Big Brother Tracking Device

[deanobc]

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.

Some dealerships are installing these trackers so vehicles can be sent out on test drives without a salesperson having to be present. I recently went with my son on a test drive at a Kia dealership and this was on the vehicle. Why aren't you just bringing it back to your dealer instead of making it a deep state conspiracy?

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[dhaskit]

Why aren't you just bringing it back to your dealer instead of making it a deep state conspiracy?

deanobc,
I’m sorry if I have offended you.
I will send you some nice flowers and hope you feel better when your sense of humor improves. (uuug)

 

[2lbgill]

I hate to tel you but your touchscreen allows you to be tracked anyways. Fordpass even if to disable it is loaded in the software and you are being tracked. That is why right now there are 100 US marshals headed to your home to take you in for disclosing this information.

Salvdo

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.

[/QUOTE
Salvadore's next.

 

[JDMaverick]

Dealers get paid well to install tracking devices on new cars. They told me it was to recover the car if it was stolen. Reading the document that was the “oh by the way purpose”, the real purpose was to track driving habits for a third party company who had rights to sell or do what ever they want with my driving data. By the way it also stated it was not secure and anyone could hack into it and also obtain all the driving data. And they tried to charge me for it. Some dealers are such scumbags sometimes.

 

[Randorita]

If you do wrap it in foil, do you put the shiny side in or out? Asking for a friend!

 

[MakinDoForNow]

If you do wrap it in foil, do you put the shiny side in or out? Asking for a friend!

the shinny side will reflect more heat than the dull side. So I assume it should go inside to keep more heat in.

 

[vabchusa]

Sometimes these are installed on leased vehicles and also required by some lenders to repo if necessary.

 

[sprubs]

confirmed I have no OBD2 tracking device

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Shiny side always goes out obviously.

Another thread about to get political.

 

[Robot-Wrangler]

I bought a new Nissan Altima in 2016 and found a jump pack in the trunk. It came in handy until the battery stopped charging.

 

[Sarah Davis]

Some dealers will use a 3rd party tracking device or system to make sure their vehicles dont get stolen on test drives. The tracker that Ford provides allows us to track them already, but some dealers want some extra assurance. once its reported to Ford that its sold ford turns the tracking off so the dealer cant track it anymore. Dealers usually turn off the 3rd party tracker at the point of sale as well. so while you may try and go put it on another vehicle or along their fence line they most likely have it turned off and it wouldn't really mess with them.

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