Dealer installed tracker?

[Sherpadave]

Recently purchased a 2021 MME Premium. It was a 3-year lease return with 27K miles. I went to attach my old CANBUS reader out of curiosity and found this pass-through dongle plugged in, with a wire going under the dash. I unplugged it and have driven for 5,000 miles since with no problems. Is this a data tracker? Is the dealership selling my driving data to insurance companies or others? I asked a Ford service tech about it and he seemed a bit evasive. What are my next steps?

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[HuntingPudel]

Is there any text or logo printed on it? I’m guessing it’s a low-buck LoJack copy, but it’s hard to tell exactly what it is by simply looking at its female connector. ?‍?

 

[ack154]

Are there any part numbers or identifiable things on it that you could Google to figure out exactly what it is?

If it's a tracker, I would only expect something like that on some shady buy here/pay here lot or some extremely shady financing. And if it really was put there by a "reputable" dealer, you may want to have a talk with the manager.

The other option is it could be a power supply for something legitimate. Maybe a dashcam or other device. They definitely make OBD2 dashcam power supplies - though I'm not sure if I've specifically seen a passthrough one.

 

[Sherpadave]

Are there any part numbers or identifiable things on it that you could Google to figure out exactly what it is?

If it's a tracker, I would only expect something like that on some shady buy here/pay here lot or some extremely shady financing. And if it really was put there by a "reputable" dealer, you may want to have a talk with the manager.

The other option is it could be a power supply for something legitimate. Maybe a dashcam or other device. They definitely make OBD2 dashcam power supplies - though I'm not sure if I've specifically seen a passthrough one.

The MME was purchased through my local Ford dealership.

 

[Sherpadave]

Is there any text or logo printed on it? I’m guessing it’s a low-buck LoJack copy, but it’s hard to tell exactly what it is by simply looking at its female connector. ?‍?

No markings.

 

[VindictivePantz]

Insurance dongle (even though it's technically built-in to the car itself, some insurance company might've still wanted it installed?)

 

[highland58]

where does the wire go to that is connected?

 

[AtomicInternet]

Check your purchase agreement and see if it has any wording about the remote disable device. If there is no mention then just yank it out. I found one in a previous used car I purchased and dropped it off at the sales guys desk. He was also sheepish, but there was nothing in my contract so he couldn't do anything about it.

I'm sure 90% of people never find it because they never used the OBD port. It's typically the first thing I do for Forscan updates.

 

[Deleted member 19354]

Maybe a Dash Cam? I had Best Buy install mine

 

[HuntingPudel]

I’m with the other people who have said to trace that wire back to wherever the other end is attached and remove the whole shebang. That should also tell you what the device is. ??

 

[highland58]

All you are showing is a plug and a wire. Something is getting power or "ignition on" signal from that wire. Chances are the other end of the wire is no longer attached to anything, left there by the previous owner.

 

[DaddyDeuce]

If there is only one wire then it isn't "talking" to your OBD port. My guess it it goes to pin 16 to grab 12V power. Whatever is at the other end of the wire is what is interesting.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I talk about hidden trackers a bit in this topic: https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...-system-drain-service-required-message.36140/

 

[AzYooper]

Many dealers install LoJack on the stocked vehicles for protection and to meet their insurance requirements prior to delivery. I was given option to purchase so dealer did not need to bother to remove. They would rather sell it than remove it.

 

[djcordy]

Recently purchased a 2021 MME Premium. It was a 3-year lease return with 27K miles. I went to attach my old CANBUS reader out of curiosity and found this pass-through dongle plugged in, with a wire going under the dash. I unplugged it and have driven for 5,000 miles since with no problems. Is this a data tracker? Is the dealership selling my driving data to insurance companies or others? I asked a Ford service tech about it and he seemed a bit evasive. What are my next steps?

I bought a new 2021 First Addition from a dealer in Texas. A service department in Florida found a tracker on it. Removed it for me.

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