Dongar for dashcam on 2011 Tacoma Pre-runner

When I purchased my 2011 Taco it didn't have any options so I've been modifying it.
One mod was to add a backup camera and mirror with LCD display. That was fairly easy since the cable was already there from the tailgate and under the headliner so I just installed plugged-in everything. Works great!

For the next mod, I purchased a Garmin dash mini cam and found this Dongar cable. Dongar says it's for the 2nd gen Tacoma 14-PIN mirror. However, the dongar plugs and socket do not fit. The mirror connection is 14 pins and the dongar is 14 pins but the dongar connectors are too large. Tried to send an email to dongar but no response.

The cable/connectors are OEM on my Tacoma and I'd really like to use dongar's jumper cable which is pretty slick. Maybe I can use an adapter or something but I don't know the part number for my cable/connectors.

Would appreciate any help or recommendation

 

Pictures of your existing mirror and connector might help.

 

My Tacoma
Mirror has a pop up LCD screen on the left when in reverse One connector on Dongar cable One connector on Dongar cable
Dongar adapter

Unplugged the back of the mirror and as you can see, the Tacoma mirror cable connector is smaller than the Dongar connector (white)

This is the Tacoma OEM mirror cable that was under the headliner. It runs to the tailgate.

 

This may get a little confusing...
You said your truck is a 2011, correct?
The Dongar site says 2004 thru 2014 uses a 14-pin adapter, which is what you bought.
But the picture of the connector (gray) on you mirror harness is a 12-pin.
Have you owned the truck since new? Was the harness there from the factory?


Maybe the 12-pin Dongar will work for you, if the voltages on your existing harness are on the correct pins. I can link diagrams so you can check, if you have a meter and know how to use it.

 

Here are some links. This info pertains to the 12-pin connector on the 3rd Gen Tacoma, but since yours is 12-pin it may work for you.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...dash-cam-install.650486/page-12#post-22958186

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...dash-cam-install.650486/page-12#post-22964317

 

Ok, my eyes must be failing!!

Oh yes, I bought this Tacoma in 2016 from Carmax but the data showed one owner. For this Tacoma, the only extras it had were the 20" chrome steel wheels that these dealers would add to the Texas Edition, which I replaced. I found brand new "take off" rims from a 4-runner. It didn't have delay wipers, it had vinyl sun visors!
I guess I should make a list of mods.

Thanks to TW, I found that cable under the headliner and traced it to the tailgate.

Thank you for the diagram links and I will study these and get back to you. I have a meter so I'll check the pin voltages for sure.
Looks like there's still hope.

 

You need to confirm that +12vdc is on pin6, and gnd is on pin3 of the harness connector in your truck. I would expect it will be, to work with your mirror. Then check to see which other pins on your truck harness are are present. The pic in my first link shows which pins are wired through on the Dongar 12-pin adapter for the 3rd Gen Tacomas.
Be sure you count pins from the correct side of the connector, so you're sure you're on the pin number you think you're on.
If everything matches up properly, you'll have to try to exchange your 14-pin adapter for a 12-pin.

 

https://dongar.tech/products/12pin-tacoma

I have no idea what THIS means, or if it affects you...

 

I used two pair of glasses and my meter and this is what I measured on the unplugged Tacoma mirror connector. I didn't see any indications for pin1 so I just assumed upper left pin. The unmarked pins are blank or no connection.
I have 12vdc on pins 6 and 10 only with ignition key ON. The other pins are kind of just floating and couldn't record a steady voltage, maybe they're data lines.
It doesn't look like this pin-out matched the diagrams.

 

Your mirror has the backup camera display built into it correct? If so, the Dongar 12-pin may not (likely won't) work for you either. The 12vdc+ signals and the common gnd are on the same pins as the 3rd Gen, pins 3, 6, and 10. But you have other wires that are not carried through by the Dongar... likely the video for your rear camera. My image in post-7 shows all of the wire the Dongar passes through.
Dongar does have an adapter that simply has pigtail leads that tap into the 12vdc and gnd pins at your mirror connector. Maybe you could use that one instead?

 

Yes it does have a mirror with the small LCD backup camera image, compass and auto dim.
I also notice the other pins are in different slots from your post #7.
I'm kind of confused as which Dongar adapter to use and keep the same pin-out on my Tacoma plug? Their website isn't clear to me.

Of course I'd prefer a plug and play.

 

https://dongar.tech/products/twoprong-miniusb

I think that one is the only one that will work for you. I don't know why your truck doesn't have the 14-pin connector on the mirror harness like "normal" for your model year. Maybe try to find out what others have on their 2011 Tacoma.
On my 2017 pins 3 and 6 supply switched (ignition-on) power to the Dongar for the dashcam. Pin 10 is constant voltage for the homelink garage door opener on the mirror. Your harness also has wires on pins 1,2,5,7,8. I'm sure at least some of those are used to supply power to your backup camera and to provide the video signal to the mirror display.
You can certainly use the universal Dongar I linked on your truck. It's not as slick of an install, but it's probably your only Dongar option. You could get the tools, connectors, pins, buck-converter, and wire and build your own custom unit... but I can tell you from experience that working with those tiny pins is a bitch... I built 2 or 3 of them a couple years ago as seen in my older posts in the other theads.

 

Ok, it looks like you plug these these prongs into the back of the Tacoma mirror plug?

For power and gnd?

 

Yes. I have no experience using that type of Dongar, but you are supposed to push the prongs in to the harness connector at the mirror. Pin-3 will be your gnd, and I think pin-6 should be the 12vdc+ you should use. I'm guessing your pin-10 may be always on (hot) and your battery would die if you used that one and left the dashcam on..

 

Great. I'm going to order and will report back.
Thanks!

 

$10 HiLetgo 5pcs DC-DC Buck Step Down Module 6-20V 12V/20V to 5V 3A USB Charger Module

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HXU1C6U?ie=UTF8

If you're inclined to DIY, you could use this and do it yourself. If you tap into the mirror harness to get your 12v, you don't need the connectors and pins which are the costly part of the Dongar adapter.

 

Well, this Garmin Mini 2 dash cam requires a micro USB and the Dongar Two Prong is a mini USB. I might need a microscope to wire this thing to a micro USB connector!

 

Yikes... I didn't catch that. I'm glad you did!
Maybe the DIY with the buck converter is going to be your only option short of just running your own power cable back under the dash.

 

Thanks for the help researching this mod. The Garmin mini dash cam package does include a cable to the utility socket with the 12v to 5v adapter so I'll plan on using that. It's a little more work to route through the trim to get there but that's Ok.
My last mod I added a trailer hitch and brake lights harness. I used Toyota harness:

$150 Towing Wire Harness

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0057Y0WM0?ie=UTF8
and the information from here at TW and it works like a charm.

 

I changed my mind. I'm going to buy those two connectors on your #7 post. I'll just snip off the connectors on the adapter I have, solder (wire-to-wire) to the new 12pin connectors. I'll just make sure the interface wires and the power wires correspond with what my Tacoma has. Also, this adapter has the 12v to 5v usb part already.

Should work.