Big Brother Tracking Device

[dhaskit]

A funny thing happened to me today;

I was driving my 2024 Maverick FX4 Lariat, which only has 2500 miles on it at this point, and when I turned a corner something hit me on the left foot. I looked down and found this device laying in the floorboard, still connected by wires to the OBD II port.

It’s a GPS tracking device that is manufactured by Spireon and marketed by Kahu/LoJack.
I never requested this device and was never informed of it by Mac Haik Ford, where I purchased the vehicle, in Georgetown, Texas.
The device is marketed to dealerships by Kahu as an Inventory Control device while on the dealer’s lot. It can then be used by the purchaser of the vehicle if they want to pay for a subscription. (Nope. Not me). My dealership did not charge me for it but it would have been nice if they at least told me about it.

The tracker was plugged into the OBD II port. Whoever installed it did a crappy job and just put a rubber band around the device and the OBD port bracket. Obviously the rubber band broke and I found it when it hit my foot.

I have it unplugged and I’m trying to think of a creative use for it, just to jack with the dealership.
Perhaps strap it to a small battery pack and set it just outside the fence of the dealership? Move it every week or so?
Give it to someone who uses loaners or rent cars from dealership’s service department and have them swap it out to confuse the dealership.
Install it in the Sales Manager’s car when he’s not looking?
Go test drive an unsold Maverick the same color as mine and make the GPS unit swap while I’m gone?
I’m open to other creative ideas that you might have.

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[oysterville]

Find yourself a hobby.

 

[AMTRV]

Big Brother?….not hardly

 

[zen_]

I saw this episode before

 

[Joe Strummer]

That's pretty creepy. At a minimum the Dealer should have informed you (or better still removed it).

 

[Sykotyk]

That's pretty creepy. At a minimum the Dealer should have informed you (or better still removed it).

I'm guessing it was supposed to be removed when it was sold. Probably geo tagged so they'd know if the vehicle left their property before it was sold.

Once it was sold it was probably disabled so other than losing the tracker they don't know where the vehicle is any longer.

Just unplug it and take it back. If they really wanted to have a big brother tracker on the car it would not be in the obd port.

 

[BlueSpec1]

The dealer installed in my Escape a TheftPatrol GPS tracker connected to the OBDII port .
I removed it.
It did have a nameplate sticker near the Ford one.

I got an email to register the device also.

 

[Signel]

That's pretty creepy. At a minimum the Dealer should have informed you (or better still removed it).

Bet it was added on your purchase originally, and they didn’t tell you. It is quite common nowadays for them to try and add LoJack type tools, and upsell you a service. Check with your dealer.

 

[identifyasatruck]

A funny thing happened to me today;

Go test drive an unsold Maverick the same color as mine and make the GPS unit swap while I’m gone?

hhmmm...maybe some random Maverick owner took your car for a test drive 2450+ miles ago and did just that to your Maverick. how did that make you feel?

 

[Hoagus]

I’m open to other creative ideas that you might have.

‘They probably just forgot to remove it after the sale. I’d just leave it in the glove box and give it back to the dealer next time you’re in.

 

[1929]

Used it's not worth more than $30.
Into the garbage is the most effort I'd spend on solving the issue.
I'll note that I've purchased vehicles twice in past 6 months. Conversation with selling dealer that any dealer installed tracking device or dealer modifications to wiring required disclosure, would result in no sale. And no flashing, accident causing, target fixation, brake light modifications permitted.
It's not simple buying a vehicle anymore.

 

[Tim d]

A funny thing happened to me today;

I was driving my 2024 Maverick FX4 Lariat, which only has 2500 miles on it at this point, and when I turned a corner something hit me on the left foot. I looked down and found this device laying in the floorboard, still connected by wires to the OBD II port.

It’s a GPS tracking device that is manufactured by Spireon and marketed by Kahu/LoJack.
I never requested this device and was never informed of it by Mac Haik Ford, where I purchased the vehicle, in Georgetown, Texas.
The device is marketed to dealerships by Kahu as an Inventory Control device while on the dealer’s lot. It can then be used by the purchaser of the vehicle if they want to pay for a subscription. (Nope. Not me). My dealership did not charge me for it but it would have been nice if they at least told me about it.

The tracker was plugged into the OBD II port. Whoever installed it did a crappy job and just put a rubber band around the device and the OBD port bracket. Obviously the rubber band broke and I found it when it hit my foot.

I have it unplugged and I’m trying to think of a creative use for it, just to jack with the dealership.
Perhaps strap it to a small battery pack and set it just outside the fence of the dealership? Move it every week or so?
Give it to someone who uses loaners or rent cars from dealership’s service department and have them swap it out to confuse the dealership.
Install it in the Sales Manager’s car when he’s not looking?
Go test drive an unsold Maverick the same color as mine and make the GPS unit swap while I’m gone?
I’m open to other creative ideas that you might have.

You bought it...see how much you can get for it on marketplace.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

A funny thing happened to me today;

I was driving my 2024 Maverick FX4 Lariat, which only has 2500 miles on it at this point, and when I turned a corner something hit me on the left foot. I looked down and found this device laying in the floorboard, still connected by wires to the OBD II port.

It’s a GPS tracking device that is manufactured by Spireon and marketed by Kahu/LoJack.
I never requested this device and was never informed of it by Mac Haik Ford, where I purchased the vehicle, in Georgetown, Texas.
The device is marketed to dealerships by Kahu as an Inventory Control device while on the dealer’s lot. It can then be used by the purchaser of the vehicle if they want to pay for a subscription. (Nope. Not me). My dealership did not charge me for it but it would have been nice if they at least told me about it.

The tracker was plugged into the OBD II port. Whoever installed it did a crappy job and just put a rubber band around the device and the OBD port bracket. Obviously the rubber band broke and I found it when it hit my foot.

I have it unplugged and I’m trying to think of a creative use for it, just to jack with the dealership.
Perhaps strap it to a small battery pack and set it just outside the fence of the dealership? Move it every week or so?
Give it to someone who uses loaners or rent cars from dealership’s service department and have them swap it out to confuse the dealership.
Install it in the Sales Manager’s car when he’s not looking?
Go test drive an unsold Maverick the same color as mine and make the GPS unit swap while I’m gone?
I’m open to other creative ideas that you might have.

Pre-delivery prep probably forgot to remove it.
At least what you found, was installed with wiring harnesses. Not hacked and spliced into the wires, like other tracking devices.

‘They probably just forgot to remove it after the sale. I’d just leave it in the glove box and give it back to the dealer next time you’re in.

I agree with "HoaGus" give it back to the dealer the next time you're there.
Is it really worth expending the energy over it?
What are you expecting to gain by doing anything with it, other than giving it back to the dealership?

 

[Dave O]

A funny thing happened to me today;

I was driving my 2024 Maverick FX4 Lariat, which only has 2500 miles on it at this point, and when I turned a corner something hit me on the left foot. I looked down and found this device laying in the floorboard, still connected by wires to the OBD II port.

It’s a GPS tracking device that is manufactured by Spireon and marketed by Kahu/LoJack.
I never requested this device and was never informed of it by Mac Haik Ford, where I purchased the vehicle, in Georgetown, Texas.
The device is marketed to dealerships by Kahu as an Inventory Control device while on the dealer’s lot. It can then be used by the purchaser of the vehicle if they want to pay for a subscription. (Nope. Not me). My dealership did not charge me for it but it would have been nice if they at least told me about it.

The tracker was plugged into the OBD II port. Whoever installed it did a crappy job and just put a rubber band around the device and the OBD port bracket. Obviously the rubber band broke and I found it when it hit my foot.

I have it unplugged and I’m trying to think of a creative use for it, just to jack with the dealership.
Perhaps strap it to a small battery pack and set it just outside the fence of the dealership? Move it every week or so?
Give it to someone who uses loaners or rent cars from dealership’s service department and have them swap it out to confuse the dealership.
Install it in the Sales Manager’s car when he’s not looking?
Go test drive an unsold Maverick the same color as mine and make the GPS unit swap while I’m gone?
I’m open to other creative ideas that you might have.

Sell it on eBay and move on

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Ever think about salesperson never having to fetch keys to show you locked cars???
Just use their cell phone?

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