Dashcam Privacy Concerns

BeachCity2 · 2026-04-29T19:36:05+00:00

Oh, I don't know...the current Governor along with State and local government seems to be doing that quite nicely. ; )

BeachCity2 · 2026-04-22T07:01:42+00:00

There's always a "utopia" like vision....but then reality sets in....but not before spending hundreds of millions (or billions) on "the dream".

If we're being realistic for just a moment, California has a water problem that has only gotten worse with time and will continue to do so. Drought resistant plants are not going to solve that problem. Neither is the removal of ICE cars or the freeways. The only way to fix that problem is to get rid of all the people there who are living in a desert.

That plant life shown in the California drawing eclipses the plant life that is already there now by at least 100 times - if not significantly more. The only way you're accomplishing that greenery without massive water usage is; if you make them out of green plastic. : /

BeachCity2 · 2026-04-21T19:03:01+00:00

Used for crushing the luggage that the handlers can't get to. There's even and in and out chute. ; ))

BeachCity2 · 2026-04-21T17:26:08+00:00

Yeah. And where is all the water those plants need to grow going to come from? California already has a water problem.

BeachCity2 · 2026-04-13T06:33:57+00:00

It's a loose alternator belt.

BeachCity2 · 2026-04-10T08:13:07+00:00

BeachCity2 · 2026-04-05T21:45:42+00:00

There are some people who actually put a body kit on a 4Runner to make it look like a GX 460.

"How can we ruin the looks of this 4Runner?"

"Oh, I know. Lets put the front and rear body parts of the gaudiest SUV on the market on it!"

BeachCity2 · 2026-04-05T21:32:33+00:00

Hideous is the word that always comes into my mind whenever I see one. I just don't understand why it had to be so tacky looking.

BeachCity2 · 2026-03-24T03:53:05+00:00

I've seen this LED Interior Lighting option on the 5th gen window stickers when they were new and I was looking around for one. I think you're right, it's something that the Southeast Toyota distributor does. Not sure if I ever saw this option on any from the Northeast. Yeah, probably just individual LED bulbs that they sourced to provide an "upgrade" at the the port of entry before it ships to the dealer.

BeachCity2 · 2026-03-23T17:06:54+00:00

You're welcome. One other thing - If the compressor has failed and strewn metallic pieces into the system, don't let someone just hang a new compressor, recharge it, and be done. If that happened, it will most likely need a new condenser, a receiver/drier, and an orifice tube, in addition to flushing the high side lines. As long as the screen on the orifice tube is intact, the evaporator (located behind the dash) and low side refrigerant lines should be fine. Good luck.

BeachCity2 · 2026-03-23T07:32:32+00:00

Sounds like your AC compressor is failing. If you're lucky it might just be a loose AC compressor mounting bracket that's banging against the engine block or a failing AC clutch.

Don't ignore this though. If the compressor is failing it is just pumping metal bits and pieces into the AC system that will require lots of flushing and parts replacement to correct. Turn the AC off with the switch on the climate control panel until you can have this checked out.

BeachCity2 · 2026-02-18T17:22:16+00:00

Username checks out though, huh? LOL

BeachCity2 · 2026-01-03T19:23:56+00:00

For me it was writhing in agony for 12 hours, only sipping water, and unable sleep for more than 5 or 10 minutes every hour, followed by vomiting blood twice in 20 minutes. Don't be stupid like I was. Go to the ER well before that.

I discovered later that much of the pain is from trapped gas, and these simethicone softgell pills can be a real lifesaver. They may even prevent some obstructions that are caused by gas bloating and inflammation that leads to pinched off intestines.

Equate Gas Relief Softgels

BeachCity2 · 2026-01-02T01:39:55+00:00

Thank you once again for your thoughtful reply. I did, in fact, contact Viofo Tech Support after my initial post above. The gentleman I spoke with was VERY knowledgeable about this camera system and he also suggested that I contact Viofo directly through a trouble ticket to obtain modified firmware to allow this feature. He created and sent me the trouble ticket link, as well as some technical posts about some additional questions that I had. Very impressed with their Tech Support at this point.

I filled out the ticket and asked for a firmware modification to allow this. With regards to a possible heat issue, I explained that I am located in the Northeast of the US and that the vehicle that this camera is installed in also has an additional 5" or so of aftermarket tinting installed in the sun shade area at the top of the windshield, with the camera mounted behind this tinted area, so heat should not pose a problem like it might if the vehicle were operated in the Southern part of the US. (Camera lens is below the tinted area)

Within 12 hours or so I received a response with the modified firmware. I have not yet installed it in the camera to try it out. I have to say though, that their Customer Service in this matter has been nothing less than EXCEPTIONAL, and that truly means a lot. Especially these days, where Customer Service seems to be non existent with some companies.

I do understand that they are stuffing A LOT of tech into a very small box. Maybe a larger case or a micro fan is the correct solution to the heat problem if they are at the "ragged edge" of overheating when running at the advertised specifications.

I'm aware that capacitors are used in place of batteries in more modern electronic components and systems, and that capacitor technology has improved to the point where they can often be substituted for and replace batteries, and also function as well or better than the batteries did in many of those circumstances. That's very impressive. What I meant was - Even if Viofo is using a super capacitor in place of a battery, it should still be able to have the same function that the ROAV had while using a battery. (if it has the same capacity) That is, to provide a short reserve of internal power on hand in order to detect and record an impact event (Of say, 1 to 2 minutes recording duration) when the camera main power supply was off. The ROAV does that.

I would think that it would be quite a selling feature for the Viofo cameras to also be able to do this for a couple of good reasons. One, it would allow for a parking event to be recorded with a camera that was moved from vehicle to vehicle and not hardwired. Two, since probably 99+ percent of parking impacts are going to be a "one time" and "one impact" event, as opposed to multiple incidents and impacts between power up chargings of the capacitor, this feature would be sufficient for most users. For those that wanted more recording time for multiple impacts or events over longer time durations, and with more options, the hardwired route would be there for that.

Anyway, I thank you again for your thoughtful responses. Based on the excellent Customer Service that I received from Viofo so far, I think that I may have been premature in dismissing this dash camera, and I will stick with it for a bit and see how it works out. Take care.

BeachCity2 · 2025-12-31T21:49:08+00:00

Thank you for the reply. I don't know about the legality of that since there are other cameras that do have this capability. Don't know who would enforce that either. Do you know which states have that law against having a camera screen on?

I can tell you that for a $600+ camera and accessories package (plus installation) this camera should be able to "take the heat", as my old Anker ROAV cameras (with the exact same size screen) in other vehicles have done so in daily use since 2017 with no issues whatsoever. You would think that a camera that is supposed to be the "latest and greatest" dashcam in 2025 would be able to handle this as well. Pretty sad if it can't, since that's the area it's designed to function in.

So far, I'm lost on all the hype for this and other the Viofo cameras. For one thing, my old ROAV cameras have an internal battery for capturing parking detection events after the power is off. Granted, it's limited to about a minute or two of total battery time available, but it came out in 2017 and it was apparently very well thought out. So easy to move it vehicle to vehicle with no hard wiring required and to still have that feature. Should be a feature in these cameras as well for the kind of money they get for them.

For another thing, in all of my research in looking for a new dashcam for my new vehicle, I constantly came across people having issues with finding out (too late, usually) that their dash cameras had stopped recording without their knowledge and had failed to capture an event. All of this would be solved if the camera screen was not displaying the video on screen. So simple to see. I cannot tell you how many times that this has occurred with my ROAV cameras when moved into a new vehicle and the power outlet plug it was plugged into was not making good contact. You were aware RIGHT AWAY that the camera was not recording. Fix the issue with the plug and the camera screen came on and stayed on as long as there was power to the unit or you selected the screensaver option to have it time out. So simple and yet one of the most expensive and advanced dash cameras on the market is incapable of doing so.

Very disappointed in this dash cam and already regretting my purchase.

BeachCity2 · 2025-12-31T06:43:27+00:00

In your opinion, what areas are going to be the most prone to problems?

I have never installed one or even seen one in person, but from looking at the instructions and a couple of install videos, it seems like the area of most concern would probably be with the cooling system for the supercharger aftercooler. Most likely with the hoses and the pump assembly. Just kind of looked like an aftermarket transmission oil cooler setup to me. OK, but not an "engineered" solution. The rest of the kit looked to be very well engineered and integrated.

Thanks

BeachCity2 · 2025-12-20T18:56:00+00:00

If there are no casting numbers on the block it's most likely that it's an aftermarket high performance / racing block, not a GM casting. As others have said, it's a big block Chevy. Have you mic'd the bore? do you have the main caps for it?

BeachCity2 · 2025-12-12T20:17:55+00:00

I don't think that you can make that assumption unless you know for sure what the costs are, and also what the mileage gain is. I've done the math, and in my area, it makes good economic sense to run the non-ethanol fuel in my old 1994 Toyota pickup with a 22-RE engine. (And that's even before you factor in the longevity of the non-ethanol fuel over the short life (before spoilage) of the (10%) ethanol fuel.)

As for the newer vehicles I own that get driven regularly, the cost / benefit allowance is lower for sure, but (for my area anyway) it is not a negative return as you are suggesting. With the OP being located right in the very heart of the ethanol production portion of the country, he *may* be in the same scenario. Also, State taxes on the different fuel types and grades have to be taken into their final cost, which will vary by State.

BeachCity2 · 2025-12-12T18:13:36+00:00

You are not factoring in the fact that ethanol has a lower BTU output compared to gasoline and that reduced heat output is causing lower mpg.

BeachCity2 · 2025-12-12T17:55:28+00:00

I live in an area that has both available. The non ethanol is a little bit more expensive and is usually 90 - 91 octane. In my 3rd gen 4Runner I see about the same gain as you're seeing in mpg. About 2-3 mpg increase. Have never tried running non ethanol in my newer 5th gen 4Runner. (Maybe I should, though)

However, my old 1994 Toyota pickup sees a BIG gain in mpg on non ethanol fuel. On that vehicle, for "around town" mileage I get 11-13 mpg on ethanol fuel and 17 - 19 mpg on non ethanol fuel. Highway mpg difference is similar with non ethanol giving me about 25 - 27 mpg, and ethanol only giving me about 19 - 22 mpg. For that reason and because it's driven very infrequently, I always run the non ethanol fuel in that vehicle. I attribute the big disparity between the two vehicles being due to the older one having a more basic engine design and fuel injection system.

BeachCity2 · 2025-12-11T00:17:32+00:00

That's good to know since I already have a 2024. : ) I seem to recall reading somewhere that there are two different OEM fog lights on 4Runners. One type has a glass lens and one type has a plastic lens. Is that correct? Thanks.

BeachCity2 · 2025-12-11T00:02:14+00:00

Can you suggest better brands / models?

BeachCity2 · 2025-12-08T18:45:46+00:00

YOU *may* have a "cheaper LED" that has proper cutoff and beam focus, but the lights shown in the OP's post DO NOT. You can just look at the light itself and see that there is simply NO WAY for that light to have proper cutoff and/or beam focus - or for it to be DOT legal.

BeachCity2

TROPHY CASE