Apart from the “Regularly format your Memory Card for data integrity” error that pops up periodically on this camera, my 3.5 years old dashcam was working fine until recently. I started noticing the date and timestamps on the recordings were randomly in the future, say 2106.
No matter, how many times I reset the GPS Setting on the Dashcam Viewer app, the time wasn’t getting set correctly and even if it did, it didn’t stay after a while. The obvious suspect was the GPS RTC rechargeable battery, usually the Seiko SII MS621F FL11E.
Getting the dashcam removed from the car is easy and straightforward. However, the dismantling of the camera is a little tricky as the tear down steps are not easy to find anywhere on the internet. There are 4 x Phillips head screws to remove on the bottom of the camera (Top from the mounted view). Once they are removed, pry the top section (The opposite side where the buttons are located) gently using a prying tool or plastic spudger.
Once the access panel button side is pried open, carefully remove the flex cable that connects the access panel buttons to the mainboard. There’s 1 x Phillips head screw that holds the curved side panel. Once removed, you can gently slide the curved edge upwards to pry it open and run through the retention clips using a spudger to pry it open fully.
Once both the covers are removed, the mainboard is exposed with a sandwich style where two boards are connected with jumpers. Gently wiggle the board out of the casing and flip it to the bottom side to reveal the GPS RTC Battery.
Gently de-solder and remove the old battery and measure the voltage. If the voltage is any less than 2.8v, the battery is dead and needs a replacement.
Carefully solder the new battery without shorting the legs.
Tip: I used Rodico putty on the sharp plastic spudger to hold the battery in place while I soldered the legs to the mainboard. Also, check the new battery for adequate voltage before soldering it in.
Now, it’s time to assemble everything back in order. It’s the reverse of the disassembly steps. Once assembled, you need to mount the camera back and connect the power as well as the rear camera data cable. If your camera is a single channel camera with only front view, you may not have any other data cable to connect to and you may skip this step.
You need to park your vehicle in an open space to get good GPS signal to sync the time settings on the camera. If the time is not getting synchronized, connect to the camera using the Dashcam Viewer App from your Mobile Phone. Go to GPS Info and reset GPS Settings. This would force your GPS to sync and your time will get updated.
Hi where can I buy this thinkware f770 battery.
You can find them on local shopping sites like Shopee and Lazada. Just search for MS621F FL11E
Thank you
Thanks, I was seriously thinking getting rid of F770 because none of suggestion of how to fix the date and time problem was working. But it all make sense now a new RTc battery.
Thanks again
WK
I’m glad that you found the root cause and it’s relatively an easy fix 🙂
Hi. Thanks for this wonderful info on how to replace the f770 internal battery. The thinkware dashcam shop told me the problem I have is the internal battery and it can’t be replace have to install a new set… i had followed your info and managed to dismantled it and ordered a new battery from aliExpress for just a few dollars. Thank you so much..
I’m glad that it worked for you!
Hi Anand
My appreciation for your invaluable info also.
Mine had same issue & the dealer said a dashcam lifetime is only about 3 years and this model is already obsolete and beyond repair !. Bought the battery from Shopee at SGD2.99 for a set of 2 and it saves me almost 1K to change to a new model. The battery was charged to 2.72V probably for storage purpose ?. After some driving around it must have been recharged to the required minimum 2V then the GPS timing was updated and the problem solved.
Awesome! Happy to hear that another one saved from landfill!