Toyota Corolla Hardwire

[TonyM]

I tried to install a hardwire kit at the weekend but I'm not sure I can do it myself. I can access the fuse box OK, but I'm not so sure about a location for the earth wire.

My car is a 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

Here's the fuse box location in the passenger footwell:

One of the car's previous owners had a dashcam installed. There's now an oversized fuse in the rear washer slot, and the cover is clipped onto a nearby cable since it no longer fits over the large fuse.

Fuse info

After removing the trim panel to the left of the fuse box, I found one earthing point already in use. However it's so high up that I don't even think I can touch it with a fingertip, let alone connect a hardwire kit earth wire to it securely.

There is another potential earthing point in an accessible location, however it's just a hole in the bodywork that's supposed to have a push-fit trim plug in it. I found the plug a few minutes later, not where it should have been. Can I just expose the base metal and install a self-tapping screw into this hole?

 

[lufa6977]

That shiny bolt to the bottom right looks pretty large just to hold in a plastic fuse panel. Have you checked it for ground, it may thread into the metal frame?

You may need to extend the wire over to the seat frame. If you pull out the glove box, is there a ground point in there? I have been looking for grounding points for the Corolla and it is tough to find.

 

[TonyM]

That shiny bolt to the bottom right looks pretty large just to hold in a plastic fuse panel. Have you checked it for ground, it may thread into the metal frame?

You may need to extend the wire over to the seat frame. If you pull out the glove box, is there a ground point in there? I have been looking for grounding points for the Corolla and it is tough to find.

I do not think that shiny bolt below right of the fuse box is grounded. How can I check?

 

[DT MI]

I do not think that shiny bolt below right of the fuse box is grounded. How can I check?

Check for continuity between that bolt and another grounding point.

 

[lufa6977]

I do not think that shiny bolt below right of the fuse box is grounded. How can I check?

If you do not have a digital volt meter, you could wire in the dashcam to the two fuses, and then take the ground wire and touch the bolts. If the camera powers up, then you have found a good grounding point. From what I have read, installers are using the P/Outlet and Dome positions. Of course, you will need to check with a meter or use one of the handy probes that have a lamp on one end.

On the hole where the plug is, you could use a drill and to one side of that hole/bump drill a hole and use a self-tapping screw as you mentioned. I would go to the side so the plug will sit flush. Of course, one should be certain what is behind the area they are about to drill a hole through. 🙂 Just know to choose the correct bit size for the screw being used. If you look to the right of that same hole, there is what looks like a bolt. Is it threaded, if so find the metric size and get a nut for it and use that point.

If you have a meter, you could set it to Ohms, and place a lead each on visible bolts. If the meter shows resistance then it is likely both those bolts are into the metal frame and are good ground points.
Look behind the glove box, usually just a squeeze on both sides and it pops right out. While you have the glove box out, this would be a good time to change the cabin air filter. 🙂

 

[DashGuard]

I tried to install a hardwire kit at the weekend but I'm not sure I can do it myself. I can access the fuse box OK, but I'm not so sure about a location for the earth wire.

My car is a 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

Here's the fuse box location in the passenger footwell:
View attachment 82228

One of the car's previous owners had a dashcam installed. There's now an oversized fuse in the rear washer slot, and the cover is clipped onto a nearby cable since it no longer fits over the large fuse.
View attachment 82230 View attachment 82231

Fuse info
View attachment 82232

After removing the trim panel to the left of the fuse box, I found one earthing point already in use. However it's so high up that I don't even think I can touch it with a fingertip, let alone connect a hardwire kit earth wire to it securely.

View attachment 82233

There is another potential earthing point in an accessible location, however it's just a hole in the bodywork that's supposed to have a push-fit trim plug in it. I found the plug a few minutes later, not where it should have been. Can I just expose the base metal and install a self-tapping screw into this hole?

View attachment 82235 View attachment 82236

Open driver's door and pop the side cover of your dashboard, you should be able to find enough metal there for a good ground as the dashboard support frame bar comes through there.

Another option that is a little higher level is to strip one of those ground wires with an exacto knife and solder the ground wire to a ground wire of which you are unable to reach the bolt at.

🎥 Happy filming

 

[EricSan]

Check for continuity between that bolt and another grounding point.

Yep, take your digital multi meter, set it to resistance, and touch the two probes to any two shiny screw heads. Keep doing so until you get a reading that is less than 1 ohm or so. That way, you'll know that BOTH screws hit the metal chassis of the car. Then, use any of the those screws as your grounding point.

For anyone that doesn't have a multi meter, there are tons of decent ones on amazon for $20-30. Just search on "DMM" - I have four of these- they are excellent:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/B06ZZG2F2N