Any idea what this signaling device is or does?

[mattski2112]

2024 TRD Off-Road Premium, Hybrid. As you can see, this device is hooked to the 12v battery under the rear driver’s side seat. Any idea what it is or does? I’m about to disconnect it and toss it in the trash…

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[Sagebrush]

That's an aftermarket GPS tracking device. Is your truck leased?

 

[Compy386]

As Sagebrush said, that's a 3rd party GPS unit. My dealer had one on my truck and I told them at purchase to remove it because it wasn't financed through them and was no longer their property once I had keys in hand. They "conveniently" forgot to remove it, so I did when I got home that day and tossed in the trash.

...I should have connected a small battery to it first

 

[mattski2112]

I figured as much. Nope, not leased - not even financed.

Into the trash it goes. Thanks for the validation.

 

[Yotota]

That's an aftermarket GPS tracking device. Is your truck leased?

Yep. I Google searched the image, and it's an Ikon Technologies GPS tracker. Commonly used in rental, loaner, demo, or BHPH lot cars. Sometimes added as a dealership option but nobody ever really wants it.

If your truck is leased, leave it. If you own your truck, remove it.

 

[Wolf359]

During the finance guys BS about getting a monthly subscription to track in case of thief, I said I'd throw an air tag in the truck and it wouldn't cost me every month. He said fine and started to move on. I asked him if a tracker was already in the truck, and he said yes. I said I wanted it removed and I got the lazy "we will not activate the subscription so it will not be active". I told him if I find it, its going in the trash. They didn't care.

BTW, when I found it, it was under the dash and wired via a pass-thru OBDII port lit up like a Christmas Tree, lots of blinking lights even with the truck off, so I am not believing that is not active if there is no monthly subscription.

Mine went straight to the trash can, just like I told the dealership. Never heard a word from them. They make enough off of these to let a lot of them just be given away.

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

I get that a dealer wants to protect their inventory, but honestly that's a violation of your privacy. There ought to be a law on the books about that that the dealer, upon sale of a vehicle if not removed can be brought to suit. I'm not stating this is malicious on the dealers part, but you know humans. Some hot broad comes in, employee conveniently leaves that GPS tracker in the vehicle and follows her home... leave the rest of the thoughts to you.

Per Wolf's comments, I've seen these things plugged into the OBD ports as well.

 

[Dayen]

Are there any locations in particular that these trackers would be? I already disconnected my antennas from the telematics module and there doesn't appear to be anything connected to my battery in the engine bay. I guess I need to go look in the dash for this fella...

 

[eskudo12791]

I get that a dealer wants to protect their inventory, but honestly that's a violation of your privacy. There ought to be a law on the books about that that the dealer, upon sale of a vehicle if not removed can be brought to suit. I'm not stating this is malicious on the dealers part, but you know humans. Some hot broad comes in, employee conveniently leaves that GPS tracker in the vehicle and follows her home... leave the rest of the thoughts to you.

Per Wolf's comments, I've seen these things plugged into the OBD ports as well.

I mean I get that, but dealer has all of your info already

 

[maxx075]

I mean I get that, but dealer has all of your info already

You cool if some random person has access to track any locations that you go to with your vehicle, for as long as the device is connected?

Nothing to do with your information that you are required to give them.

 

[eskudo12791]

You cool if some random person has access to track any locations that you go to with your vehicle, for as long as the device is connected?

Nothing to do with your information that you are required to give them.

That wasnt the point I was replying to; they dont need a gps puck in your truck to know where you live

 

[Lennyz1]

These GPS tracker reports I have been reading lately I bet are tied to the starting batteries failing after extended parking times. Certainly is a continuous draw on the battery.

 

[MJB4450]

This is my biggest pet peeve with dealerships. I research, regardless of brand, to find a dealership that doesn't splice in aftermarket crap. Some of these units are plug and play but many are not. I consider splicing into brand new car wiring as damage and I tell them so. I'm there to buy a new car not a damaged one. They either use ignition disabling devices, GPS or additional alarms when the vehicle already has a factory one. I once got stranded when my deactivated ignition disabling device disintegrated. That was back in the 1980s. Ever since then I refuse to buy anything that's been spliced into.

If you go on to the web site of these devices, they market them to dealerships as a way to manage their inventory and find vehicles on the lot. Then they try to scam buyers into paying ten to twenty times what they did for the device under the guise that they can see where their kids drive to or aid in vehicle recovery. They also track you and your mileage so they can contact you when they see you're about due for oil change or other maintenance. It's just one of many additional profit streams along with all the other preloads they dump on vehicles at exorbitant prices.

I never buy from dealers with a lot of preloads. That just tells me they're unscrupulous. Here in Southern AZ I'll try to find a dealer that only puts on window tint which is kind of required in this environment. Luckily with Toyota I actually found a dealer 150 miles away that not only puts on zero preloads, but their business model has you deal with only one person. No going from this guy to that or even seeing a separate finance manager. This was the first time since 1985 that I bought a vehicle with absolutely no add ons, plus a discount and no hassle about extended warranties. I actually had to ask them to put on the window tint. These dealers will continue with these ridiculous add ons until enough folks let them know we're not playing that game and go elsewhere.

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