Picture this: you’re driving, confident that your trusty dash cam is recording every moment, acting as your silent witness on the road. But then you notice it. The screen lights up, the startup chime plays, it records for a few seconds, and then… it goes dark. A moment later, the process repeats. Your Dash Cam Keeps Turning On And Off, and that feeling of security quickly turns into a wave of frustration. What’s the point of having an eyewitness if it keeps passing out?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common and maddening issues dash cam owners face. But the good news is, it’s often caused by a handful of simple, fixable problems. Before you decide to toss your camera out the window, let’s play detective. Think of me as your guide from Dash Cam On, and together, we’ll walk through the usual suspects and get your silent witness back on duty, full-time.
The Root Causes: Why Your Dash Cam is Power Cycling
When a dash cam keeps turning on and off, it’s essentially stuck in a reboot loop. This usually means it’s not getting what it needs to operate smoothly. The issue almost always boils down to one of four areas: Power, Storage, Heat, or Software. Let’s break them down, starting with the easiest to check.
1. The Power Supply: Is Your Dash Cam Getting Enough Juice?
Your dash cam is a thirsty little device. It needs a stable, consistent flow of power to function correctly. Any interruption, however brief, can cause it to restart. This is the absolute first place you should investigate.
- The 12V Power Adapter (Cigarette Lighter Adapter): These little adapters are often the weakest link. They can come loose, have faulty internal connections, or simply not provide enough amperage.
- How to Fix: Unplug it and plug it back in firmly. Wiggle it a bit to see if it causes a restart. The best test? If you have another 12V USB adapter (like your phone charger), try using it with your dash cam’s USB cable to see if the problem persists.
- The USB Cable Itself: Over time, USB cables get bent, pinched in doors, and stressed. An internal break in the wire can lead to an unstable power connection that causes the reboot loop.
- How to Fix: Swap it out for a different, high-quality USB cable. Make sure it’s a data-and-power cable, not just a cheap charging-only cable, as some dash cams require a data connection for proper function.
- The 12V Socket: Sometimes the car’s socket is the culprit. It could be a blown fuse or a loose internal connection.
- How to Fix: Test the socket with another device, like a phone charger, to confirm it’s working properly. If other devices also fail, check your car’s fuse box.
Expert Tip: According to John Carter, an Automotive Tech Specialist with over 15 years of experience, “People often blame the camera first, but 80% of the time, intermittent power issues are traced back to a cheap or damaged cable or adapter. Always invest in the power delivery components; they’re the lifeblood of your device.”
If you’re using a hardwire kit, ensure all connections are secure and that the kit is not faulty. These kits are generally more reliable but aren’t immune to failure.
2. The Memory Card: The Unsung Hero (or Villain)
This is, without a doubt, the most overlooked cause of a dash cam that keeps turning on and off. A dash cam is constantly writing and rewriting huge amounts of data. This intense workload can wreak havoc on an unprepared memory card.
A faulty, fake, slow, or corrupted SD card can cause the dash cam’s processor to freeze or crash, triggering an automatic restart.
- Card Speed and Class: Dash cams recording in HD or 4K require cards that can handle a high data write speed. Using a slow, old card is like trying to fill a firehose with a garden hose—it just can’t keep up.
- What to Look For: Always use a Class 10, U3, V30 rated card. More importantly, look for a “High Endurance” card. These are specifically designed for the constant rewriting that dash cams and security cameras perform.
- Corrupted Data: Over time, files on the card can become corrupted, preventing the camera from writing new files and causing it to crash.
- Fake Cards: The market is flooded with counterfeit SD cards that are advertised as having a large capacity (e.g., 128GB) but are actually much smaller (e.g., 16GB). Once you fill up the real capacity, the card fails and causes the camera to reboot.
How to Troubleshoot Your SD Card:
- Run it Without a Card: Turn on your dash cam without the SD card inserted. If it powers on and stays on (it will likely show an “Insert SD Card” error), you’ve found your culprit.
- Format the Card: Place the SD card in your computer and perform a full format (not a “quick” format). This can fix corrupted sectors. For best results, use the official SD Card Formatter tool from the SD Association. After formatting, put it back in the dash cam and format it again using the camera’s built-in menu option.
- Test the Card: Use a computer program like H2testw to verify the true capacity and speed of your card to ensure it’s not a fake.
- Replace the Card: If all else fails, the card has likely reached the end of its life. Replace it with a new, high-quality, high-endurance card from a reputable brand like SanDisk, Samsung, or Transcend. Check out our guide on how to choose the best SD card for your dash cam.
3. Overheating: When Your Camera Needs to Chill Out
Dash cams live a tough life, sitting on a hot windshield in direct sunlight. Electronics generate their own heat, and when you add the sun’s greenhouse effect inside a car, temperatures can soar. Most dash cams have a thermal protection circuit that will shut the device down to prevent permanent damage. In some cases, this can manifest as a reboot loop as it tries to cool down, fails, and shuts off again.
- Symptoms: Is the problem worse on hot, sunny days? Does the camera feel very hot to the touch?
- How to Fix:
- Whenever possible, park in the shade or use a reflective sunshade.
- Ensure the dash cam’s vents aren’t blocked.
- Some dash cams with a feature called Parking Mode are built with better heat resistance. If you live in a hot climate, this is a crucial feature to consider.
4. Firmware Glitches: The Ghost in the Machine
Firmware is the operating software that runs your dash cam. Just like the software on your phone or computer, it can sometimes have bugs or glitches that cause instability, leading to random restarts.
- How to Fix: Visit your dash cam manufacturer’s website and check the support section for your specific model. They often release firmware updates that fix bugs, improve stability, and even add new features. The update process usually involves downloading a file to your SD card and letting the camera install it upon startup.
Warning: Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for firmware updates precisely. A failed update can render your device unusable.
A Step-by-Step Checklist to Fix Your Rebooting Dash Cam
Feeling overwhelmed? Let’s simplify. Follow these steps in order.
- Power Test:
- [ ] Unplug and securely re-plug the 12V adapter.
- [ ] Swap the USB cable with a known-good one.
- [ ] Try a completely different 12V adapter and/or a USB power bank to rule out your car’s socket.
- SD Card Diagnosis:
- [ ] Power on the dash cam with the SD card removed. If it stays on, the card is the problem.
- [ ] Fully format the SD card in a computer, then again in the dash cam.
- [ ] If the problem returns, replace the SD card with a new, high-endurance model from a trusted brand.
- Environmental Check:
- [ ] Check if the unit is overheating. Allow it to cool down and see if the issue resolves.
- Software Update:
- [ ] Check the manufacturer’s website for a firmware update for your model.
If you’ve gone through this entire list and your dash cam keeps turning on and off, it’s time to consider that the device itself may have a hardware fault. At this point, your best bet is to contact the manufacturer’s customer support. If it’s under warranty, they should be able to repair or replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can a full SD card cause my dash cam to restart?
A: Not usually. A properly functioning dash cam with loop recording will automatically overwrite the oldest files when the card is full. However, if a file becomes corrupted and “read-only,” the camera can’t overwrite it, which can cause a system crash and restart. This is why regular formatting is recommended.
Q2: How often should I format my dash cam’s SD card?
A: It’s good practice to format your SD card directly within the dash cam’s menu about once a month. This clears out any potential file corruption and ensures the camera can write data smoothly, prolonging the life of your card and preventing issues like the reboot loop.
Q3: My Dash Cam Only restarts when I hit a bump. What’s wrong?
A: This is a classic sign of a loose power connection. The jolt from the bump is enough to briefly disconnect the power. Check the 12V adapter and the USB cable connection at both ends. Make sure they are seated very firmly.
Q4: Will a hardwire kit fix the problem of my dash cam turning on and off?
A: It can, if the problem is with your 12V cigarette lighter socket or the adapter. A hardwire kit provides a more stable, permanent power source directly from the car’s fuse box. It’s a great upgrade for reliability and for enabling features like parking mode.
Q5: Why does my dash cam work at home with a wall adapter but not in the car?
A: This is a fantastic troubleshooting step! If it works perfectly at home, you have successfully proven the dash cam and its USB cable are fine. The problem is 100% related to the power source in your car—either the 12V adapter or the socket itself.
Your Reliable Witness Deserves a Reliable Setup
Having a dash cam is like having an impartial witness with you on every drive, ready to back you up when you need it most. But that witness is only useful if it’s awake and paying attention. A dash cam that keeps turning on and off is a liability, not an asset.
By methodically checking your power source, SD card, and firmware, you can solve this frustrating problem the vast majority of the time. Investing in a high-quality power cable and a high-endurance SD card isn’t an expense; it’s an investment in reliability and your peace of mind. After all, the one time you truly need that footage is not the time you want to discover your camera was taking a nap.
Drive safe, and make sure your silent witness is always on the job.