Decided to tackle the dash cam install this weekend. I won't go too into detail on which dash cam is superior, I opted for a basic BlackVue one with a hardwire kit (sold separately). I welcome any comments and hope people who stumble across this find it helpful.

Step 1: Disconnect the 12v car battery in the back because you'll be working alongside airbags and the fusebox and you don't want to accidentally deploy the airbags or electrocute yourself (won't go too much into disconnecting the battery, I just used YouTube).

Step 2: Find a placement for your cam and mount it. You can tuck the wires underneath the ceiling liner and run it to the left, to your A-Pillar.


Step 3: Disconnect the A pillar halfway (because that's as far as it'll let you, see below). I've highlighted where there are clips. If you pull out the top it should pop out the middle one.



Step 4 (The hardest and most annoying step): FOR SOME freakin' reason, the Lexus CT engineers specifically said "*** you" to people who wanted to run wires through the A Pillar. My old car, other Lexus models, none of them have a fixed A Pillar clip. Usually you can stick your finger in there, rotate the clip 90 degrees, and disconnect the A Pillar cover with ease. Nope, not for CT. You're going to have to use a pair of pliers or needle nose pliers and really twist the plastic clip from it's neck (thank god it's at least flexible) so the clip can be cleared at a 90 degree angle and disconnected from the A Pillar. Continue running down the dashcam wire -- I zip tied it to the other wire group. Caution: Don't impede the direction of the airbag, which will deploy downwards. Also remember, loose wires cause fires so keep it nice and tight!



Step 5: For a more easy install, I pried out the side plastic piece. Note: You may have to pull out the weather stripping to unhook the clips closer to the front of the car. Caution: Lots of grease! Be careful to not get it on your hands. This will allow you to guide the wires down more easily down to its final destination, the fuse box.


Step 6: Fusebox -- I used a 10 amp fuse, the slot was ACC for accessories. See pic. So my dashcam will be ON when car is in ACC mode or on, and off when my car is turned off. I used a mini low profile fuse and fuse tap which is what these cars use. Plug in both 10A fuses into the fuse tap and connect the fuse tap AS PICTURED. I used a voltage tester and determined the electricity flows from left to right, and the fuse tap should be positioned as such or else it won't blow the fuse properly as it needs to.



Step 7: Connect the ground to the bolt in the picture. Connect the dash cam wire to the fuse tap and crimp the wires together with a wire crimping tool. For me, I tucked in all the wires into the side plastic piece by the e-brake. This is where I wasn't sure how to make it super clean. As you can see the wire still dangles a bit behind the depressed e-brake.



Step 8: Cleanup and do everything in reverse order. You won't be able to cover the fuse box anymore so I just put the schema cover in my glovebox. Put back the side panel. Push the weatherstripping back into position. Align A-Pillar (Yes, this is AGAIN going to be the most annoying part) back, and try to wrangle the A Pillar clip into the A-Pillar cover. You might have to push in the clip so you can actually reposition the A pillar cover back flush into the car. Connect dash cam and make sure wires are not visible along the headliner up top.

Step 9: Reconnect battery. Test to see if dash cam turns on.

I hope folks found this guide useful!

 

Very nice! 9/10 only because of the dangling wire. Usually, I've been able to loop enough wire up high enough to feed through and it gets held up that way. Can't really see anything helpful in the picture, but I'm sure there's a path up over those parts somewhere. As long as it's not in the way or annoying (or make a fire lol) it's fine.

Now that you've done the install with the dumb A-pillar cover, do you think you could have routed the wire along the A-pillar without removing the cover? Knowing how hard it is to remove and install, I'd probably try just wedging the wire in there and letting it be.

 

So, I will just add a comment that I have seen wiring adapters that allow you to get a 5v usb female out of the rearview mirror wiring harness.... therefore, no need to run wires down the pillar, etc.

I do not have experience with this, but was thinking about getting one. This would automatically power the camera when you have the car on, and power it off when the car is off.

Nice installation though.