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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

#251

Post by sgtnoodle »

api wrote: post #239
hedora wrote: post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When we bought a brand new GMC, Dealer A installed a counterfeit backup camera. Half a tank of gas later, Dealer B claimed the warranty was void because of the camera. We brought it in because the radio kept freaking out and it would drain the battery if left off over night. There was an active recall for both those issues. Dealer C fixed them by installing a firmware update.

Has anyone ever had an actual good experience with an auto dealer?

Our certified pre-owned GMC Acadia spent two months in the dealership. They needed a special tool to fix an emissions issue. GM said it would take 6 months to get the tool, so the dealership ordered one on eBay. They gave us a rental car the whole time, and even swapped it out for a premium trimmed GMC Terrain when we went on a family road trip.

The dealership had previously repaired the moon roof, and inadvertently damaged the headliner. So, while working on the emissions issue they replaced the whole headliner. The replacement is a little cheesier than from the factory, but good enough.

There's still an exterior rattle that they claimed they fixed 3 times now. At least they're trying. Last time I took it in, they removed several trim pieces and drove it around. I'm just going to have to track it down myself I guess.

I bought a new Mustang in 2010, and paid for the 5 year extended service plan. The hood paint corroded and the dealership repainted it, and gave me a rental car for the week. The hood has since corroded again and it's out of warranty now. I am mulling over splurging on a new paint job, with a classic Mustang racing stripe.

Buying the Mustang, I went to three dealerships. The first one, I got a test drive, and then the salesmen just walked away. I think he assumed I wasn't serious when I said I was buying a car that day. The second dealership, the salesman was super sleazy and pushy, and so I walked away. The third dealership, the salesman was really relaxed and professional. He asked if I was financing, and when I said no, he said he didn't like to waste time haggling and was happy just to move inventory. He offered me a price just $200 above the friends-and-family x-code price.

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

#252

Post by CraigJPerry »

Gordonjcp wrote: post #237
CraigJPerry wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I've never seen flashing brake lights, but indicators flash on very hard braking. It first showed up on the first-gen Citroën C5, and was copied by everyone else after that. On the C5, it was part of the "emergency brake assist", which would basically work out that if you were doing an emergency stop, you really wanted to throw out the anchors and dump all the hydraulic pressure into the brakes.

Ahh you’re right - it’s hazards that flash, it’s not the brake lights.

OT: I was wondering if you were gordonjcp of scotlug fame (i don’t expect you’d remember me, i used to attend / was briefly active circa 2002-2004) but the mention of Citroen sealed it :-) hope you’re well!

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

#253

Post by temp_praneshp »

devoutsalsa wrote: post #249
temp_praneshp wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We got a car two weeks ago, the experience at the Acura dealership was pretty good (of course, we got presented the bullshit warranty stuff in the finance manager's room, but we were able to turn everything down for a couple of minutes and things were ok). We also had a good time at a Toyota dealership, but any car buying with them had a $6290 markup....

Next time try generating the sales documentation using markdown.

Re. markdown, why should I? Also, what's sales documentation, is that something I should have received?

Given the state of the market, choosing between many cars wasn't an option, but outside of that, I care that the process is fast, there aren't sneaky charges, and the interaction is respectful. I prefer all my paperwork printed out, and that's what they did by default.

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

#254

Post by hirvi74 »

dilyevsky wrote: post #138
WalterBright wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Put it in 1st to stop the car from moving. Put it in 4th to push start it.

I’ve had most success with 2nd or rear

Same, I have used 2nd gear before, and it worked perfectly fine.

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

#255

Post by hirvi74 »

eurasiantiger wrote: post #143
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).

Just to clarify for less automobile oriented people: The clutch is engaged when the pedal is not being pressed, and disengages when pressed. Starting a manual car in gear without the clutch pedal fully pressed leaves the power train connected to the motor, and so the car moves when the starter motor turns the engine.

I am the GP of the comment, and that was my mistake. Thank you for the clarification because I did not know this. I meant, "the clutch pedal fully pressed" in my GP comment.

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

#256

Post by mdp2021 »

thrdbndndn wrote: post #234
mdp2021 wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hint that suggests a "world" where people keep the GPS connection on as standard practice. Which is perplexing on so many levels, not last that the GPS is one of the most energy costly services I know - consideration relevant between impact on battery life and general "keeping the lights on and the engine running when away".

They mostly don't really use actual GPS. Instead they use AGPS [1] tech that uses nearby hotspots, cellar signal triangulation etc. to get your location. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GNSS

And can you disable it when unneeded (i.e. "99%" of the time) - like you would with GPS (not only because of consumption)?

According to the provided page, Assisted GNSS only works through an Internet connection - to connect to servers that provide cached GPS data. Triangulation comes from other technologies.

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

#257

Post by hirvi74 »

GekkePrutser wrote: post #203
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).

All the cars I've owned in Europe (all manual) had no lock out whatsoever.. No need to press the clutch or brake for the starter too work. Having said that, when I still had a car I used to drive old cars. My newest car was a 2005 Volvo S40. But this was also perfectly capable of starting in gear and with the clutch engaged. My first car still had a choke :)

All of my vehicles were owned in the USA, and maybe that has something to do with it? Every model of car I have driven had this -- late 80s BMW, multiple Volkswagens, and a Jeep Wrangler. Hell, the John Deere farm equipment I grew up using (tractors, old lawn mowers, etc.) all had this too.

> My first car still had a choke :)

What car? Was it a Datsun by chance?

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

#258

Post by rocqua »

junga wrote: post #240
throwaheyy wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems to be caused by the period before the catalytic converter gets up to normal exhaust temperature. “Vehicles fitted with catalytic converters emit most of their total pollution during the first five minutes of engine operation; for example, before the catalytic converter has warmed up sufficiently to be fully effective.” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalytic_converter

Sure. But otoh the car is idling for tens of minutes maybe and possibly no single part of the engine and exhaust system is gaining the needed temperatures to operate cleanly. This means more emissions, more wear and more stressed out neighbours. I'm sure about the last one at least.

There is probably a sweet spot. Certainly, you want to avoid loading a cold engine too much. But don't idle for qn hour either.

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

#259

Post by NonNefarious »

NonNefarious wrote: post #73
judge2020 wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

The law isn't limited to cars.

No post body was provided.

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

#260

Post by fomine3 »

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…

Electric A/C for car is really underrated feature. It is rarely mentioned on hybrid vehicle. Efficient idling is what I want to have at least.
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