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Did anyone add the Nextbase Hardwired Front & Rear Dash Cam option from Kia for the Soul EV? Is it worth £365?
If not, what are the alternatives?
If not, what are the alternatives?
Via the online build my kia. Maybe it can still be done as a retrofit.I did not know they had one, or might have taken it. Where did you find it?
If it was a Nextbase camera, or had a Micro or Mini USB connection, there are hardwiring kits available.My old camera was powered with a 12v plug so if it can be hardwired somehow, that would be preferable for me.
I quite like Skoda's approach of fitting a USB port in the mounting for the rear view mirror, so it is a simple task of sticking a dash cam to the windscreen and plugging it in.I'm still amazed that these are not completely standard or at least factory fit at a reasonable price across all ranges.
You'd like to think that manufacturers learned a thing or two from the explosion in sat nav usage over the last 20 years wouldn't you.
You are right, it is quite a big gap, but although the wire appears long when the boot is open, it is neatly indiscrete - first time I actually noticed it was when I opened the boot to take these pictures.Has anyone got a picture of their rear dash cam wiring? I'm considering doing it myself, but when I open the rear boot, the gap is rather large between the headliner to the rear window.
Unless the wiring is done nicely (through the rubber tubing which seems to need removing a few panels), the wire would dangle quite a bit to allow the opening of the boot door.
Also has anyone got experience with the Viofo A129 dashcams? Seems much better specs than the Kia Nextbase option.
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just to be clear - I didn't do anything - I can just about wire a plug. Anything else, I use that well worn method - pay someone elseThanks DSLRed. It's interesting you routed the wire up from the seal
I used a couple of the spare fuses - column 1 / row 1 as permanent live, and column 5 / row 2 as switched live (counting from the top left). There are several other alternative spare fuses, but it's pretty tight in there and these seemed the easiest to use. Be prepared to file the plastic surround on the piggyback connector a little to fit, dependent on its design. And yes, fuse size is micro2.Thanks DSLRed. It's interesting you routed the wire up from the seal - doesn't that risk some water ingress from the top? Good idea to put your camera to the side. I've stuck my rear camera in the top middle of the window and not sure how distracting it will be when looking through the rear view mirror.
Another question for those that hardwired their dashcam to utilise parking mode, which switched 12v and which constant 12v fuses did you choose to tap into? Presume they are micro2 size fuses too?
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I've just called Kia and they are happy to hardwire my Viofo dash cam. It will be max 1hr labour but could be cheaper so hopefully £115 or lower.just to be clear - I didn't do anything - I can just about wire a plug. Anything else, I use that well worn method - pay someone else![]()
Thanks biogoo - sounds simple enough and I'm sure I can do it myself after watching loads of YouTube videos. The warranty issue though means any car electronics that the camera fuse is piggybacking off will not be covered by warranty if its found to be due to bad wiring/camera failure. So for me - going to Kia is probably the safest option. I'll take a picture of the fuses after its back so if others want to see how Kia connected it up, it might help.I used a couple of the spare fuses - column 1 / row 1 as permanent live, and column 5 / row 2 as switched live (counting from the top left). There are several other alternative spare fuses, but it's pretty tight in there and these seemed the easiest to use. Be prepared to file the plastic surround on the piggyback connector a little to fit, dependent on its design. And yes, fuse size is micro2.
Be careful not to take the cable across the top of the A-pillar as that will be in the way of the airbag deployment. You can take it down the windscreen side of the pillar, behind the metal frame that holds the airbags, and finally down into the fusebox area. There's a handy nearby earthing point there too.
Well, hopefully that's moot given the use of the spare fuse positions rather than any in-use car circuit. Short (boom, boom!) of it taking out the entire electrics of course....The warranty issue though means any car electronics that the camera fuse is piggybacking off will not be covered by warranty if its found to be due to bad wiring/camera failure.
Please could you tell us what fuse did they piggyback the camera intoI got my Nextbase (front only) wired in as my only freebie when I bought my car in July. At least they made avery good job of it, wired into the fusebox.