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Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

thetruthaboutcars.com

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Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#51

Post by mint2 »

rurp wrote: post #29

Somewhat related to this, I've recently been shopping for a new car to replace my current Subaru that I've had for over a decade. It's been a great car so I figured I'd get another Subaru but, man, some of the newer "features" have completely turned me off to the company. One is a system called DriverFocus that monitors the drivers face, runs some sort of facial recognition software, and alerts anytime it doesn't thi…

Btw Starting 2024 or maybe it was 2026 all cars will have anti-DUI tech. I.e most likely cameras of some sort detecting if one is drunk.

Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#52

Post by mgarfias »

tssva wrote: post #41
rurp wrote: post #29

Somewhat related to this, I've recently been shopping for a new car to replace my current Subaru that I've had for over a decade. It's been a great car so I figured I'd get another Subaru but, man, some of the newer "features" have completely turned me off to the company. One is a system called DriverFocus that monitors the drivers face, runs some sort of facial recognition software, and alerts anytime it doesn't thi…

Subaru has a long history of questionable safety features which can't be turned off. My parents used to have a 1983 Subaru GL sedan. It had a digital display. If you exceeded 55 Mph, the US national maximum speed limit at the time, redlines would appear beneath the speedometer digits and a buzzer would sound as long as the speed exceeded 55. There was no official way to disable the buzzer although I'm sure some enter…

In 2014 I was in German and re Ted an Audi A1. It screamed at me at 200km/h (or maybe it was 180?). Anyway, it was super annoying.

Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#53

Post by newaccount74 »

rurp wrote: post #29

Somewhat related to this, I've recently been shopping for a new car to replace my current Subaru that I've had for over a decade. It's been a great car so I figured I'd get another Subaru but, man, some of the newer "features" have completely turned me off to the company. One is a system called DriverFocus that monitors the drivers face, runs some sort of facial recognition software, and alerts anytime it doesn't thi…

In my time as an ambulance driver I was surprised how many accidents were caused by people just not looking at the road!

I'd wonder, how could two cars collide like that, and the only explanation I could find was that the drivers just weren't looking.

It sounds like they need to work on false alarms, but in principle I believe that software like this is going to save many lives, more than automatic driving.

Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#54

Post by suetoniusp »

newaccount74 wrote: post #53
rurp wrote: post #29

Somewhat related to this, I've recently been shopping for a new car to replace my current Subaru that I've had for over a decade. It's been a great car so I figured I'd get another Subaru but, man, some of the newer "features" have completely turned me off to the company. One is a system called DriverFocus that monitors the drivers face, runs some sort of facial recognition software, and alerts anytime it doesn't thi…

In my time as an ambulance driver I was surprised how many accidents were caused by people just not looking at the road! I'd wonder, how could two cars collide like that, and the only explanation I could find was that the drivers just weren't looking. It sounds like they need to work on false alarms, but in principle I believe that software like this is going to save many lives, more than automatic driving.

The problem with this is its a black box of complexity that the user has no control over that effects the usefulness of a product they "own". When it breaks they have no recourse but to bring it to a "Company" repair shop and pay to have it fixed. They cant upgrade it they cant modify it they cant turn it off. Its modern day "Company store" bullshit

Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#55

Post by dreamcompiler »

grishka wrote: post #50
dmitrygr wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Predictably, manufacturers keep making this harder and harder. They make money from the data and don't want to lose that. In my old corvette, it was a simple as pulling fuse 27. In the 2022 model that breaks other things (compass, Bluetooth), so I’m going to go find the lte antenna connectors and replace them with 50ohm resistors whenever I have a free weekend next.

It does have to have a SIM card somewhere in it, right? Can't you just pull that out? And if it refuses to work without one, put a SIM card that's disconnected or is from a foreign country.

Trouble is the car has GPS too, so if it saw you were in the US with a non-US SIM card it might decide to insist you take it to a dealer. That's why I like the 50 ohm resistor idea.

Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#56

Post by grishka »

dreamcompiler wrote: post #55
grishka wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does have to have a SIM card somewhere in it, right? Can't you just pull that out? And if it refuses to work without one, put a SIM card that's disconnected or is from a foreign country.

Trouble is the car has GPS too, so if it saw you were in the US with a non-US SIM card it might decide to insist you take it to a dealer. That's why I like the 50 ohm resistor idea.

Right, I tend to forget that most devices come with malware preinstalled these days.

Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#57

Post by redsparrow »

grishka wrote: post #50
dmitrygr wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Predictably, manufacturers keep making this harder and harder. They make money from the data and don't want to lose that. In my old corvette, it was a simple as pulling fuse 27. In the 2022 model that breaks other things (compass, Bluetooth), so I’m going to go find the lte antenna connectors and replace them with 50ohm resistors whenever I have a free weekend next.

It does have to have a SIM card somewhere in it, right? Can't you just pull that out? And if it refuses to work without one, put a SIM card that's disconnected or is from a foreign country.

SIMs don't have to be removable; there are re-programmable versions called eSIMs. I assume cars are more likely to use these.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESIM

Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#58

Post by rad_gruchalski »

monkeybutton wrote: post #40
rurp wrote: post #29

Somewhat related to this, I've recently been shopping for a new car to replace my current Subaru that I've had for over a decade. It's been a great car so I figured I'd get another Subaru but, man, some of the newer "features" have completely turned me off to the company. One is a system called DriverFocus that monitors the drivers face, runs some sort of facial recognition software, and alerts anytime it doesn't thi…

The manual transmission versions of their models are lacking many of these new features because they are not compatible. Its almost enough to make me want to learn.

Do it. It’s easy.

Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#59

Post by grvdrm »

ploxiln wrote: post #49
monkeybutton wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The manual transmission versions of their models are lacking many of these new features because they are not compatible. Its almost enough to make me want to learn.

You should! It makes driving more interesting and fun, even many years later. It's only really annoying in bumper-to-bumper stop-and-go traffic.

+1 to learning. Absolutely a blast. And frankly I don’t even find it annoying in traffic. These days lots of sticks have hill assist so don’t have to worry as much about the delicate process of engaging the clutch on a hill.

Now missing my 2015 GTI with a 6-speed stick. One of the most fun cars to drive.

Re: Right-to-Repair causes Subaru to disable telematics in Massachusetts

#60

Post by grishka »

redsparrow wrote: post #57
grishka wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does have to have a SIM card somewhere in it, right? Can't you just pull that out? And if it refuses to work without one, put a SIM card that's disconnected or is from a foreign country.

SIMs don't have to be removable; there are re-programmable versions called eSIMs. I assume cars are more likely to use these. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESIM

Yes, I know, my current phone has one in it but I haven't used it yet, but should be handy for traveling (you can use it in dual-SIM mode by keeping the physical SIM card installed). This is a relatively new technology, and I keep seeing people say that the automotive industry really likes to stay behind on hardware. So I don't think it's likely they're putting these into cars just yet.
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