Front and rear dashcam preparation option

[Ranman]

Resurrecting this older thread. Does anyone have any directions or experience installing a dashcam on a Taycan with the prewiring option?

Sponsored

 

[fastlorenzo]

If it is still useful to someone, I've received my CT4 for which I selected prewiring (front & rear).
It took me multiple attempts but I finally located the overhead connectors for the dashcam, which are actually behind the roof trim so can't be accessed only by removing the overhead light.
You need to remove:
1) Roof console
2) A-pillar trim panels
3) Sun visors
4) roof trim panel (at least the front area)

I didn't manage to remove the 4) because of the overhead hand grabs that I didn't manage to remove (lack of time / correct tool).

Still, here are some pictures of the 2 connectors (1 for powering the dashcam, the other one - yellow - I assume runs to the back for the rear camera video feed).

I managed to pull the yellow connector out of that tight space, but not the other one (yet).
I'm planning to buy connectors that fits in those (similar are the ones from the Porsche dashcam kits - 9Y0.044.955 & 9Y0.044.956.A) and adapt them to deliver 5V instead of 12V for my Viofo dashcam.

I'll keep you posted how it goes, but I have to say they could have put the pre-wiring connector a bit more accessible than having to remove nearly the entire roof...

Some interesting read related to the pre-wiring (Taycan or other models) with lots of information:
- https://www.992forum.com/threads/porsche-dash-cam-prewiring-hack.972/
- https://rennlist.com/forums/992/1324010-factory-wiring-for-dashcam.html#post18680912
- https://rennlist.com/forums/992/1307892-preparation-for-porsche-dashcam-front-and-rear-7.html
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10232387-0001.pdf => information on this one looks accurate, too bad I don't have access to the mentioned workshop manuals to ease the removal of the different items without having to figure it out by myself...

Seems similar than for the Taycan.

 

[Electron]

If it is still useful to someone, I've received my CT4 for which I selected prewiring (front & rear).
It took me multiple attempts but I finally located the overhead connectors for the dashcam, which are actually behind the roof trim so can't be accessed only by removing the overhead light.
You need to remove:
1) Roof console
2) A-pillar trim panels
3) Sun visors
4) roof trim panel (at least the front area)

I didn't manage to remove the 4) because of the overhead hand grabs that I didn't manage to remove (lack of time / correct tool).

Still, here are some pictures of the 2 connectors (1 for powering the dashcam, the other one - yellow - I assume runs to the back for the rear camera video feed).

I managed to pull the yellow connector out of that tight space, but not the other one (yet).
I'm planning to buy connectors that fits in those (similar are the ones from the Porsche dashcam kits - 9Y0.044.955 & 9Y0.044.956.A) and adapt them to deliver 5V instead of 12V for my Viofo dashcam.

I'll keep you posted how it goes, but I have to say they could have put the pre-wiring connector a bit more accessible than having to remove nearly the entire roof...

Some interesting read related to the pre-wiring (Taycan or other models) with lots of information:
- https://www.992forum.com/threads/porsche-dash-cam-prewiring-hack.972/
- https://rennlist.com/forums/992/1324010-factory-wiring-for-dashcam.html#post18680912
- https://rennlist.com/forums/992/1307892-preparation-for-porsche-dashcam-front-and-rear-7.html
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10232387-0001.pdf => information on this one looks accurate, too bad I don't have access to the mentioned workshop manuals to ease the removal of the different items without having to figure it out by myself...

Seems similar than for the Taycan.

Great work figuring all of this out! Are the 2 connectors just plugged into blank receptacles?

 

[fastlorenzo]

Great work figuring all of this out! Are the 2 connectors just plugged into blank receptacles?

I believe so, below is the picture (sorry for the quality) after I pulled the yellow connector:

 

[Electron]

Thanks for the photo. There are definitely no pins in those plug holders.

The second wire with the yellow connector looks like a standard coax cable for sending analog video from a second camera.

 

[DerekS]

Something else to keep in mind is the description of the Porsche cam says that wireless Car Play functionality is lost when using the cam.

To be more clear, you have to turn off wireless carplay in order to interact with the camera via the app. This is not something you need to do often, if at all. It hasn't proven to be problematic for me.

 

[whitex]

If it is still useful to someone, I've received my CT4 for which I selected prewiring (front & rear).
It took me multiple attempts but I finally located the overhead connectors for the dashcam, which are actually behind the roof trim so can't be accessed only by removing the overhead light.
You need to remove:
1) Roof console
2) A-pillar trim panels
3) Sun visors
4) roof trim panel (at least the front area)

I didn't manage to remove the 4) because of the overhead hand grabs that I didn't manage to remove (lack of time / correct tool).

Still, here are some pictures of the 2 connectors (1 for powering the dashcam, the other one - yellow - I assume runs to the back for the rear camera video feed).

I managed to pull the yellow connector out of that tight space, but not the other one (yet).
I'm planning to buy connectors that fits in those (similar are the ones from the Porsche dashcam kits - 9Y0.044.955 & 9Y0.044.956.A) and adapt them to deliver 5V instead of 12V for my Viofo dashcam.

I'll keep you posted how it goes, but I have to say they could have put the pre-wiring connector a bit more accessible than having to remove nearly the entire roof...

Some interesting read related to the pre-wiring (Taycan or other models) with lots of information:
- https://www.992forum.com/threads/porsche-dash-cam-prewiring-hack.972/
- https://rennlist.com/forums/992/1324010-factory-wiring-for-dashcam.html#post18680912
- https://rennlist.com/forums/992/1307892-preparation-for-porsche-dashcam-front-and-rear-7.html
- https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10232387-0001.pdf => information on this one looks accurate, too bad I don't have access to the mentioned workshop manuals to ease the removal of the different items without having to figure it out by myself...

Seems similar than for the Taycan.

Thanks for posting it. I went on the hunt for those once but didn't see them, though I didn't take the roof trim off. Have recently talked with service who told me it's there, just buried under the headliner under the visor. Hopefully will get some uninterrupted time with the car to get to them soon.

One of the things I am wondering, the coax connector, is it just a cable from front to back, or is front and back connected to some ECU in the car? I was going to use it for the rear camera coax as it seems the same coax cable.

 

[Electron]

the coax connector, is it just a cable from front to back, or is front and back connected to some ECU in the car?

I don’t know for certain, but I’m fairly certain that it doesn’t integrate with any vehicle ECU. It’s just a straight cable to the rear.

 

[fastlorenzo]

Thanks for posting it. I went on the hunt for those once but didn't see them, though I didn't take the roof trim off. Have recently talked with service who told me it's there, just buried under the headliner under the visor. Hopefully will get some uninterrupted time with the car to get to them soon.

One of the things I am wondering, the coax connector, is it just a cable from front to back, or is front and back connected to some ECU in the car? I was going to use it for the rear camera coax as it seems the same coax cable.

I believe it's just a connection to the back of the car. I'm planning to use it as well for the Viofo Dashcam rear camera (adapting the Viofo cable - cutting it in 2 and adding 2 connectors that can be connected to the pre-wiring).
Will post here the results when I find time to do it

 

[whitex]

I believe it's just a connection to the back of the car. I'm planning to use it as well for the Viofo Dashcam rear camera (adapting the Viofo cable - cutting it in 2 and adding 2 connectors that can be connected to the pre-wiring).
Will post here the results when I find time to do it

Same plan here for my Blackvue. Picked up the Fakra connectors already (for the coax) and the 6-pin power connector (from ebay).

 

[fastlorenzo]

Following up with my installation, here are some pictures of the rear connector for the pre-wiring in the CT:

Remove the trunk trim:

I can confirm the rear yellow Fakra K connector is connected directly to the front one located on the overhead.
I've checked the second rear connector (the one on the left on the picture above), it has 3 cables but they don't seem to be powered.
The front connector has 6 cables going to it, so I believe (but still need to check it) the 3-pin rear connector is connected to the front 6-pins connector, where the front connector has 3 inputs (ground and 2 cables with power - 1 continuous and the other one only when car is on). But this is only an assumption so far.

I've made a custom connector to connect the Viofo camera through the existing Fakra connectors, but that doesn't seem to work. Might be related to impedance of the cables/connectors (Viofo is using MMCX connector with 50Ohm), or my soldering skills are not the best.
I've ordered other connectors / cable to try again and will post here on result.

I've just received the 6-pins connector to bring power through the pre-wiring, will do it this weekend and post the wiring schema of the pre-wired connector here.

 

[Electron]

Thanks for the update, especially on the video cable and impedance. Hopefully it's not a big deal to get the rear video feed working.

I'm debating between Viofo and the new Blackview (which now use the same improved Starvis 2 sensors as Viofo.) I'm guessing neither is a bad option so along as they are compatible with the pre-wire.

 

[fastlorenzo]

Thanks for the update, especially on the video cable and impedance. Hopefully it's not a big deal to get the rear video feed working.

I'm debating between Viofo and the new Blackview (which now use the same improved Starviz 2 sensors as Viofo.) I'm guessing neither is a bad option so along as they are compatible with the pre-wire.

Starvis2 sensor was my choice a well. From usage though, so far, Viofo is picky on the sdcard you use (only a few are really stable).
With the current home-made adapter I made, if I connect the rear camera using the pre-wire, the dashcam goes into a bootloop (I guess because of the impedance/video cable - at least I read something about it in forums). When using the Viofo provided cable for the rear cam, no issues.

 

[whitex]

Following up with my installation, here are some pictures of the rear connector for the pre-wiring in the CT:

Remove the trunk trim:

I can confirm the rear yellow Fakra K connector is connected directly to the front one located on the overhead.
I've checked the second rear connector (the one on the left on the picture above), it has 3 cables but they don't seem to be powered.
The front connector has 6 cables going to it, so I believe (but still need to check it) the 3-pin rear connector is connected to the front 6-pins connector, where the front connector has 3 inputs (ground and 2 cables with power - 1 continuous and the other one only when car is on). But this is only an assumption so far.

I've made a custom connector to connect the Viofo camera through the existing Fakra connectors, but that doesn't seem to work. Might be related to impedance of the cables/connectors (Viofo is using MMCX connector with 50Ohm), or my soldering skills are not the best.
I've ordered other connectors / cable to try again and will post here on result.

I've just received the 6-pins connector to bring power through the pre-wiring, will do it this weekend and post the wiring schema of the pre-wired connector here.

In I came across the following pinout someone did for the front connector. It came from this thread on a 911 forum.

 

[enzo5000]

I went with a FitCamX. Plug and play 20 minute job.

https://fitcamx.com/products/fitcamx-dash-cam-for-porsche

Sponsored