BlackboxMyCar | Dash Cam Installation: 2021 Hyundai Kona x VIOFO A229 Duo

This photo blog will show how we installed VIOFO’s latest 2K+2K dash cam system, the A229 Duo, into a Hyundai Kona. 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 hardwiring and installation process more manageable.

The A229 Duo is VIOFO’s revolutionary new 2K+2K dual-channel dash cam. As the upgraded version of the A129 Series, the A229 is equipped with a 5.14MP Sony STARVIS IMX335 image sensor to record your drive in 2K QHD from the front and rear cameras.

Unlike the conventional 2-in VIOFO screen, the A229 Duo uses a larger 2.4-inch HD display to deliver a bigger, better viewing experience with improved heat dissipation. Many of you have asked if the larger screen makes the A229 Duo more challenging to mount. Let’s find out.

Always refer to your vehicle’s owner's manual

The owner of this Hyundai Kona requested an installation with parking surveillance. Just like a regular dash am, there are several different ways to install a dash cam for parking mode recording. For this Kona, we went with a hardwire installation. The first step is to locate the fuse panel.

The fuse panel in the Kona is located in the instrument panel on the driver’s side. Simply remove the panel cover to access the panel. You can use the pry tool inside the BlackboxMyCar Essential Install Kit to open the side of the fuse panel.

If you want parking mode recording but do not want to tinker with the car’s fuse panel(s), we strongly recommend getting a dedicated dash cam battery pack. The BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 Battery is slim enough to be stowed inside the vehicle, and you can always plug it into a 12V outlet (i.e., a cigarette lighter socket) in your car.

The ideal place for the front camera is behind the rearview mirror

The ideal place to mount the forward-facing camera is behind the rearview mirror because it gives the dash cam the best, unobstructed view while staying out of the driver’s line of sight. The VIOFO A229 Duo is a tad bigger than the previous VIOFO screen dash cams - the difference was significant enough to make an impact on the viewing experience, it didn’t affect the positioning of the camera. The VIOFO A229 front camera still fits perfectly behind the rearview mirror, with minimal obstruction.

Don’t forget 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; else, on a rainy or snowy day, the camera lens will not be able to capture video.

Like all VIOFO dash cams, the A229 Duo comes with a static sticker that is meant to be applied to the windshield before you mount the dash cam. The static sticker is a transparent film that adheres to the windshield using static electricity, offering a budget-friendly alternative for a suction mount. In other words, make sure to clean the windshield thoroughly to ensure the static sticker sticks properly. Once the static sticker is on the windshield, remove the adhesive tape on the dash cam mount and press it onto the static sticker.

When using the static sticker, it also acts as a barrier between the 3M sticky tape and the glass thus avoiding sticky residual and marks should you need to uninstall the dash cam.

The VIOFO A229 comes with two power port options: on the GPS module and on the side of the camera. It doesn’t matter which one you’re using, the dash cam and the GPS module will function normally either way. But using the power port on the GPS module does have an advantage. If you’re using the power port on the GPS mount for power, the GPS module can detect when you’re powered down your car and the hardwiring kit has sent the VIOFO A229 Duo dashcam into parking mode - the GPS module will auto-power down to reduce the overall parking mode power consumption.

Take the 3-wire hardwiring cable and plug the USB-C end into the power port on GPS mount. Tuck the hardwiring cable around the console, then along the headliner to the A-pillar on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Use the provided trim removal tool to gently pull back the panel cover

Tuck the hardwiring cable along the headliner and A-pillar on the driver’s side of the vehicle. Always, always route the hardwiring cable behind the airbags. Cable-tie your power cable along the back side of the existing cables that run down the A-pillar. Run the power cable down the A-pillar, until you reach the fuse panel.

Always refer to the vehicle’s owners manual to avoid fuse slots that could pertain to certain safety features within your vehicle.

The hardwiring kit for the VIOFO A229 is a 3-wire cable. 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. You always want to start off with this.

The red one is for the ACC, while the yellow is for the Constant fuse. Make sure to read the labels on the hardwiring kit to confirm, and don’t get them mixed up because this is very crucial in order for you to activate parking mode.

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. The fuse tap that you choose is dependent on the car that you use, from ATO, Micro2, Low-Profile and Mini-Fuse. Consult your user manual to find which one is right for you, and also, make sure the fuse tap you’re adding is equal to or lower than the fuse tap you’ve chosen - that’s the number here. For the 2013 Santa Fe, we used the Micro 2 fuse.

Always refer to the Fuses section in the vehicle's owner's manual to avoid fuse slots pertaining to certain safety features within your car. Before you start hiding the wire, you should turn on the ignition to see if the dash cam’s power is enabled and completely works

We ran the rear connecting cable along the ABC pillars on the right side of the car

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 rear doors. Use the trim removal tool to lift the pillar trim slightly, 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.

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 liftgate. 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 also 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.

Start the car to make sure that the connection works. And there you have it - the VIOFO A229 Duo installed in the Hyundai Kona.