A really dumb question (noob owner)

Hey all, I just bought this truck almost a month ago. It's a 2015 Tacoma trd off road. I am trying to install my dash cam onto it and when I plug it directly to my USB port, the camera displays only for a few seconds before it shows the USB logo on the display screen.

I have tried plugging it into the wall at home and it seems to be working and recording just fine, but for some reason on the truck it doesn't record anything. I switched out the cables as well thinking it could be faulty. It's an aukey dr02 if that makes any difference. Is there something special I have to do to get this thing to work?

It's a dumb question, I know.

Thanks!

 

I'm guessing the USB port on the head unit isn't rated to a high enough power output to power the camera, and that whatever you're plugging it into at home has a higher amperage output. (.5a vs 1a, most likely)

But, I don't have any USB ports in my old ass truck, so it's a total guess.

EDIT: are you plugging directly into the truck or using the 12v cigarette outlet to usb they provide?

 

Yeah, are you plugging into the power only USB or the input?

 

I am plugging it directly into the USB labeled port. (Same place where the aux input is at too)

 

That is for a usb memory stick for the head unit to read from. Thats your problem

 

Oh.....is there anything I can do to remedy this?

 

Have you tried plugging into an adapter in the cigarette lighter? Does your USB port work otherwise?

 

Find out what the power for the dash cam and if it matches a usb 12v charger you could use that or hard wire it.

 

It works otherwise, I used it to charge my phone.

 

The USB/aux port creates interference between the camera and head unit since the head unit is expecting an “input” from the camera and the cameras firmware most likely doesn’t understand the radio’s signal (hence the USB icon). You have to plug the camera into a power port only, specifically a cigarette lighter adapter as others have mentioned or a separately wired fuse that will only power the camera and not confuse it with another input/output signal.

 

I'm installing one of these usb ports beside the 12v plugs in my 13.

https://www.amazon.com/Cllena-Toyot...s=toyota+dual+usb+port&qid=1572393339&sr=8-20

 

If I got something like this

https://www.target.com/p/just-wireless-2-port-2-4a-usb-car-charger-black/-/A-14695701

Would that be sufficient enough?

 

Yep

 

I have those. They have been great. I am able to charge my phone and tablet.

 

yeah the stock usb port is literally data and 500ma @5v only, meant for ipods and memory sticks to play music on the stock headunit. SLOOOW charging for phones and dash cams.

I personally pulled the upper head unit center console piece, tapped into the switched 12v line for the auto dimming camera (2014-2015 didnt come with this but might still have the harness up there) for a 5v USB converter to power my dash camera so there is all of 3in of cable coming out of the top of the headliner, super clean.

 

Will you do an install write up or video? Please, new taco owner and want 1 of those

 

I'll take pics as I do it.
I saw where some just tapped off the 12v sockets right there, just need to pry the little square insert out of the hole you want to use.

 

The switch blanks need to be pushed out from the back(involved taking the console out). I wired mine to a fuse panel so that they're always hot.

I suppose you could splice into the factory harness, but I wanted to have things were I could return it to stock if needed/wanted.



Great write-up with pics on console removal

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/center-console-removal-w-pics.57895/

 

I hard wired my dash cam into some wires in the overhead console using this:

EKYLIN DC 12v 24v to 5v Car Micro... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06ZXRR3PJ?ref

See here for how to that I followed :

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/overhead-cluster-12v-ignition-switched-power-pin-outs.512640/