So, you’re looking to enhance the safety and security of your Toyota 4Runner? A Dashcam is a smart move, providing video evidence in case of accidents and peace of mind on every drive. The Toyota Integrated Dashcam (part number PT949-34222) is designed specifically for your vehicle, offering a seamless look and reliable performance. While dealerships offer professional installation, tackling it yourself can save you money and is surprisingly straightforward. I recently installed this dashcam in my 4Runner and want to share my experience to help you through the process.
The dealership quoted me $615 for the dashcam with installation, but purchasing the unit separately for $450 (or even less – I later saw it for $393.75 at another dealer!) and installing it myself saved a significant amount. Initially, I anticipated a quick 10-minute job. However, being cautious about removing interior panels, especially the light console, it took me closer to half an hour. With these tips, you can confidently install your Toyota dashcam at home.
While I won’t replicate the official Toyota instructions (which you should definitely obtain), I will highlight crucial details and insights that made my DIY installation smoother.
First things first, ensure you get the installation instructions and mounting template from your Toyota parts department. They printed out a 16-page document for me, which was essential. Upon opening the box, I was initially concerned about a missing SD card, but it turns out it’s pre-installed in the camera itself – a nice touch.
Step one in the instructions is battery disconnection. While some may argue it’s unnecessary, for the few seconds it takes, disconnecting the battery eliminates any risk of electrical issues during the installation, especially with a $450 piece of equipment. I opted for the safe route and disconnected mine.
I skipped step three, which involves applying vehicle protection. Unless you are working in a particularly dirty environment, this step seems geared towards dealership mechanics. For a careful DIYer, it’s likely not needed.
Step four deals with the mounting template. There are instructions for both dealership hard plastic templates and a paper template for DIY installers (page 15 of my document). I used the paper template, carefully cutting it out and taping it to my windshield as directed. It’s crucial to verify the print scale – the instructions include a 10 cm ruler for this purpose. My printout was almost perfect, off by only about 1mm vertically, which was acceptable. After verifying, I applied the mounting plate with its adhesive backing to the windshield using the template as a guide.
Step five involves removing the visor mount clips and bases to allow you to gently pull down the headliner for cable routing. The visor clips are simple – turn them counterclockwise and pull down. The base is a bit trickier. You need to pull down while simultaneously releasing two small clips. I found a small flathead screwdriver invaluable here. Gripping the base with needle-nose pliers and pulling downwards, I used the screwdriver to gently push and release each clip one at a time.
Here’s a view of the visor mount with the clip removed but the base still attached:
And here’s the base fully removed, providing access for wiring:
These are the parts you’ll have removed in this step – keep them organized:
Step six, removing the map light console, was the most nerve-wracking for me. It requires a surprising amount of force to “pop out,” and I was hesitant to apply too much pressure initially, fearing I might break something. Plastic clips hold it in place quite firmly. I discovered that a small pry bar, like the one pictured, is the perfect tool for this.
Here’s the map light console dangling after being popped out, still connected by its wiring harness:
The instructions recommend disconnecting the wire harness at this point, but I opted to leave it connected. It remained securely in place, and I felt disconnecting it was an unnecessary step that could potentially introduce problems if not done carefully.
The remainder of the physical installation is quite straightforward, following the Toyota instructions. The dashcam unit mounts cleanly in place of the removed map light console section. Here’s the finished installation, looking factory-integrated:
Once installed, the dashcam has a small red LED security light that flashes intermittently when the vehicle is off, which can be disabled via the app if desired.
Regarding the Toyota Dashcam app, installation was smooth. However, I encountered a connection issue initially. I had to disable Bluetooth on my phone to establish a stable Wi-Fi connection with the camera. It seems my phone was prioritizing the Toyota vehicle Bluetooth connection (for Android Auto etc.), which created a temporary Wi-Fi network and interfered with the dashcam’s Wi-Fi. Disabling Bluetooth resolved this, allowing for a persistent connection to the dashcam.
By default, the camera records in two-minute intervals at 1080p 30fps, but you can adjust the frame rate to 60fps in the settings. It comes with a 16GB microSD card, but supports up to 128GB for extended recording. Videos are easily downloadable through the app. Here’s a still screenshot from a sample video, demonstrating the recording quality:
In conclusion, installing the Toyota Integrated Dashcam yourself is a manageable DIY project that can save you money and provide valuable peace of mind. With readily available instructions and a bit of patience, you can enhance your Toyota 4Runner with this useful safety feature.
