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Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

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Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#191

Post by mellavora »

nephanth wrote: post #180
kersplody wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nah, the NSA doesn't need to bug your car. All cars after 2016 or so come pre bugged with an OnStar/StarLink/BMW Assist Remote/etc Telemetry System continuously sending data over 3G or LTE. Conveniently, the manufacturers already sell this data in an "anonymised" form. ( cough Otonomo cough Wejo). Private companies are so much scarier than the NSA when it comes to privacy -- you have none -- your life's data is to be…

I wonder how those telemetry systems work for EU customers. Cause that sounds pretty much illegal under GDPR (non-consented tracking, data stored overseas...)

Works just fine. The major German carmakers have an alliance to share data, and treat cars as roving sensor networks.

The data is used for improved road safety (real-time traffic jam awareness) and also so premium clients can find parking spots.

Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#192

Post by mellavora »

ClumsyPilot wrote: post #185
kersplody wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nah, the NSA doesn't need to bug your car. All cars after 2016 or so come pre bugged with an OnStar/StarLink/BMW Assist Remote/etc Telemetry System continuously sending data over 3G or LTE. Conveniently, the manufacturers already sell this data in an "anonymised" form. ( cough Otonomo cough Wejo). Private companies are so much scarier than the NSA when it comes to privacy -- you have none -- your life's data is to be…

> "Private companies are so much scarier than the NSA" We are in the long swing where people think only state tyrany matters. They forgot how bad private tyrany can get, of robber barons were.

or state-enabled abortion vigilantes.

Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#193

Post by BayAreaEscapee »

dilyevsky wrote: post #137
hirvi74 wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No manual I have ever driven will even start without the clutch engaged, so I assume a remote starter can bypass that somehow? 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).

You haven’t driven a lot of manuals then. My friend’s dad once got his hyundai up the porch starting it with a gear in.

I think that modern cars have electronics that keep you from starting the car without the clutch pressed. Cars I owned in the 80s and 90s would engage the starter when you turned the keys. Cars since then won't engage the starter unless the clutch is in.

Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#194

Post by rightbyte »

fortran77 wrote: post #154
sgtnoodle wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They put them in so that they can use a single key fob to open up all the cars in the lot. There's a socket that accepts a module. When they sell the car, they pop out their key fob module and pop in the "security system" blinking LED module and try to upsell you $1K for the privilege of having your wire harness butchered.

This is the most accurate answer in this thread. Toyota dealers in Northern California did this to me twice on new cars. (A third party autosound guy removed it and fixed the harness for me) Even though we always pay in full for cars, the dealer has you talk to the finance guy who will try to sell you useless addons like undercoating and an “alarm system” which has already been butchered into the car by the dealer. (…

> useless addons like undercoating

Bad example really. Depending on car age that might be insane value.

If people treated their cars like boats the car bodies would last for 30 years easely. Take it up once a year and paint the belly ...

Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#195

Post by bsenftner »

kersplody wrote: post #153
burrows wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, people are just imagining the NSA led global surveillance apparatus.

Nah, the NSA doesn't need to bug your car. All cars after 2016 or so come pre bugged with an OnStar/StarLink/BMW Assist Remote/etc Telemetry System continuously sending data over 3G or LTE. Conveniently, the manufacturers already sell this data in an "anonymised" form. ( cough Otonomo cough Wejo). Private companies are so much scarier than the NSA when it comes to privacy -- you have none -- your life's data is to be…

And this is exactly why I have a manufactured in 2016 Subaru. I saw this regulation going into effect, investigated what vehicle would last the longest, and purchased the last available non-snitch personal vehicle generation.

We're in the initial stages of a new dark age for humanity. Surveillance Capitalism and our generalized Adult Immaturity is going to swallow the free world, and it may be hundreds of years before actual human maturity develops to allow whatever comes after.

Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#196

Post by mtrower »

ehnto wrote: post #163
NikolaNovak wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 manua…

I didn't realize the percentage of manual transmissions was so low, no wonder the car culture there seems to idolize it. In my climate, on a 45c day, inside the car's going to be more than that. It's definitely a workout for the generally imported car's A/C unit. I am guilty of turning the car on and waiting under a tree or something for the AC to bring the temperature down to at least ambient. I'm looking at a serie…

> I didn't realize the percentage of manual transmissions was so low, no wonder the car culture there seems to idolize it.

Yeah, it's getting more and more difficult to even buy them at all over here. Rather slim pickings.

Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#197

Post by themulticaster »

judge2020 wrote: post #57
morpheuskafka wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Manufacturers must prove a modification to a car caused the fault in a product to deny an otherwise-covered warranty issue, regardless of who installed it. As for if this device kills the battery or what-have-you, i'm not sure what sort of liability the dealership is taking.

Does this apply even if the manufacturer adds a clause like "any modification not authorized by [manufacturer] or performed by a [manufacturer]-approved repair shop voids the warranty"?

Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#198

Post by mtrower »

BayAreaEscapee wrote: post #193
dilyevsky wrote: post #137

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You haven’t driven a lot of manuals then. My friend’s dad once got his hyundai up the porch starting it with a gear in.

I think that modern cars have electronics that keep you from starting the car without the clutch pressed. Cars I owned in the 80s and 90s would engage the starter when you turned the keys. Cars since then won't engage the starter unless the clutch is in.

Even my 80s and 90s cars have a clutch switch (though the 87 is Japanese, can't speak for American cars in that decade). No pedal, no start.

Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#199

Post by CraigJPerry »

aaaaaaaaaaab wrote: post #187
Gordonjcp wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Brake light flashers"?

https://www.customled.com/collections/brake-light-flashers-a...

That's pretty wild that this is sold as aftermarket. This is baked into VAG & BMW car products for at least the last 12 years, and it was on my 2015 S1000XR, but it'll only activate under hard braking scenarios. I don't know if i'd want this to activate for every brake press, at least here in the UK i've gotten used to the idea flashing brake lights = car ahead is braking very hard.

Re: Help me identify possible tracking device found in my car

#200

Post by andrepd »

kersplody wrote: post #153
burrows wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, people are just imagining the NSA led global surveillance apparatus.

Nah, the NSA doesn't need to bug your car. All cars after 2016 or so come pre bugged with an OnStar/StarLink/BMW Assist Remote/etc Telemetry System continuously sending data over 3G or LTE. Conveniently, the manufacturers already sell this data in an "anonymised" form. ( cough Otonomo cough Wejo). Private companies are so much scarier than the NSA when it comes to privacy -- you have none -- your life's data is to be…

I wonder what percentage of people are aware that their car is tracking them at all times. Surveillance capitalism is scary.
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