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Anyone have tips for getting this inner plastic bit off? I ordered a 10-pin Type B Dongar adapter for my dashcam, and with New York's glaciers and temperatures giving us a break I have a decent shot at having some fun with the car.
This is a separate piece that needs to be pried off before sliding the surrounding cover forward from what I've been reading elsewhere, but instructions and demonstrations seem sparse. Not much luck other than pleasantly popping my knuckles so far.
Anyone have tips for getting this inner plastic bit off? I ordered a 10-pin Type B Dongar adapter for my dashcam, and with New York's glaciers and temperatures giving us a break I have a decent shot at having some fun with the car.
This is a separate piece that needs to be pried off before sliding the surrounding cover forward from what I've been reading elsewhere, but instructions and demonstrations seem sparse. Not much luck other than pleasantly popping my knuckles so far.
See my part number for clip inside rear view mirror casing post #4 for links to the lexusguide.net Lexus ES (XZ10) Service Manual's procedures for removal and installation of the forward recognition camera includes directions and accompanying illustrations showing clip and guide locations and pull/push direction arrows for the camera covers.
See my part number for clip inside rear view mirror casing post #4 for links to the lexusguide.net Lexus ES (XZ10) Service Manual's procedures for removal and installation of the forward recognition camera includes directions and accompanying illustrations showing clip and guide locations and pull/push direction arrows for the camera covers.
Thank you for the reply and referencing some good tenchical materials🙏🏾 I did come across screenshots of that while reading about this project, but wasn't able to make the best sense of it. In terms of applying efficient leverage, would prying with a trim removal tool on the sides or on top be the way to go? I would like to avoid scuffing up the headliner and plastic if at all possible. Out of curiosity, I'd also like to ask about the technical names of the fasteners indicated by the triangle, circle, and rectangle outlines.
...Out of curiosity, I'd also like to ask about the technical names of the fasteners indicated by the triangle, circle, and rectangle outlines.
Although it isn't the best, the lexusguide.net Lexus ES (XZ10) Service Manual's Repair Instruction - Precaution webpage (scroll down past the fuse illustrations) has illustrations of what the dashed triangle, box, and circle shapes location callouts identify.
The dashed triangle shape is the location of some sort of clip. There are various forms of clips. If I'm not mistaken, the thing that distinguishes clips from the other types is that they are generally separate, replaceable part items.
The dashed circle is where a claw is located. A claw is a tab with some sort of molded-in locking catch that is all molded-in to a part.
The dashed box is where "HINGES, GUIDES, CLAMPS, PINS, ETC." are located.
Originally Posted by N741NY
... In terms of applying efficient leverage, would prying with a trim removal tool on the sides or on top be the way to go? I would like to avoid scuffing up the headliner and plastic if at all possible. ...
If you look at the "Dashcam install Lexus ES 350 hardwire rear view mirror Viofo A229 Pro wire tap front and rear camera" video at around the 3:35 time-mark, you can see from the back side the two claws and two guides you are dealing with in removing that piece. Starting at around the 3-second time-mark in the "Fitcamx dashcam for Lexus ES," you can see applying finger pressure and pulling down and then out on that part should work to disengage the claws and remove that part.
In the previously referred-to Service Manual's Removal procedure for the "REMOVE NO. 2 FORWARD RECOGNITION COVER" procedure, there's this:
NOTICE:
If these claws are disengaged separately, they may break. Insert a molding remover between them and pull it down to disengage the claws simultaneously.
Given that, you don't want to be prying from the sides to disengage the claws. So, whether you use a trim tool or just your fingers, pull down on the back in such a manner that both claws are disengaged as close to simultaneously as practical.
Although it isn't the best, the lexusguide.net Lexus ES (XZ10) Service Manual's Repair Instruction - Precaution webpage (scroll down past the fuse illustrations) has illustrations of what the dashed triangle, box, and circle shapes location callouts identify.
The dashed triangle shape is the location of some sort of clip. There are various forms of clips. If I'm not mistaken, the thing that distinguishes clips from the other types is that they are generally separate, replaceable part items.
The dashed circle is where a claw is located. A claw is a tab with some sort of molded-in locking catch that is all molded-in to a part.
The dashed box is where "HINGES, GUIDES, CLAMPS, PINS, ETC." are located.
If you look at the "Dashcam install Lexus ES 350 hardwire rear view mirror Viofo A229 Pro wire tap front and rear camera" video at around the 3:35 time-mark, you can see from the back side the two claws and two guides you are dealing with in removing that piece. Starting at around the 3-second time-mark in the "Fitcamx dashcam for Lexus ES," you can see applying finger pressure and pulling down and then out on that part should work to disengage the claws and remove that part.
In the previously referred-to Service Manual's Removal procedure for the "REMOVE NO. 2 FORWARD RECOGNITION COVER" procedure, there's this:
Given that, you don't want to be prying from the sides to disengage the claws. So, whether you use a trim tool or just your fingers, pull down on the back in such a manner that both claws are disengaged as close to simultaneously as practical.
Much appreciated, many thanks to you for the info and clarification 🍻 I think that service guide might deserve its own sticky.
I installed a Fitcamx in my 2024 ES350 and saved the OEM plastic housing. Here are pictures of it. The small part of the housing at the rear is first removed by prying the rear edge downward. In the pictures you can see it is held by the two flexible vertical tabs near the rear edge. The camera came with the blue removal tool. The camera also came with a wiring harness that is inserted between the OEM connector halves, so there is no cutting, splicing or buying additional parts.
Thanks for all your help fellas! Finally got the cover off and installed the Dongar adapter. Took a little more pressure than I imagined (don't suppose the cold helps with the plastic's flexibility). For the moment, my fingers are pretty well stiff so I'll finish the job in the morning 🌃
Rearview Mirror Cover Removal
