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Vantrue Element 3 (E3) User Manual & Troubleshooting Guide
Vantrue E3 playing up? Lost the booklet? No stress.
So you’ve grabbed yourself the Vantrue Element 3 - solid choice for a 3-channel setup. But if you’ve misplaced the manual or it’s started flashing angry lights at you, don’t chuck a wobbly. We’ve pulled together the official digital manual, a breakdown of those voice commands, and some troubleshooting tips to get you back on the road sorted.
💡 Pro Tip: Unlock 24/7 Parking Mode
The E3 has a brilliant parking mode, but it won't work off your cigarette lighter socket alone. To catch hit-and-runs while you're parked, you need to hardwire it to your fuse box.
We recommend the Vantrue Type-C VP01 Hardwire Kit. It monitors your car battery voltage and cuts power before it goes flat - total peace of mind.
Get the Hardwire KitLED Indicators & Voice Commands Cheat Sheet
The E3 talks to you, but sometimes the lights say more than the voice. Here’s a quick legend to decode what your dash cam is doing.
| Indicator / Feature | Status / Command | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| REC Light (Green) | Blinking Green | Camera is recording normally. Sweet as. |
| REC Light (Green) | Steady Green | Standby mode (Not recording). Check your SD card! |
| Mic Light | Steady Orange | Audio recording is ON. |
| Voice Command | "Take Photo" | Instantly snaps a still image from all cameras. |
| Voice Command | "Lock the Video" | Saves the current clip to the Emergency folder so it doesn't get overwritten. |
| Voice Command | "Turn on/off Screen" | Handy for night driving if the glare is annoying. |
Common Questions & Fixes
1. Why is my remote control not working?
Ah, the little Bluetooth remote. If it's not snapping photos, the battery might be dead (it uses a CR2032) or it’s lost pairing. To re-pair it, hold the Lock button on the remote for a few seconds while the camera is on until they sync up again.
2. Getting a "Card Error" or "Slow Card" warning?
This is the most common drama. The E3 records 3 channels at once - that's a lot of data. Cheap or old SD cards can't keep up. Make sure you use a U3 A2 High Endurance card (like the Vantrue High Endurance card or Samsung PRO Endurance). Format the card inside the camera menu every month to keep it fresh.
3. Why isn't the GPS speed showing on my video?
Check your mount! The power cable must be plugged into the mount, not the camera body directly, for the GPS to work. Also, jump into the settings and ensure "GPS Stamp" is toggled ON.
4. Rear camera light stays on?
Yeah, the green LED on the rear unit is a power indicator. It stays on to let you know it's connected. You can't turn it off in the settings, but a tiny piece of electrical tape does the trick if it bugs you in the rearview mirror.