Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 fail in Parking mode

I’ve been testing the Garmin Mini 3 dash camera. Works fine while driving but does not record in parking lots. The dash cam doesn’t sense motion and record.

My current implementation uses power from the 2024 Tacoma OBD-II port using the Garmin Constant Power Cable. See https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/735279/pn/010-12530-23.

For those of you using the Garmin Mini 3, are you getting videos in parking lots? I would like to confirm the feature works without a Vault subscription.

 

I don’t have one, but is there a feature that needs to be enabled in the settings for cam?

 

Parking mode is enabled. I will review the settings again tomorrow but it appears this dash cam does not work as advertised. Certainly not with the Tacoma.

 

Well, that would suck. Hope you figure it out.

 

Don't have it, know this is obvious but have to check, are your sure it is getting power while parked? I am getting this page for a hard wire power source parking mode cable:

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/web...UID-53F06810-9AE9-4212-B419-5153DD3B3F3B.html

 

Pretty sure.

Volt meter testing is next but frankly this is supposed to be a simple turn key solution sold by Garmin. If it doesn’t work, it gets returned. It should do what they advertise and it doesn’t so far.

 

Edit: nvm seems the mini2 and onward should function with the constant power cable based on reports i read. Apparently it bases it off inactivity/no motion.

 

I’ve never actually used parking guard on my mini2 but apparently it records if it detects an impact. Idk about it recording every motion event.

 

This is exactly how my mini3 works too. All I need to do is tap the windshield and it comes on. My understanding for the motion option is you need to have some sort of paid subscription for that.

 

Mine is defective and is being returned. It doesn’t record anything when parked.

 

The attached file in post #7 says the Constant Power Cable will not enable the Parking mode.

 

FWIW ... Finally installed my front and rear dash cams.

I used a VanTrue N4Pro (with 512 chip) in the front and a VanTrue N4 (with a 256 chip) facing the rear through the back window.

Wired the front facing cam (windshield mounted) to the OBD port and it can stay on with the ignition turned off, always has power for parking alerts.
All the wires are hidden.

Wired the rear facing cam to the cigarette adapter plug in the back. Most the wires are hidden and I need to do some more work on the area around the cig adapter power plug. The rear camera works automatically when the ignition is on & off.

Both front facing and rear facing cams have secondary 180 degree cams and this gives me a double view to document the video front & rear.

The rear mounted bracket snaps to the headliner plastic plug, I got off Esty and it made it a piece of cake. Then cam mounts to the bracket.

Some pics below:



^^^ Front cam



^^^ Front dash cam



^^^ Rear dash cam and I can unplug it if I have to load something big and the camera is in the way



^^^ Rear wiring is behind all the panels except in this area by the cig plug, I will fix this tomorrow.

I hate tailgaters and people who are on my back bumper at red lights ... this rear cam has a tendency to push them back a little when they can see the camera through the back window. Some people even put their visor down.

The front cam video quality is excellent.

The rear cam is an older model, but still very good quality.

The only downside to this entire installation is ... the sun visor on the passenger side will not go up all the way. I tested several locations first with the suction camera cup mount and this was still the best place to mount the front facing camera.

 

Which OBD-II hardware did you use? One from Vantrue?

There are a ton of aftermarket accessories that use that port. The one I bought from Garmin is only 1.5 A to each of the USB A connections. Most of the other solutions are 2.5 A to the USB C connector.

 

you need the parking mode cable
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/587564

 

That’s been said before. I don’t “need” Garmin’s cable and a dead battery.

 

Sorry.
Parking mode cable is “required” to record when parked.
I just installed the mini 3 and didn’t use either cable for exactly the dead battery concern.

 

I’ve given up on recording parking lot events. Everyone advertises that feature but when I really started looking at reviews, none of the cables do a good job of cutting off the battery drain.

Meanwhile my Arlo cameras record every fox, raccoon, coyote, possum, etc. around my house each day and run for weeks and weeks.

 

Has anyone tried to see if parking mode functions with a battery pack?
Other brands offer battery packs but I don’t know all features are still operational.

 

.
...^^^... Yes, the one from VanTrue and it plugged right in with no problems ... it even has a digital meter on the wiring. I slid that meter behind the side trim though. I love this setup, neat and clean and OEM looking.
I like that the front cam stays on all the time (good for parking) while the rear cam works with the ignition. I manually turn off the front cam when I pull into the garage ... rear cam turns off automatically.

The dual cams have 180 degree cams within themselves and they criss-cross each other in recording.

 

Thank you