Dashcam hardwire

[Time2Fly]

My installer is setting up a relay and a switch right next to my battery tender switch on the battery cover so that I flip the switch, plug in the tender, and charge both.

 

[kitkat]

Excellent tutorial @Joel ! Do you think a smaller battery would have fit there?

Following up on my own post going on 2 years ago. The Thinkware iVolt Mini definitely fits here with room to spare.

 

[geoffbland]

Reinstalling the panel is even harder than getting it out. You need to tuck the bottom edge of the panel underneath a black sheet metal tab (about 5-6” long). Once it’s under the tab the panel will be in the correct location and all four holes should be visible.

OK - I'm trying to get the passenger footwell panel back in place and failing.

I'd been noticing a rattle over bumps from the passenger footwell so I investigated. I found all 4 of the panel retaining bolts loose, I assume these were what was rattling. I took them out and removed the panel to check nothing was loose behind the panel or in the fuse box. All looks OK.

Now I can't get the panel back on. I can see the lip on the bottom of the panel and the black metal sheet this needs to go under. I just can't figure out how to get the bottom of the panel under that - it doesn't help you can't see anything behind the panel as you work and you have to do it all by feel.

I don't think you can locate the bottom first and rotate the panel in from the bottom which would be easier - as the top of the panel won't then clear the glove box. So I think need to put the panel in top first then somehow pull out the bottom and push down and in to get it under the lip and it just won't go down and in for me.

Either these retaining bolts came loose themselves or the factory/dealer had the same problem as me

Any tips on how to get the panel lip to correctly locate under that black plastic metal lip?

 

[geoffbland]

OK following up my last post I finally got the passenger footwell fusebox cover back in place properly. I am 99% sure it wasn't fitted properly before. But what a pain to get back in, I never want to do that again - if I blow a fuse and need to change it now I'll probably just sell the car and buy a new one instead

In case anyone else is ever trying to do this I'll state what I found to work - don't give up it will eventually go back into place.

1. Locate the lip at the bottom of the panel so you know where that it.
2. Also note the cut away on the bottom of the panel - you will be sticking your fingers under/through this later.
2. Locate the black plastic retaining lip on the bottom of the footwell compartment that the panel lip has to fit under. You can find this under the fuse box. It's about 20 cm wide. This lip is reported as metal earlier in this thread on my '22 Emira it is plastic.
3. Partially refit the panel, you have to put in the top first into position and then slide in the bottom - this is not its final placement.
4. Pull back the passenger footwell carpet to in front of the panel all the way along - this can be tough.
5. Stick your fingers underneath the panel through the cut away and feel to the side and you will feel the panel ledge is over the black plastic retaining lip. It needs to be under.
6. With your fingers still in the cut away pull the panel towards you making sure the footwell carpet stays in front of the panel - if it slips under the panel again it'll stop you getting the panel in place.
7. Whilst still pulling the panel towards you with your other hand on the top of the panel push it down and whilst pushing down also push the bottom back in away from you to get the panel lip to go under the retaining lip. Can you say contortionist?
8. Feel again through the cut out and check the panel lip is now under the retaining lip. If not repeat steps 4-8.
9. If you have it in right, push the panel fully back in at the top and you should be able to see the bolt holes for the retaining plastic bolts. You may need to get a screwdriver on the side of the panel and lever it left or right slightly to make sure the bolt holes line up 100%
10. The plastic retaining bolts go into the holes with the slots in the head horizontal - they will go in fairly easy and feel 'in place' if the panel is properly located. Turn the plastic retaining bolts 90 degrees to lock them (slots in the head will now be vertical).
11. Push the footwell carpet back into place under the bottom of the panel.
12. Pour yourself a beer - you have earned it.