This installation photo blog will show how we hardwire-installed a Thinkware Q1000 2-Channel dash cam into a 2023 Lexus NX450h+. If you're considering installing a dash cam, we recommend the Blackbox MyCar Essential Install Kit. The BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Kit comes with a circuit tester, trim remover tool, and other handy tools to make the project more manageable.
The Thinkware Q1000 is Thinkware's 2K+2K Cloud-ready dash cam, offering cutting-edge video technology, built-in Bluetooth 5.0 and the Thinkware Connected services. While installation is straightforward, like other Thinkware models, there is an extra step you need to to take to connect your smartphone to the dash cam.
We installed the Thinkware Q1000-2CH dash cam into this Lexus NX450h+.
The in-cabin fuse panel in the 2023 Lexus NX450h+ is located in the driver foot well.
The owner of this Lexus requested an installation with parking surveillance. There are a few different ways to install a dash cam for parking mode recording, and for this Lexus, we went with a hardwire installation.
The first step is to locate the fuse panel. You will find an interior fuse panel in the driver's footwell. If you want to use the fuse panels in the luggage compartment (trunk), then you may need an extended hardwiring kit, depending on how you route the cable. The Thinkware extended hardwiring kit adds 13ft or 7m, which will be more than sufficient for most SUVs and trucks.
If you want parking mode recording but do not want to tinker with the car’s fuse panel, you can use the car’s OBD-II port as a power source. We also strongly recommend getting a dedicated dash cam battery pack if you often park your car for extended periods. The BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 Battery is slim enough to be stowed under the driver seat in the Lexus.
The ideal place for the front camera is behind the rearview mirror.
In most cases, the perfect area to mount a dash cam is behind the rearview mirror because it hides the dash cam from the driver's view to avoid any obstruction while driving.
You also want to check how far the wiper goes because if you mount the front-facing camera above the wiper's reach, it will not have a clear vision. You don't want to have your dash cams installed in an area outside of the range of your windshield wiper coverage, or on a rainy or snowy day, the camera lens will not be able to capture video.
Next, clean the windshield from the inside of the car to ensure the camera sticks properly and to clean off any marks or smears that might affect the video quality of your footage.
Before you start the hardwire installation process, make sure you have all the necessary cables and tools: Thinkware hardwiring kit (which is included in the box if you have purchased a dual-channel Thinkware system), the Blackbox MyCar Essential Install Package, which comes with a circuit tester, trim remover tool, and add-a-fuse taps to make the hardwiring and installation process more manageable.
Thinkware's hardwire kit is a 3-wire cable. Connect the red wire (the ACC wire) to a constant fuse (12V power) and the yellow wire (the Battery wire) to an ignition switch (12V source). The black wire with the C-shaped connector is the ground wire, which should be grounded to an unpainted metal bolt or stud in the vehicle.
Use the circuit testing in the BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Package to help you find a suitable continuous power fuse for the red/ACC wire and an ignition fuse for the yellow. You can look for the empty fuse slots or ones you can piggyback off using the add-a-fuse kit included in the Essential Install Package.
Always refer to the Fuses section in your car's owner's manual to avoid fuse slots that could pertain to certain safety features.
Use the trim removal tool to gently pull back the headliner trim to tuck in the cables.
Guide the power cable along the headliner, down the passenger's A-pillar to the driver's footwell. While it sounds complicated, it is pretty straightforward; all you need to do is use the included prying tool to pry the headliner so there's a gap just enough for the cable.
When you get to where the headliner meets the A-pillar, use the trim removal tool to slightly lift up the A-pillar trim and remove the mounting clips under the pillar by gently pulling the panel cover.
Don't just run the cable under the rubber seal. Take the time to remove the pillar cover and trims, or use a pry tool to carefully guide the cables under the trim.
Plug the rear camera connecting cable into the front unit, run the cable along the headliner, and straight down the length of the car to the A, B, and C pillars.
Carefully remove the side weatherstrip from the front and the rear doors. Use the trim removal tool to slightly lift up the pillar trim, and remove any mounting clips under the pillar by gently pulling the panel cover.
Remember, don’t just stuff the cable under the rubber seal because it will create a little gap that might prevent the door from sealing properly - you will get wind noise, or worse, water can seep into the car.
Look for the hoses that connect the chassis to the liftgate. Use a long zip tie to run the rear connecting cable through it for a clean installation.
Mounting the rear camera in a vehicle with a rear liftgate does require a few extra steps, and the best way to run the cable is to go through the hoses between the chassis and the liftgate. If there is any trim on the liftgate, it's best to remove them to hide the rear camera cable under it.
Typically, there are 1 or 2 hoses that connect to the liftgate, and it's best to give them a squeeze to check which one has more wiggle room before attempting to run the wire.
You can use a long zip tie, a coat hanger, or any variation of a long wire to guide the front-to-rear cable through the headliner and the rear hatch grommet before connecting to the rear camera.
You can use a long zip tie, a coat hanger, or any variation of a long wire to guide the front-to-rear cable through the headliner and the rear hatch grommet before connecting to the rear camera.
Plug the connecting cable into the rear camera and power your car to turn on the Thinkware Q1000. You will hear a Thinkware greeting prompt. Suppose you haven't done so, download and install the Thinkware Dash Cam Link and the Thinkware Connected apps on your smartphone.
Unlike the other Thinkware dash cams, the Q1000 features Wi-Fi device pairing using Bluetooth to the Thinkware Link App to playback videos and alter the dash cam settings. Once your Thinkware Q1000 is powered on, press the WiFi button on the front unit to switch it to Wi-Fi mode and then connect to the dash cam using the app to check the angle of the front and rear cameras and adjust as needed. Use the Live View feature to check the viewing angle of the front and rear cameras and adjust if needed.
Once you have connect your Q1000 to your smartphone via WiFi using the Thinkware Dash Cam Link app, you can then proceed with connecting the dash cam to the Thinkware Connected service via the Thinkware Connected app. The Q1000 Dash Cam must first be connected via Wi-Fi to the Thinkware Dash Cam Link App to connect to a hotspot device for Connected Features.
And there you have it, a Thinkware Q1000 2K QHD dash cam installed in a 2023 Lexus NX450h+. The installation took under 2 hours, including routing the cables, hardwiring to the vehicle’s fuse panel, and checking the front and back cameras using the mobile app viewer.
Planning on installing a dash cam in your car? Check out our Step-by-Step Dash Cam Installation Guide and our selection of handy installation accessories. And if you ever need a hand during the installation process, just call us; our dash cam specialists are available to help!
Looking to have your dash cam professionally installed, we do offer installation services at our Richmond BC location.
Please see some of our other dash cam installations in the BlackboxMyCar Dash Cam Installation Gallery.
