How to install a dash cam on a 2017 mazda cx5

That's unfortunate. I don't seem to have any interference issues with my setup.

Yeah it'll depend on the dash cam, maybe mine has a fault or is just crappy. I can live with it, but it was interesting how it fed interference to the radio.
 
So I got the invisicord solution working and it's been great so far... from a power perspective. Interestingly enough, it's causing a lot of FM radio interference. It's probably my dash cam doing it, but one of the negatives of this method is that you're directly connecting the dash cam to some apparently sensitive electronics and it has the potential to send interference back into the car power line.

I'm keeping mine attached (most use bluetooth streaming anyway), but just something to be aware of.
Did you wire it correctly? Absolutely no interference for me.
 
Did you wire it correctly? Absolutely no interference for me.

Yeah it's installed properly, but in my case I think the dash cam is just sending noise back through the power line. With this method, if the device sends noise back it goes more directly into the electronics (and FM reception apparently). Either mine is a crappy dash-cam or is faulty I think.
 
Yeah it's installed properly, but in my case I think the dash cam is just sending noise back through the power line. With this method, if the device sends noise back it goes more directly into the electronics (and FM reception apparently). Either mine is a crappy dash-cam or is faulty I think.

What kind of dash cam do you have? Does it have extra features like lane departure warning or frontal collision warning?
 
Radio interference doesn’t come from the camera, it comes from the power supply.

RF interference can indeed come from the camera. Camera is powered by the car, and in turn the circuitry in the camera is returning RF noise back down the power line. It's not uncommon in faulty or improperly made electronics.
 
What kind of dash cam do you have? Does it have extra features like lane departure warning or frontal collision warning?


Viofo A119 dash cam. Swapped it out with my wife's and there was no interference so it's definitely my unit.
 
Viofo A119 dash cam. Swapped it out with my wife's and there was no interference so it's definitely my unit.

Ah that is a pretty popular dashcam. Quality seems to be hit or miss I think. So your wife also has a Viofo A119? If so, then it definitely seems to be an issue with your unit.
 
So I got the invisicord solution working and it's been great so far... from a power perspective. Interestingly enough, it's causing a lot of FM radio interference. It's probably my dash cam doing it, but one of the negatives of this method is that you're directly connecting the dash cam to some apparently sensitive electronics and it has the potential to send interference back into the car power line.

I'm keeping mine attached (most use bluetooth streaming anyway), but just something to be aware of.

I've also purchased the Invisicord cable and while it powers my Viofo A119 fine, I experience strong interference with the radio on quite a few channels. To rule out the dashcam I replaced it with an A118C but as expected nothing changed. It looks like a Ground Loop Noise Isolator may be required to be installed on the line.
I contacted Invisicord website but I don't hold my breath they will come up with a solution.
 
I played with all sorts of configurations and clip on ferrite suppressors and while they worked a bit, nothing cured it.............

Until! I have now completely solved it and I can demonstrate it. A clue came from Techmoan - a Uk web page that specialises in dashcams. He said to use a screened USB cable and while that seemed to improve things, the DAB (digital audio band) radio still flickered and fluttered and often went off altogether under electricity high tension pylons. The solution is in the actual little plug which are very well suppressed if you buy a good quality camera. You cannot avoid using this plug if you are to be successful. If I tune to a weak digital station, I can swap between the supplied plug and even an expensive 12V to 5V plug and it immediately just kills the reception. Its amazing and hard to believe unless you do it. So! How did I work this into the new CX-5? I have got a DDPai dash cam in the front and an A119 in the rear and the DAB works perfectly with both. In the front, I used a fuse tap on the accessory socket due in the front kick panel. This needs to be for mini low profile fuses as used on the CX-5. I then connected it to a normal 12V accessory socket and bundled them together behind the kick panel. I plugged in the SUPPLIED USB socket that came with the camera - I tried loads of different ones and none worked - ONLY the supplied one with the camera. I then used the supplied 10ft cable and ran it up behind the glovebox and on behind the A post trim to the camera. Keep in mind that my steering wheel is on the correct side so opposite to yours ;-). I guess you could do this in the roof space with your mirror wire tap but you have to do away with anybody elses gubbins and use the supplied 12V-5V socket and screened cable. Now a word of warning. I was using a 12V USB adapter to charge my phone in the front accessory socket and would you believe it does actually interfere with weak digital radio stations. I went on line and found what was described as a genuine DDPai adapter because you cant buy that separately from the UK importer. When it came it was the same bad tat that you buy off eBay for a couple of bucks. It looked identical but it stopped the radio dead. After much dialogue and them pretending to not understand my question about whether it really was genuine or a pirate copy, they refunded half of my 10 - arseholes.

The rear camera is easier in some ways but not others. If you want to completely conceal the wire you have to get it through the umbilical to the back door. That umbilical is tethered to the wiring loom for assembly purposes - it saves them fiddling on the production line but basically, what I did was untether it, slide it out of the way, feed the small end of the USB cable through the trim and up to the rear roof lining and then tape it to the loom beyond the location of the umbilical and then wriggle the umbilical (the rubber guzover) back to the correct place. Its a fiddle but perfectly doable on a nice day.

In summary, on my two different brand cameras, I solved it by using the supplied socked and a screened USB cable. Nothing else worked and I dont know what your cameras came with but you can soon check it by using the supplied plug, screened cable (mine were fine that came with the camera but I bought some super duper double screened ones off amazon) and just short cut to the camera to test the reception. Some cameras might come with iffy sockets and if youve got one of the cameras that have the 12V-5V adapter hard wired to the cable you might be in trouble. Ive not identified a decent adapter to change it to. Ill take some photos when I get chance but it wont be before weekend as Im working every day. This photo is from when I was trying to get the cable to the centre cubby hole but I gave up because the sockets are much nearer the lid that the 2016.5 model;

IMG_3440.jpg
 
Last edited:
I'm looking at purchasing a Garmin 45 dash cam. Can some of you chime in and let me know if this a good product? Thanks in advance.
 
I'm looking at purchasing a Garmin 45 dash cam. Can some of you chime in and let me know if this a good product? Thanks in advance.

I picked up a Garmin 35 dash cam for my GX... the part I don't like is the fixed mount you have to use on windshield. I was hoping I could use a suction cup based one but anything out there blocks part of the view of the camera lens. I plan to install next week.
 
Been looking at the Blackvue DR750S-2CH 1080 60fps front and 1080 30fps rear.. came to this post to see about the wiring write up...
 
I'm looking at purchasing a Garmin 45 dash cam. Can some of you chime in and let me know if this a good product? Thanks in advance.

I have that same dash cam in my CX-5. Awesome camera and plenty of extra features. It's not ugly at all as anchorman states. I have it set up in my car now. Looks just fine. Very small and blends in nice.
 
I have that same dash cam in my CX-5. Awesome camera and plenty of extra features. It's not ugly at all as anchorman states. I have it set up in my car now. Looks just fine. Very small and blends in nice.

Oh good. It looked a bit intrusive as those “conventional” shaped ones often do. Can you show a photo?
 
I've been using this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)

You can see from the pictures and reviews that it's fairly unobtrusive. I have mine mounted left of the rearview mirror, just peeking from under the frit/dots. It's not noticeable unless you specifically look for it. The wiring is tucked into the headliner and down the A pillar, below the dashboard, and into the 12V cig port. They also give you a wedge tool to do it, and it only took 5-10 minutes to install.
 
Oh good. It looked a bit intrusive as those “conventional” shaped ones often do. Can you show a photo?

Here you go. Wish the USB input was on the other side but that small wire doesn't bother me at all. Barely see it.
5v50th.jpg
 
Back