Make sure your dashcam is not actually be installed in the wrong spot

[Becky_70mai]

A surprising number of dashcam video quality issues… aren’t caused by the dashcam itself. They’re caused by its mounting location. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when installing a dashcam for the first time:

 

[Becky_70mai]

1. Outside the windshield wiper area​

If your dashcam sits outside the wiper sweep zone, rain and dirt stay on the glass right in front of the lens. A clean sensor can’t fix a dirty windshield. There will be:

• blurry night footage
• smeared headlights
• harder plate capture in bad weather

2. Too close to the black dotted area​

Those little black dots near the top of the windshield can actually affect image clarity and focus if the lens partially sees through them.
Some of you also accidentally mount the adhesive onto the dotted section, which can weaken the hold over time in hot weather.

3. Blocking sensors or safety equipment​

A badly placed dashcam can sometimes interfere with visibility or sensor performance. Modern cars hide a lot behind the rearview mirror like rain sensors, lane assist cameras or emergency braking systems.

4. Rear camera placement matters too​

A lot of rear cams get mounted directly on defroster lines or too low on the rear glass at extreme angles. Which usually causes rear footage to be more glaring, with ashed-out headlights and poor night detail.
Even a high-quality dashcam still needs to be mounted in the right spot to ensure reliable protection!

 

[Hack_man]

I still have not figured out how to get good rear camera visibility in the rain. The rear glass has a very VERY shallow slope on most newer cars which prevents rain from shedding quickly, causing it to pool on the glass. It's actually kind of ridiculous how nearly 'level' the rear window is.

I've used glass wax which helps shed the rain but it's still not great.

Rear camera driving at 37 MPH while raining

Rear camera (parked) while raining

 

[DT MI]

I still have not figured out how to get good rear camera visibility in the rain. The rear glass has a very VERY shallow slope on most newer cars which prevents rain from shedding quickly, causing it to pool on the glass. It's actually kind of ridiculous how nearly 'level' the rear window is.

I've used glass wax which helps shed the rain but it's still not great.

Rear camera driving at 37 MPH while raining
View attachment 92525


Rear camera (parked) while raining

View attachment 92527

Try Rain-x on the rear glass.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/B000WNED08

 

[lufa6977]

Another glass treatment is Aquapel, unless something has changed, this is the same stuff that Safelite puts on their installed windshields.

AQUAPEL

It is marketed under several brand names; I don't recall the name that Safelite uses. It works pretty well at repelling water, but remember that on a back glass, due to its angle and airflow, the back glass may actually have reduced flow immediately above the surface of the glass.

 

[Hack_man]

Try Rain-x on the rear glass.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/B000WNED08

I did try rain-x, that's the glass wax I was referring to in my post.

 

[Hack_man]

Another glass treatment is Aquapel, unless something has changed, this is the same stuff that Safelite puts on their installed windshields.

AQUAPEL

It is marketed under several brand names; I don't recall the name that Safelite uses. It works pretty well at repelling water, but remember that on a back glass, due to its angle and airflow, the back glass may actually have reduced flow immediately above the surface of the glass.

I think that is exactly what is going on, reduced airflow above the glass surface. The drops do shed better with a fresh coat of Rain-X but I wonder if it's more from vibration when moving than airflow. The only thing I find that sort of works is to constantly keep applying the Rain-x which is annoying.

Maybe the Aquapel works better. I remember a project farm video on products that shed water, I should revisit it.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Rain-x

Rain-X works for my cars.
Must use three coats.
Must re-apply every month.
See screenshots to see angle of rear window.

1.) How many coats of Rain-X do you apply?
2.) How often do you re-apply Rain-X
3.) What is the YEAR / MAKE / MODEL of your car?

 

[lufa6977]

I think that is exactly what is going on, reduced airflow above the glass surface. The drops do shed better with a fresh coat of Rain-X but I wonder if it's more from vibration when moving than airflow. The only thing I find that sort of works is to constantly keep applying the Rain-x which is annoying.

Maybe the Aquapel works better. I remember a project farm video on products that shed water, I should revisit it.

In most tests I have read, Aquapel has performed better than Rain-X. Aquapel uses a fluorinated compound, and Rain-X uses a silicon-based one. Aquapel is known to bond better to glass, whereas Rain-X sort of sits on the surface. Aquapel will also last longer. I had it on my front windshield for a while, and it did a far better job of repelling water than Rain-X. When I replaced that windshield earlier this year, I never did reapply Aquapel.

 

[Hack_man]

Rain-X works for my cars.
Must use three coats.
Must re-apply every month.
See screenshots to see angle of rear window.

1.) How many coats of Rain-X do you apply?
2.) How often do you re-apply Rain-X
3.) What is the YEAR / MAKE / MODEL of your car?

1.) How many coats of Rain-X do you apply?
I apply one single coat each time
2.) How often do you re-apply Rain-X
Random time intervals, probably every 2 months or so
3.) What is the YEAR / MAKE / MODEL of your car?
2024 Lexus ES350

The angle of your rear window looks totally acceptable. I'm jealous. Mine looks like a moron designed it (no offense intended to any morons).

I think I should try being less lazy and apply more coats of wax more often before I continue to whine

 

[jsmith]

I still have not figured out how to get good rear camera visibility in the rain. The rear glass has a very VERY shallow slope on most newer cars which prevents rain from shedding quickly, causing it to pool on the glass. It's actually kind of ridiculous how nearly 'level' the rear window is.

I've used glass wax which helps shed the rain but it's still not great.

Rear camera driving at 37 MPH while raining
View attachment 92525


Rear camera (parked) while raining

View attachment 92527

The absolute downside of NOT having a rear windshield wiper. It pisses me off that most vehicles other than SUV's lack one. Pretty much a water repellent will help some, but there's no real fix.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

I should try being less lazy and apply more coats

I started using Rain-X in 1995.
In 2006 a friend showed me the “correct” way to apply it.
It blew my mind how much better it worked using his application procedure.
Of course there’s better stuff than Rain-X.
I don’t think it matters what brand of water repellent you use.
I think application process matters more.
I’ve stuck with Rain-X because it’s only $6 for the “big” 16oz spray bottle, and always in stock at Walmart.
I use it year round even when it’s not raining.
Once you’ve built up enough coats it makes cleaning windows so much easier.
I use use it on every piece of glass.

 

[Julian23]

I've used glass wax which helps shed the rain but it's still not great.

Try Soft99 Glaco Roll On.
It will last several months on windows without a wiper.
I have been using it on every window of my car. It will even prevent the windows from freezing in the winter. (while others had to scrape, I didn't have to)

 

[Hack_man]

The absolute downside of NOT having a rear windshield wiper. It pisses me off that most vehicles other than SUV's lack one. Pretty much a water repellent will help some, but there's no real fix.

The crazy thing about the rear wiper on many SUV's is it's not really even necessary since many of those windows are almost vertically oriented.
My rear window is oriented more like a table-top and I get no wiper 😢