Hardwiring dash cam in 2025 Equinox

[Kenway]

Hey guys,

So I took my 25 Equinox into Best Buy to get a front dash camera and a rear camera installed in my vehicle. All of the cable routing and camera placement is done, but the Geek Squad techs couldn't figure out which fuse to hook it up to and they advised me to instead buy a ODB2 power cable instead (made by the same manufacturer of the cameras) and to return Monday for the rest of the install. Has anybody else been able to hardwire their cameras yet? Trying to see if I can figure out a way to make it work without the OBD2 plug.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CocoaJeff]

I am also interested in this topic, as I have been wanting to get a dash cam.

 

[penright]

@Kenway thanks for taking the time to keep us in the loop. I too am interested.
I see yours is an RS, so it already has the 360 and rear camera view. Does the kit use any of those? Maybe some links to what product your talking about?
Did you happen to take any pictures?

Here is the latest that has gone viral and shows why a dashcam would be good ...

MSN

 

[penright]

You got me curious. Did some searching. Did not learn much on the Best Buy site. I did find this product. Is this what you are talking about?

 

[Kenway]

You got me curious. Did some searching. Did not learn much on the Best Buy site. I did find this product. Is this what you are talking about?



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Very similar, yes. But that one also seems to use OBD power connection instead of being hardwired directly into a fuse

 

[penright]

OBD power connection instead of being hardwired directly into a fuse

Here is what it said about power ...

Be really carfull about searching for that part number on the web and not Amazon.


I had to go to the vendor web page to find it.





Do you have a model number of the one you were looking at?

 

[Kenway]

Here is what it said about power ...
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Be really carfull about searching for that part number on the web and not Amazon.


I had to go to the vendor web page to find it.

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Do you have a model number of the one you were looking at?

Yes, it's this exact one. https://www.amazon.com/THINKWARE-Da...926&sprefix=thinkware+dash+cam,aps,150&sr=8-5

 

[penright]

Yes, it's this exact one.

What are your thoughts on this one? Looks like it just came available Oct 21. Has 0 reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKFK9NL8/?ref_=cm_wl_huc_item

I like Best Buy doing the installation and not me But I like the more factory-looking of the Mangoal. I didn't see anything on Best Buy that was factory-looking.

 

[ap19063]

What are your thoughts on this one? Looks like it just came available Oct 21. Has 0 reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKFK9NL8/?ref_=cm_wl_huc_item

I like Best Buy doing the installation and not me But I like the more factory-looking of the Mangoal. I didn't see anything on Best Buy that was factory-looking.

 

[ap19063]

So, to start my thread, I will add that it's probably watched the same video everyone else has about insurance scammers who will pull in front of you when driving and either breaking hard so that you will rear end then, or will put the car in reverse and hit you, so they can say you rear ended them. What we've come to.....

Looking through gm accessory website I saw the camera penright listed. I do not know if the one at gm and the one in amazon are the same, they certainly seem the same. That said, I usually do not like these type of cameras, because I do not want extra cables hanging, etc. In this case, since it looks like it was part of the car, I'm willing to entertain the idea, but before I dive in with both feet, I'd appreciate some information first.

I have the RS model. It comes with the fancy rear view digital camera which also turns into (what I believe is) as glare free mirror. It also has the 360° camera when parking. If I had one of these cameras installed, is there already an outlet under the plate in the car for it to connect to? Or, do they have to add wiring? Also, once they added the camera, would everything else a mentioned above continue to work? Would the safety camera in the windshield have to be re-calibrated? I do not need a rear camera, since my desire is to have a camera while driving only, no need to add extra security to the car.

 

[penright]

Looking through gm accessory website I saw the camera penright listed.

Where did you see that? I did not see it.

 

[ap19063]

Oh? I thought the camera thread came from you. If not sorry I quoted you.

 

[penright]

Oh? I thought the camera thread came from you. If not sorry I quoted you.

It was not me, but that is ok. I am very interested in how it comes out. I was looking at the Mangoal, which seems more built-in. Don't know anything about it though. I see now, OP one on amazon does look like it.

I am still interested if anyone learns any lesson before I pull the trigger. I am waiting for funds to climb back after all the expenses of a new car.

 

[shlogold]

You got me curious. Did some searching. Did not learn much on the Best Buy site. I did find this product. Is this what you are talking about?



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Will using this dash camera void my warranty? I saw somthing online that wiring a dash camera in can in some cases void your warranty.

 

[ricklack]

I'm confused. I thought the 2025 Nox, if equipped with HD Surround Cameras, had a Surround recorder built in? Or is that an additional option? On another forum a guy with a 2025 posted that he has issues get his Surround Recorder to work properly. IF someone had a 2025 with the HD Surround, and it has built in Surround Recorder, why would you want a separate dash cam? All it takes is a USB inserted in the center console to record video. It also records when parked, if the car is disturbed.

There is also something called Connected Cameras, but you need an Onstar subscription to use that. Bah, humbug!

Also, in 2022, not all RS had the HD Surround Cameras. Is that now standard on all 2025 RS?

 

[ricklack]

From the 2025 OM page 220:
Surround Vision Recorder
If equipped, this system records video from the
surround vision cameras to a USB flash drive.
Audio is not recorded.
Continuous use of the Surround Vision
Recorder will degrade the USB flash drive and
reduce its longevity. A replacement flash drive
will eventually be needed.
Insert a USB flash drive into the USB port
in the center console. Eject the USB flash
drive using the button in the settings menu
before removing the USB flash drive from the
vehicle. To access settings, select Surround
Vision Recorder on the infotainment home
screen. Removing it without using the eject
button could corrupt the video file and/or the
USB flash drive.
Activate: After inserting a USB flash drive, tap
Surround Vision Recorder on the infotainment
home screen and follow the prompts. Once
completed, recording will start automatically
when the app is closed. Recording continues
until it is turned off in the settings screen, the
app is reopened, or the vehicle is turned off.
Deactivate: Tap Surround Vision Recorder on
the infotainment home screen. Toggle off
Continuous Recording in settings.
Select from the following when the vehicle is in
P (Park) and the video player is open:
Exit: Tap the infotainment home screen button
to return to the home screen.
Video Timeline: Tap to view the video timeline.
The video timeline displays video thumbnails
from each drive that can be played back.
Drag the timeline to the desired date/time to
begin playback.
Rewind: Tap to return to the previous video.
Play/Pause: Tap to play or pause
a recorded video.
Fast Forward: Tap to advance to the next video.
Camera Views: Tap the camera icon buttons on
the vehicle image to switch between camera
views. The default camera view shows the front
of the vehicle.
In addition:
• The recorded video is stored on the USB
flash drive in five-minute-long files.
• All files can be viewed on the playback
app or when the USB flash drive is read by
a personal computer (PC).
• Once the USB flash drive has recorded
two hours of video, the oldest files will
be overwritten.
Delete Data: Remove the USB flash drive from
the vehicle and insert into a PC to manually
delete the file.
Surround Vision Recorder may not work if:
• No USB flash drive is present. Make sure you
have inserted a USB flash drive meeting the
specifications. If already inserted, remove it
and insert again.
• The USB flash drive or video files are corrupt.
Remove the USB flash drive, format it on
a computer, and try again.
• The USB flash drive does not have enough
capacity. If previous data exists, remove it
from the USB flash drive.
• There is a system error. Follow the prompts
on screen to resolve the error.

 

[PoManNox]

Ooof! I can't believe you guys are good with having Best Buy install any aftermarket electronics. Especially on a brand new vehicle.

 

[bdevaux]

So I used the usb port to power mine. Im ok with it only working when car is on. I popped off the panel and fed the wire through. A little force and access from behind(remove glove box)