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So, long story short, it's not a tracking device, it's an aftermarket alarm system? Guess what folks: with few exceptions, no one cares about tracking you. Enough with the paranoia already.
Although this does appear to be an alarm system, there are several links in these comments to evidence of dealers using tracking devices on financed vehicles. It’s not inconceivable that one of these devices could end up on a vehicle bought outright.
Amazingly paranoid post about what is obviously a car alarm.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Cars built in the last 15 years usually don't need to be warned up: https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/car-technology/a19086/... But yeah, icy/foggy windows are a pain to clear. I live in Montreal, and when I had an ICE car, most days, it was fine to just de-icing the windows, then start the motor, and slowly roll out of the alley. Admittedly, most winter days, it's not that cold. Kind of drives me crazy, the smel…
They don't need to be warmed up for the engine. They still might need to be warmed up for the driver, though.
If 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...
It's amusing to me that someone would go through the effort of deconstructing it, writing a gist, and posting it on HN before literally just googling "device under steering wheel" and seeing other people posting about the _exact_ same device. People tend to imagine their lives are more interesting and worthy of surveillance than they really are :)
Amazingly paranoid post about what is obviously a car alarm.
Wow. 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…
(I would expect that they would be reluctant to name another dealer that was actually innocent, knowing that it could turn into a libel lawsuit.)
Wow. 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?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's amusing to me that someone would go through the effort of deconstructing it, writing a gist, and posting it on HN before literally just googling "device under steering wheel" and seeing other people posting about the _exact_ same device. People tend to imagine their lives are more interesting and worthy of surveillance than they really are :)
Yeah, people are just imagining the NSA led global surveillance apparatus.
the three letter agencies don't care about people who play video games and watch cat videos all day
Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Most people in the US do not drive manuals. You can get them in manuals but you have to hack some stuff, and yea, it will stall your car out if you start it in gear. In the US they are largely for convenience so you can heat or cool your car before you go out.
I always leave my manual car in gear in the opposite the direction the car would be likely to roll if the emergency brake ever failed. (If the car would roll forward, put it in reverse. If it would roll backwards put it in 1st).