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07-07-2023, 11:59 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 177
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Kill Switches and Trackers?
While browsing YouTube on different RV topics, related videos are recommended. I clicked on one about Kill Switches and Trackers.
I haven't owned a vehicle in many years so I didn't know that when you finance a vehicle, or go through a type of car dealership that sells cars to people with bad credit, they often have trackers and kill switches in them because they want to know how you're driving, where you are, and so they can flip the kill switch in case you're late on a payment. I watched several of these videos, including some on how to remove them.
When I buy my new RV, I'm not financing it. Is it still going to have these devices? I haven't called the RV Dealer yet to ask. Would they even know, or be honest about it? Sorry if this sounds paranoid but I'm sick of personal and private intrusions by companies and govt who think they have the rights to how people can live, think, eat, drive, etc.,
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07-07-2023, 02:40 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Eastern outskirts of Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,724
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I think your being a little paranoid - it would be dangerous for an entity to have that type of control over a vehicle - at least to have the ability kill the engine.
You may be thinking somewhat of what OnStar (GM) and what other vehicle manufacturers have the ability to do - which is to communicate with a vehicle to unlock the doors, provide some diagnostic help if the vehicle has a problem, or locate someone who is lost/stranded/broke down.
And generally those are “add-on” services after 1, 2, or more years.
And even if they did have the ability to shut the engine down - my guess is they would need the legal authority to do so.
__________________
‘91 Ultrastar Champion‘02 Georgie Boy Landau 8.1l Workhorse
‘03 Jeep Wrangler TJ 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK toad
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07-07-2023, 03:51 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Madison, MS
Posts: 10,560
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I have a neighbor that owns a used CAR lot that sells to individuals with poor/no credit. He also does the "financing", sometimes referred to as "we tote the note" for those loans. They use a "tracker" to help them find and retrieve cars IF the buyers stop making payments. He says it's the only way to prevent losses because some buyers take them out of State and are hard to find. He feels like this is necessary part of doing business.
OP: if you are buying a vehicle outright (no lien) then there would be no need for a seller to invest in a tracker.
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07-07-2023, 06:11 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 177
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Either I'm paranoid or you're naive. Maybe both. All I know is that I sat here this afternoon researching some things and found this same information about kill switches everywhere. Not just a YouTube video. Not from a conspiracy theory website. But from quite a few sources. Maybe you ought to look into them. I've seen enough evidence to know that they do exist.
Edited to add just one resource I read from a long list of articles, videos, etc., I read about it. https://www.palermolawgroup.com/blog...ill-switch-law
Start reading under the section titled "Kill Switches Mandated in New Cars."
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrMark52
I think your being a little paranoid - it would be dangerous for an entity to have that type of control over a vehicle - at least to have the ability kill the engine.
You may be thinking somewhat of what OnStar (GM) and what other vehicle manufacturers have the ability to do - which is to communicate with a vehicle to unlock the doors, provide some diagnostic help if the vehicle has a problem, or locate someone who is lost/stranded/broke down.
And generally those are “add-on” services after 1, 2, or more years.
And even if they did have the ability to shut the engine down - my guess is they would need the legal authority to do so.
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07-07-2023, 06:18 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2023
Posts: 177
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In a perfect world where businesses and authorities operate with integrity and honesty, this would be true. But, we don't live in that world. Legal or not, the more I look into it, the more widespread I'm seeing this ability is to be out there.
But, I didn't start the thread to debate anything. For as much information as I very easily found, I thought it had to be common knowledge that I didn't know about since I haven't owned a vehicle in some time.
In that light, I'll be dropping this discussion at this point. Thanks for taking the time to respond.
Quote:
Originally Posted by edgray
I have a neighbor that owns a used CAR lot that sells to individuals with poor/no credit. He also does the "financing", sometimes referred to as "we tote the note" for those loans. They use a "tracker" to help them find and retrieve cars IF the buyers stop making payments. He says it's the only way to prevent losses because some buyers take them out of State and are hard to find. He feels like this is necessary part of doing business.
OP: if you are buying a vehicle outright (no lien) then there would be no need for a seller to invest in a tracker.
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07-07-2023, 06:31 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Eastern outskirts of Dallas, TX
Posts: 4,724
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All I can say is “Whoa”!
__________________
‘91 Ultrastar Champion‘02 Georgie Boy Landau 8.1l Workhorse
‘03 Jeep Wrangler TJ 2018 Jeep Wrangler JK toad
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07-07-2023, 07:08 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Madison, MS
Posts: 10,560
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[emoji2][emoji3][emoji2] yeah, guess that is what the OP has said too [emoji3]
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07-08-2023, 06:21 PM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 28,511
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I can see a reason for a location tracker, but a kill switch? If the seller holds a loan, they can repossess it anyway. But I agree there are unethical business people and anything is possible.
In any case, no reputable new vehicle dealer would do such a thing, whether you purchase new or used from them. And they certainly won't care anyway if you purchase for cash. no need to worry and you can sleep at night...
"I saw it on the internet" isn't much of a reason for panic. I'm not saying no truth at all to it, but almost always way overblown. Somewhere in the world anything you can imagine has happened, but that doesn't mean your in the target cross-hairs.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is now West Palm Beach, FL
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07-08-2023, 06:29 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 6,546
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LoJack has been around since 1979. It is mainly a GPS subscription device to help locate your stolen car. https://lojack.com/
__________________
Wayne & Roberta
08 Winnebago Destination 39W Gas UFO Workhorse Chassis......It's really weird being the same age as old people. I thought getting old would take much longer.
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07-08-2023, 06:51 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Meshoppen, PA
Posts: 2,303
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I have had many of those devices on vehicle I have repaired... I would call the lien holder to allow me XX amount of days of use without a no start..
The devices DO NOT SHUT OFF the vehicle while driving.. What can happen is during a NO payment moment/grace period is over,, Once you shut off vehicle it will NOT restart until a signal is sent to the controller or a code is given to owner that he has to enter in the device..
And yes they allow tracking to locate when abandoned..
These devices must be disclosed to the buyer upon purchase..
Now many new vehicles have certain functions, most are proprietary by OEM and they are not about to shut vehicle off,,
I used a Rental Service called TURO in a pinch a few weeks ago in Spokane,, my regular rental was overbooked and I was stuck.. I CAN SAY AWESOME experience and prices in line. IMO better than regular rental service.. I got a 22 VW Jetta .. Lady met me at doors outside of baggage, She said when I return leave it in shortterm lot.. Text me , leave Keys in cup close doors.. I texted her at 5am... the doors locked and chirped.. I had ask her if that was part of TURO,, she said no dealer installed the system, it can remote lock and or disable vehicle until I pick it up or send someone..
I thought that was cool..
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07-08-2023, 09:52 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 6,902
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Google "vehicle telematics". That is why you'll see car forum posts about how to kill or remove the OnStar module and similar devices. Even if you're not paying for OnStar and similar it still can and does communicate with the cell network and the vehicle manufacturer.
But some of those articles quote dubious "stats", like this one: https://rollcall.com/2019/04/09/your...owns-the-data/
A car can generate about 25 gigabytes of data every hour and as much as 4,000 gigabytes a day, according to some estimates.
While probably accurate, that data is used to make the vehicle do its thing, not spy. Even car Event Data Recorders only typically store up to the last two minutes for accident investigations.
Does anyone believe that automotive manufacturers are paying cell phone companies to transmit 25 gigabytes of data per hour for every car they install telematics in? Not me.
Ray
__________________
2020 Forest River Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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07-08-2023, 10:39 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2022
Location: Coarsegold CA
Posts: 896
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Reminds me of a Soprano's episode where Tony went into a GM dealership looking at a new car. The sales guy was showing the Onstar and how it works. Tony ask's "can I get one without the tracker?" and the sales guy says "Why would you want that?"
DR
__________________
2019 Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi
2022 Grey Wolf 29QB
Coarsegold CA.
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07-12-2023, 11:55 PM
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#13
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 25,321
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I think you're being REALLY paranoid over nothing. Those trackers require an expenditure by the dealer. If you're paying cash, why would they want to spend money on a tracker.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2024 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali 4x4 6.2L
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07-13-2023, 11:03 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1,331
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Is there any evidence such things have ever been used on motorhomes? If not, the whole thing is completely irrelevant.
__________________
Don & Vicki
2017 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 36LA, F53 chassis, V10
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid SE Sport AWD, RVibrake3, Blue Ox
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