need a radar detector? I mean, past 90 mph these trucks get scary and start to walk all over the highway. I have a feeling this thread is being ran by a three letter agency of some sort who is promoting video documentation of citizens.

How does a GoPro that can be purchased for 200$ and be suctioned to your windshield and be used for many more applications than driving, not satisfy your requirements of being a convenient camera for driving?

:flipthebird: Troll much?

I will tell you exactly why. I recently installed the A118 Full HD 1080P Dash Cam. The reason, asinine drivers. See my signature, that's my families entire life behind our truck. The dash cam is peace of mind for all those turds who cut me off, run a red light, stop sign, etc. I'm pulling a trailer and have a shorter stopping distance and A*Holes will still pull in front of me when coming to a stop just so they can be closer to the red light.

Why won't a GoPro work? Well I have a Hero 3+ Black Edition, it won't work. Terrible freaking battery life, won't automatically start recording on vehicle start up, no impact sensor, no saving locked files, no way to continuously record.

The dash cam I have runs on 12V, it starts recording when the ignition turns on, it holds a 32gb card and records in 3 minute clips it saves to the card. It can auto-write over the card continuously forever without me touching it.

It has one button that lets me push it and lock the previous 6 minutes so they aren't over-written. Has an G sensor that detects impact and automatically locks the past 6 minutes.

Unlike the GoPro it has night vision and works in the dark. Has a wider view angle than the GoPro, also has GPS which it writes to the files, should you need that information too.

It's called peace of mind in a world of asinine drivers, crooked cops, and sleezy lawyers.

And why would someone need a radar detector? Because crooked cops and municipalities that are equally crooked. Just read about this one FL city: This Florida Speed Trap Could Be The Worst In The Country

A city that goes out of it's way to purposefully create speeding tickets.

I think the reasons are justified.

PS: THANK YOU to the OP, this is great, I have not hard wired mine up yet, but I will be doing so now! Great article.
 
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DavidRam

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I am quite puzzled by the application of this modification. Who needs a dash camera in a non-government car(don't get me started on government surveillance)? And who is driving so fast in a pickup truck they need a radar detector? I mean, past 90 mph these trucks get scary and start to walk all over the highway. I have a feeling this thread is being ran by a three letter agency of some sort who is promoting video documentation of citizens.

How does a GoPro that can be purchased for 200$ and be suctioned to your windshield and be used for many more applications than driving, not satisfy your requirements of being a convenient camera for driving?

Wow?! Paranoid much?

Anyways, this is a great write up, thanks op (if you are still around and haven't been kidnapped by the "agency"). :favorites13:
 

The Q

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Be careful with the Escort Mirror tap wire harness.

bannerleft.gif

I found the pins were a little to big to fit inside either side of the power supply connector. I went with the Direct Wire kit that has a remote mute button. Ran the wire up the mirror along the headliner and down to the center console. Tapped into the AUX 12v power outlet.

As for the dash cam, I might just look into one of those! Seems like a great idea for insurance purposes. But, it's also a double edge sword if you are actually at fault.
 

BoldAdventure

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As for the dash cam, I might just look into one of those! Seems like a great idea for insurance purposes. But, it's also a double edge sword if you are actually at fault.

That's why I said don't go blabbing about having it immediately after an accident. Just like you don't volunteer information to the police. This way you can review it, or let your lawyer review. And if you are at fault, EJECT YOUR CARD AND DESTROY IT! :roflsquared:
 

JoeKer

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Good write up. Thank you. I referenced this the other day when I installed my V1!
 

bobosky520

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I have 100% exact camera and cable as yours, still sitting there not installed because I don't know how to remove the mirror. thank you
 
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beavermosh

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Thanks for all the compliments!

1) No, I have not be capture by an agency. HEHE. I'm just sitting here safely in my living room typing on a computer connected to an obscure VPN :)

2) The Mini 0801 dashcam is great for me! I had one issue though: you can't use a Class 10 SD card for whatever reason. I'm not sure why but Class 4 or 6 work good. The problem is the camera never starts recording with a Class 10.

3) I live in Portland which is known for the country's worst and slow drivers. Currently, I am collecting a montage of terrible drivers that will eventually be on YouTube :roflsquared:
 
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