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FitcamX Dash Cam Causing Dead Battery

1K views 24 replies 7 participants last post by  ReidMcT  
#1 ·
Hello,

Currently have a 2024 CGTS 4.0 and installed the fitcamx front dash cam. Installed with power being pulled from the rain sensor with the y cable.

My issue is that the camera randomly activates while the car is parked in the garage and makes sporadic videos while just parked draining the car battery. This happens several times per day even when the car is not driven. When I take a look in the fitcamx app there are about 5-10 videos daily of the car just parked. Always random times and not sure what is triggering it to happen. It seems the camera gets power and activates during these times and begins recording. The car battery then ends up dying after about 4-5 days of not being driven due to this. I have been back and forth with fitcamx support and they sent out another y cable which I installed but the same issue persists.

Has anyone else experienced something similar to this with the fitcamX dashcams? I really like the OEM look and fit but afraid I will have to go another route because I have been dealing with this issue for quite some time. Thanks for the help!
 
#3 ·
I guess I will look into my battery health. I've also turned off all of the motion activation and anything else that I suspect could activate the camera while the car is off in the fitcam x app. I am not sure why it still randomly activates and makes these videos. Maybe I'll take a trip to the dealer and have the battery checked out since the car is only one year old.
 
#4 ·
I have a similar issue with a different camera and vehicle due to motion sensing and recording. It may be that your motion sensor is still on and sensing motion, and the setting where you attempted to disable motion sensing merely stops it from recording but leaves the camera and motion sensor active. When mine is going to be parked for several days without external power I try to remember to unplug the camera so it doesn’t drain the battery again. I’m not familiar with fitcam, but you might look to see where the motion sensor is, and if possible try blocking the sensor with a piece of tape to see if that helps. The problems people have with third party aftermarket cameras are all easily solved when the camera system is integrated into the car…it’s aggravating when we have to come up with our own solutions for these issues and manually intervene.
 
#5 ·
Hello,

Currently have a 2024 CGTS 4.0 and installed the fitcamx front dash cam. Installed with power being pulled from the rain sensor with the y cable.

My issue is that the camera randomly activates while the car is parked in the garage and makes sporadic videos while just parked draining the car battery. This happens several times per day even when the car is not driven. When I take a look in the fitcamx app there are about 5-10 videos daily of the car just parked. Always random times and not sure what is triggering it to happen. It seems the camera gets power and activates during these times and begins recording. The car battery then ends up dying after about 4-5 days of not being driven due to this. I have been back and forth with fitcamx support and they sent out another y cable which I installed but the same issue persists.

Has anyone else experienced something similar to this with the fitcamX dashcams? I really like the OEM look and fit but afraid I will have to go another route because I have been dealing with this issue for quite some time. Thanks for the help!
I have a 2025 GTS and have installed the FitcamX. I don't believe the power comes from the rain sensor. It is actually tied in to the overhead console. Any time that console is powered, the camera will record. Never had an issue with it draining my battery.
 
#10 ·
Perhaps your 718 is somehow sensing your key at random times during the day. You might want to try placing your key fob in a Faraday pouch or removing the fob's battery to determine if this issue has any merit.
 
#13 · (Edited)
fitcamx does sell a hardwire option for the fuse.


may be better off using this to connect to one that is off when car is off.
 
#15 ·
... if you have Porsche Entry and Drive and walk close to the car. The FitcamX will turn on. My key fob is far away from my car....
And is that not true for non-E&D cars? Both of mine behave as you say, but both have E&D, so I can't test. Have you? I took the behavior of mine as evidence the camera is always watching for motion.
 
#19 ·
I just did a small test, and all I can say is, I just don't know. Maybe down to inconsistent FitcamX behavior.

I went down to the parking garage, where my 718s rest, side-by-side, both with FitcamX installed and wired identically using their stock y-cable.

Leaving the fobs about 100 feet from the cars, I approached. When I got close enough to see it, the Cayman's camera was powered up and both the red and blue LEDs were illuminated. The Boxster's camera did nothing.

Then I retrieved the keys and walked back to the cars. Both behaved the same as they had during the first test, without the fobs.

Then I unlocked the Boxster, and its camera instantly lit up.

That's all I know.

What model 718 do you have? (empty profile)
 
#20 ·
I e-mailed FitcamX support to ask about this. They told me there is no motion detection feature. There is a parking mode available when tied directly into the fuse box that will sense vibration and record a one minute video. They say that even the parking mode won't drain your battery. They're asking me to unplug the dummy plug from the ignition and lock the doors to see if the camera records. Don't have time for that this morning and really not interested in going that route anyway.
 
#21 ·
They say that even the parking mode won't drain your battery.
I think this is the most important info, thanks; and I believe it.

I'm realizing now that the camera in my Cayman is on and recording all the time. Maybe I configured it that way somehow, I can't recall, though it is wired to the overhead console, same as the one in the Boxster.

Last year, the Cayman sat for 4 weeks and it didn't kill the battery.

This pic shows morning dew that didn't form where the always-on camera had warmed a circle of the glass.

Image
 
#22 ·
I'm not sure what other steps to take right now. Support from fitcamx hasn't been able to resolve the issue going to keep the key in a faraday pouch and far from the vehicle when I'm garage and see if it still records the random clips while parked. Mine will record random clips even with no motion and I don't believe their is any motion detection for the camera. I think I will also have my battery tested at the dealership.

Also I do have entry and drive so this may make a difference.
 
#23 ·
I think I will also have my battery tested at the dealership.

Also I do have entry and drive so this may make a difference.
I think you should tell them about your puddle lights behavior when you approach the car. I think you may have a significant electrical/computer issue that is running down your battery. It may be unrelated to the Fitcam.

I've re-read the manual, and I see nothing to explain the behavior you describe. It is not an E&D feature. Both of my 718s have E&D.

I will add, FWIW, that the Fitcam is known to interfere with E&D, tending to shorten its effective range. Even wrapping the Fitcam cables with Faraday tape does not necessarily remedy it. The rear-facing add-on camera is particularly troublesome. I removed the rear camera in my Cayman, and soon will do the same for the Boxster.