Dash Cam Won't Stick to Windshield Anymore

[HappySquirrel]

Hey guys,

I have a Black Box G1-W (I think that's the model #) that I've had mounted and hard-wired into my Mustang for almost a year now. It works great except that the suction cup mount keeps falling off. It used to happen infrequently but now I can't seem to make it through a day without it losing it's grip.

Does anyone have any tips on mounting dash cams with an alternative method, or any tips on keeping the suction cup stuck? I'm using the stock suction cup mount that cam with the camera. I usually use a little bit of water on the suction cup when I stick it on. I also have it stuck to the center frit area (black dots around the rearview mirror). I realize the location probably is part of the problem (I assume the non-frit section of the glass would make for a more consistent suction surface). However, I have it where it is so that it remains relatively inconspicuous.

Sponsored

 

[jasonstang]

First is to try cleaning the windshield as well as the suction cup.
Also apply the suction cup in warm environment.
Worse case you can buy these gel type sticky pads just stick the suction cup to the glass.

 

[HappySquirrel]

Thanks for the tips. I'll look into the gel sticky pads.

 

[ydoucare]

I had this problem too. The suction mount fell off multiple times, even after cleaning the glass and suction cup. Ended up designing a new mount in CAD that attaches directly to the mirror, printed on my 3D printer. So far it works great. It's printed in PLA, so i'll find out here in the summer whether or not i'll need to reprint in ABS or PETG to handle the hot air and sun beating down on it, as PLA tends to soften and warp when exposed to high temps. So far so good, though. Might find something like it on Amazon?

 

[Entity]

Clean windshield and the suction cup. Apply a LITTLE vaseline to suction cup will help it.

 

[Legionofone]

I had this problem too. The suction mount fell off multiple times, even after cleaning the glass and suction cup. Ended up designing a new mount in CAD that attaches directly to the mirror, printed on my 3D printer. So far it works great. It's printed in PLA, so i'll find out here in the summer whether or not i'll need to reprint in ABS or PETG to handle the hot air and sun beating down on it, as PLA tends to soften and warp when exposed to high temps. So far so good, though. Might find something like it on Amazon?

You should put this on shapeways or post the CAD! (unless you wish to market it)

 

[ydoucare]

You should put this on shapeways or post the CAD! (unless you wish to market it)

I plan to test it out a little bit more and might improve the hinge/joint to make it notched so it doesn't just rely on friction to hold the hinge in whatever position you adjust it to. I'll probably put it on Thingiverse once i'm happy with it. I don't care to make money off of it, and if anyone on here wanted one to have one, I could print it and mail it. Also, the one pictured is the first/only print I've done so far, and I think I need to make the clamp a bit larger to fit over the mirror mount a bit better. After that, I think it will be worthy to share. Should work pretty well for any cam that uses a screw mount. I even had thoughts of printing a "cover" for the top clamp part out of TPU (soft/rubbery material) so it's grippy and will hold better rather than clamping hard plastic against hard plastic.

 

[DR_]

I use a GoPro Session 5 as a dash cam and I tried different mounts to the mirror but they all vibrated too much for my liking. I finally just used a GoPro adhesive mount directly to the black poke-a-dot close to the mirror arm and I'm very pleased with the results. I ran a 12v to 5v converter for power to the overhead lights and I'm also very pleased with that.

 

[ydoucare]

I use a GoPro Session 5 as a dash cam and I tried different mounts to the mirror but they all vibrated too much for my liking. I finally just used a GoPro adhesive mount directly to the black poke-a-dot close to the mirror arm and I'm very pleased with the results. I ran a 12v to 5v converter for power to the overhead lights and I'm also very pleased with that.

The first thing I checked was vibration and it's smooth, thankfully. Mine mounts to the part of the mirror that's attached to the windshield, not the mirror itself, so there's no vibration and the camera doesn't move if you adjust the mirror. I used a DC-DC converter to get 5v USB too, works great.

 

[DR_]

Here's mine using the adhesive mount. Any camera with a tripod mount hole can use the adhesive mount and an adapter. I have a script that starts the camera when it gets power and turns off when no power and can watch it through my iPhone.

 

[HappySquirrel]

Thanks everyone. I'm going to try re-washing both the suction cup and windshield. If that doesn't work I'll try a bit of vaseline. If that doesn't work, I'll try a different adhesive mount.

:cheers:

 

[B.Crowder]

I've got two of the same cameras, on three different cars now. With the first car, I went from suction cup to double sided tape on suction cup to adhesive mount from ebay. Just went straight to the adhesive mount on the next two cars. Should be able to find G1W specific mounts on ebay or the sellers from China for a few bucks.

Sponsored