I've seen this quite a bit from dealerships that purchase rental vehicles from suppliers after they've become out of date, or the rental company wants to offload them. The rental company won't bother removing the tracking/remote start bundle, and the dealer will happily sell it none the wiser, or worse, as a added feature.
Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
41–50 of 268 posts
Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
#42If you google KARR Honda or KARR Alarm you should find some better information. I found identical looking devices by using Google Lens and focusing on just the black box with the green button. https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/08/never-buy-car-alar... https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisit/comments/rnr48t/found_unde... https://www.reddit.com/r/subaru/comments/7m9dv9/mysterious_b...
How is it allowed for a dealer to cut wires and install a non OEM-approved electronic device onto the CAN bus? This seems like it would void all the manufacturer warranties and potentially create liability for the manufacturer if it malfunctions.
This seems like it would void all the manufacturer warranties
That's what the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson%E2%80%93Moss_Warranty... is for.
Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
#43Remote starter. They are hack jobs to install. 435 MHz is the frequency the remote uses to start the car.
What is the usecase for a remote starter? I don't really understand why someone would want this. Could even be dangerous if it's left in gear.
Cold weather primarily. You need the engine to warm up before driving and it’s much nicer to have the heater warm up the car and loosen ice on the windows.
You can run outside and start the car then come back, as I did growing up in a cold region, but remote start is sooo much nicer.
Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
#44If you google KARR Honda or KARR Alarm you should find some better information. I found identical looking devices by using Google Lens and focusing on just the black box with the green button. https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/08/never-buy-car-alar... https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisit/comments/rnr48t/found_unde... https://www.reddit.com/r/subaru/comments/7m9dv9/mysterious_b...
Nice, that's exactly the switchgear at least.
Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
#45Aftermarket remote start. Tracking devices don't need to be nearly so complicated nor hard wired into the ignition. If it's a remote kill for a lease/lender then you'd expect some ability to transmit it's location. Why go through all the trouble of installing a remote kill that can't transmit it's location nor actually disable the car (it still works after removal) [edit] Going with the KARR "dealer alarm" per other…
Hrmm, must be a master-key type system as stated above because this car comes from Honda with remote start, which is still working after I excised this weird thing.
Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
#46Remote starter. They are hack jobs to install. 435 MHz is the frequency the remote uses to start the car.
What an interesting coincidence, I was just watching a video on how people keep their cars warm in Yakutia, and this is the sort of thing they use.
Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
#47If the car is new ask Honda if the device should be there, if not ask the dealer a new car. I would never feel safe driving a car tampered by who know who. You say it's a 2020 car, how many miles have you driven with the unknown device plugged and doing its job? Crazy stuff.
No post body was provided.
Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
#48Wow. I can't help you identify the device, but curious if you have any ideas as to who might've installed this. Did your car have a previous owner?
New car, bought from dealer, who swear they did not install it and are blaming another dealer from whom they acquired the vehicle. As far as the dealer goes I intend to make a lot of over-the-top demands and threats until they replace the wiring with all-new OEM parts and a lifetime warranty, but I think I'll start from just pointing to California Penal Code 637.7, demanding a completely new vehicle, and seeing what…
No post body was provided.
Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
#49How about the tracking device I'm your pocket?
[deleted]
Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car
#50Remote starter. They are hack jobs to install. 435 MHz is the frequency the remote uses to start the car.
What is the usecase for a remote starter? I don't really understand why someone would want this. Could even be dangerous if it's left in gear.
It's hyper super duper useful in rough climates. Primarily when it's minus 40 outside and you have kids, it's nice to warm up the car slightly before entering it. If you get spoiled, you might then also remote start it when it's plus 40 outside and you want ac to at least start.
Also note that "if it's left in gear" is virtually irrelevant in North America, fwiw - something like under 2 percent of cars here are manual. Vast majority of vehicles and models do not have it as an option.