Install/hiding wires of a windshield mounted “dash” cam

[vicw]

Sorry for coming so late to this thread, but I'm getting prepped to install a dual dashcam. The Pillar trim has me worried, as to the proper way of removing it. @eneka posted a good pic (Post #35) of the exposed pillar. I'm wondering if there is any reason or benefit to be had by first removing the plastic insert labelled "side curtain - airbag" first, thinking that perhaps it covers some magic release thing for the trim attachment, and that I can hope to avoid breaking the clips inside.

Also, is the trim removal simply a matter of pulling it outward from the edge near the windshield, or closest to the door? My hope is that I can run both cam wires down behind the airbag, and not have to cross over it.

UPDATE: I just discovered that @eneka, in Post 51, already answered my question with another good pic, showing the label peeled up and an explanation. I feel more confident now that it does need to be just lifted a bit.

 

[eneka]

Sorry for coming so late to this thread, but I'm getting prepped to install a dual dashcam. The Pillar trim has me worried, as to the proper way of removing it. @eneka posted a good pic (Post #35) of the exposed pillar. I'm wondering if there is any reason or benefit to be had by first removing the plastic insert labelled "side curtain - airbag" first, thinking that perhaps it covers some magic release thing for the trim attachment, and that I can hope to avoid breaking the clips inside.

Also, is the trim removal simply a matter of pulling it outward from the edge near the windshield, or closest to the door? My hope is that I can run both cam wires down behind the airbag, and not have to cross over it.

The plastic side airbag insert itself is a clip/plug (iirc) so you'll have to pop it off a little bit to release the clip!

this show the back side of the plastic insert.

 

[megreyhair]

Sorry for coming so late to this thread, but I'm getting prepped to install a dual dashcam. The Pillar trim has me worried, as to the proper way of removing it. @eneka posted a good pic (Post #35) of the exposed pillar. I'm wondering if there is any reason or benefit to be had by first removing the plastic insert labelled "side curtain - airbag" first, thinking that perhaps it covers some magic release thing for the trim attachment, and that I can hope to avoid breaking the clips inside.

Also, is the trim removal simply a matter of pulling it outward from the edge near the windshield, or closest to the door? My hope is that I can run both cam wires down behind the airbag, and not have to cross over it.

UPDATE: I just discovered that @eneka, in Post 51, already answered my question with another good pic, showing the label peeled up and an explanation. I feel more confident now that it does need to be removed.

I didn't have to remove the A pillar trim.
I hide the wire across the top of the a pillar trim and then ran it down the a pillar behind the rubber door seal to the fuse box.

 

[vicw]

I didn't have to remove the A pillar trim.
I hide the wire across the top of the a pillar trim and then ran it down the a pillar behind the rubber door seal to the fuse box.

That would certainly be easier, but reportedly, the Side Curtain airbag goes all of the way from just inside the front windshield, inside the pillar, to alongside the rear seat area, so crossing the wire across the top of the pillar trim could impede the airbag when it opens. I don't know how serious an issue that really is, but if it doesn't make the dashcam install too much more difficult, I prefer to avoid doing that.

 

[vicw]

The plastic side airbag insert itself is a clip/plug (iirc) so you'll have to pop it off a little bit to release the clip!

this show the back side of the plastic insert.

Thanks @eneka. I updated my earlier post (#61), after discovering your prior pic that showed the insert lifted up. I'm glad you just added the comment about just having to lift it up a little bit, rather than completely removing it. That really helped.

 

[vicw]

Did you ever watch a Side Curtain Airbag opening up? Sandy Munro showed how it looks and sounds in a recent clip

I know I don't want to be in the immediate proximity of that when it goes off, but I suppose the alternative is worse.

 

[JCA]

Did you ever watch a Side Curtain Airbag opening up? Sandy Munro showed how it looks and sounds in a recent clip

I know I don't want to be in the immediate proximity of that when it goes off, but I suppose the alternative is worse.

Having been in a vehicle where the side airbag deployed, I'll confirm that you don't, but that's because it means you're being hit from the side or are rolling over (in my case). The airbag itself is pretty well shaped and directed to stay next to the window (it really does look like a curtain dropped); unlike the front airbags that by design come back at you. It is a good reason not to lean/rest against the window though. And to the subject of this thread, a GREAT reason to be sure any wiring is not in front; you definitely don't want anything impeding deployment, causing it to go in the wrong direction, or flinging wires or other debris at you.

 

[vicw]

Having been in a vehicle where the side airbag deployed, I'll confirm that you don't, but that's because it means you're being hit from the side or are rolling over (in my case). The airbag itself is pretty well shaped and directed to stay next to the window (it really does look like a curtain dropped); unlike the front airbags that by design come back at you. It is a good reason not to lean/rest against the window though. And to the subject of this thread, a GREAT reason to be sure any wiring is not in front; you definitely don't want anything impeding deployment, causing it to go in the wrong direction, or flinging wires or other debris at you.

I hope you were spared from injury in that accident, thanks to the airbag, perhaps. Your description of the airbag opening suddenly downward, like a curtain, makes me believe it's really important to not run the wiring below the horizontal area of the airbag to the rear cam. If I find I can't install it above the bag, and reasonably apart from it, I'll just forgo installing the rear cam at all, as long as I can operate the front cam without having the rear installed.