Hello, fellow road warriors! This is your trusted team at BlackboxMyCar, back with another detailed installation guide. Today, we're going to walk you through the process of installing the Thinkware U3000 2-channel dash cam in a 2023 Hyundai Tucson using the OBD cable included with the unit. You can book an installation with us here.
This was our first installation of the Thinkware U3000, and we expect to see a lot more of this guy in our installations! This is Thinkware’s latest top-of-the-line flagship model.
Thinkware U3000 4K UHD | Sample Footage
Thinkware U1000 vs U3000 | Comparison
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Start by unboxing your Thinkware U3000 dash cam. Inside the box, you'll find the main camera unit, rear camera, mounting brackets, and OBD cable. The U3000 is a state-of-the-art dash cam featuring built-in radar motion sensors in both the front and rear cameras for more efficient parking mode operation. The front camera is equipped with the new Sony STARVIS 2 IMX 678 image sensor, recording in crisp and clear 4K image quality thanks to this all-new image sensor. The rear camera uses a Sony STARVIS IMX335 sensor, recording at 2K.
The first step is to decide where you want to install your dash cam. The ideal location for the front camera is behind the rearview mirror, with the lens centred on the windshield. This placement allows for a clear view of the road ahead without obstructing your view while driving.
We recommend powering the camera temporarily through the cigarette lighter or OBD cable, and pairing it with your phone. Through the Thinkware Dash Cam Link App, you can live-view from the camera, which will feature angling lines displaying the ideal mounting position and viewing angle for the camera.
Once you've decided on the position, clean the windshield area with a microfiber cloth to ensure a secure fit. Peel off the adhesive backing from the mounting bracket and press it firmly onto the windshield. Attach the main camera unit to the bracket.
For the rear camera, clean the back windshield area where you plan to mount it. Attach the rear camera in the same way as the main unit.
Same as the front camera, you’ll want to check the live-view of the rear camera before mounting, making sure it’s up and running, and using the positioning lines accordingly.You’ll want to specifically make sure that there aren’t any heat strip lines blocking the dash cam’s vision.
As for adjusting the angle of the lens, the U3000 is a little different from other units, namely because of its coin-slot on the side of the unit. Putting a coin, or other similarly shaped objects in the slot and turning will turn the rear camera lens as well, as opposed to other models that would have you manually turning the lens. Trying to turn the lens physically is possible, but will require some proper physical force, and is not recommended.
As you might’ve noticed, the design for the rear camera is definitely a bit longer than other models, which is mainly due to the radar module built into it, the first rear unit to have a radar sensor built-in.
Now, it's time to connect the OBD cable. Locate the OBD port in your Hyundai Tucson 2023 (usually found under the dashboard on the driver's side). Plug the OBD cable into the port.
Aaaand that’s about it for this step! OBD cables are just that simple to wire, to power, as they are a simple plug-and-play connection. For our installation, the OBD port was right underneath the steering wheel, near the driver's footwell.
Route the cable from the main camera to the OBD port, tucking it into the car's headliner and trim to keep it out of sight. For this installation, we wired it up the A-Pillar of the vehicle, taking out the trim of the vehicle, and wiring behind that. Be sure to either avoid or wire behind the airbags, for this installation we wired behind the airbags.
Do the same for the cable connecting the main and rear cameras. To connect these, we ran the rear camera cable along the passenger side of the roof of the vehicle, past the A,B, and C pillars. Using a Trim Tool or other device to get in there can prove helpful.
Since the Hyundai Tucson has a rear liftgate, wiring the rear camera is a bit difficult. At the last part, you’ll need to snake the rear camera through one of the plastic grommets connecting the rear windshield to the vehicle, pulling the cable out of the plastic on the other side.
Finally, start your vehicle to power the dash cam and check if both cameras are working properly. Adjust the camera angles if necessary. If the camera does not naturally go in and out of parking mode with the vehicle’s ignition, check the Thinkware Dash Cam Link App settings, and ensure parking mode is enabled for the camera.
And there you have it! Your Thinkware U3000 2-channel dash cam, with its advanced radar sensors and high-quality Sony STARVIS sensors, is now ready to record your journeys. As always, if you have any questions or need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out to us at BlackboxMyCar. Safe travels!
Planning on installing a dash cam in a different car? Check out our Step-by-Step Dash Cam Installation Guide and our selection of handy installation accessories. And if you ever need a hand during the installation process, just call us; our dash cam specialists are available to help!
Looking to have your dash cam professionally installed, we do offer installation services at our Richmond BC location. Mention this and receive 15% off! Book here.
Please see some of our other dash cam installations in the BlackboxMyCar Dash Cam Installation Gallery.
