I just got a 2024 Big Bend. Last week I tried to set up my dash cam and found out that the 12v plug always has power and does not turn off with the car like my old one. This means I would have to bother with plugging it in every time I start the car and unplugging it when I leave or it could drain the battery.
I tried using a usb cable instead, but it keeps trying to connect to Sync3 like it’s a computer, which doesn’t work.
The dashcam company sent me a charge-only usb cable to get around this so I could use the usb port, but I have a usb thumb drive with music in there. I had to buy a little adapter to make the usb-c port work with the cable they sent me.
I tested it and thought it was good at first since it would shut off within a minute after I turned off the engine and locked the doors. I went ahead and glued it to the windshield, running the cable through the roof trim and down the A-pillar and under the carpet to the usb port, thinking I was all set. But when I stood by the car window to watch it shut off again, it just stayed on, not even after half an hour.
I ended up spending a few hours testing it and sometimes it does shut off after the engine stops and doors lock, other times it just stays on. I was really frustrated because I couldn’t figure out what I was doing differently to get the different results.
The usb ports in the armrest and back seat also seem to always stay on, so I don’t think those would work either.
So my questions are
Is there a way to make this work
Does anyone use a dashcam and how do you have it set up
Is there a way to make the 12v or usb ports only work when the engine is running
Do I have any options I don’t have an auto-dimming mirror so I can’t plug it in there like someone suggested and I really don’t want to hard wire it since I don’t know how to do that
I got a fuse kit for my dashcam in my 2024 BB. It has options to always power it for dashcam sentry mode or only power it on when the vehicle is on. Check the owner’s manual; it has the fuses laid out well so you know which one is which. Running the wiring along the trim to the footwell fuse box keeps everything out of sight too.
I installed a Blackvue dashcam in my BS this weekend. It was super simple with an add-a-fuse. I ran the cable down the passenger side and into the fusebox. I used Fuse 3, which is a 10amp but not used according to the manual. It took about an hour since I was careful.
I haven’t installed one yet, but I used the Dongar adapter for the rearview mirror power and it’s been flawless. I was planning to do that again in my BS.
Another easy way is to buy a cheap adapter that lets you connect to a fuse that doesn’t always have power. It’s simpler to run cables to the fuses than under the carpet to the center console.
My last tip is to get a dashcam with a rearview camera. I got rear-ended in my last car, and the cops didn’t care until they found out I had rearview footage. That footage solved the driver’s lies and quickly showed I was not at fault, saving me a lot of money and stress.