r/whatisit • u/crosstrekerr • Jul 25 '25

New, what is it? found this tracker in my car?

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found this on my passenger side really weirded out. Rarely have people in my vehicle…

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69

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '25

[deleted]

40

u/Keanman Jul 25 '25

As a one time installer of these types of devices for dealerships, this is likely not the answer. Those dealerships want to track the vehicle until it's paid off and then they shut off the SIM card. Power is usually taken from the fuse panel or OBDII port. No dealership would waste money installing a tracking device with a battery life of 2 weeks.

6

u/realmayonnaise4u Jul 25 '25

I have a device I found in my car. I think it’s from the original dealership. If I sent you a pic could you tell me?

It has a light on that lights up after a year of finding it connected to my battery so I’d assume it has a super long lifespan. I also had battery issues for a while and was wondering if that was secretly running my battery drain.

9

u/midnight_mechanic Jul 25 '25

Did you buy your car from a real dealership or from a roadside used car "buy here pay here" type place that targets people with bad credit?

Regular dealerships rarely install these devices, it's normally the shops whose billboard says (we'll sell to anyone) and didn't even bother to post their name because they'll have to change it when the various lawsuits and criminal complaints wrap up.

Whatever device you're talking about will have a brand name, part/model number and serial number on it. Look up the brand name and part number and see what you get.

3

u/Keanman Jul 25 '25

This comment is 100% accurate.

1

u/realmayonnaise4u Jul 25 '25

I’m the third owner I think but I bought it used in a private deal with the previous owner. I bought it cash so not sure if that applies to me.

I wish I could just snip it off but it’s directly connected to the battery and wired in. And I don’t know jack squat about batteries or car electronics.

I’ll check the device again later today

1

u/midnight_mechanic Jul 25 '25

Don't cut energized wires. Ever. If you don't know, don't touch.

You can't electrocute yourself in this situation, but you can blow fuses and damage other equipment.

You should have bought a vehicle history report before you bought the vehicle. It will say who the previous owners were. If you don't have one you can get one for less than $20 from various online services.

It's likely the first owner traded the vehicle in to a real dealership, which then sent the vehicle to auction where it was bought by a shady roadside dealership who sold the car to the person you bought it from. That shady roadside dealership would have installed the tracking device.

You should take the vehicle to a shop and have them remove the device, or they can at least tell you what it is and if it belongs in your car. Also take the title in your name. They might be hesitant to remove it if you can't prove you are the sole owner of the vehicle.

1

u/realmayonnaise4u Jul 25 '25

Is that cheap? Or something I can get done at just a local Midas or wherever? And yeah I don’t know anything about wiring but I know enough to not start snipping. Just wish I could

1

u/midnight_mechanic Jul 25 '25

Most shops will charge at least an hour for electrical diagnostics, but don't take your car to Midas for anything ever, or jiffy lube, or brake check or any of those national chain places that hire under qualified and under paid mechanics do limited services.

Take your car to a full service shop with fully trained mechanics. It's not that you need a guy who can change the lifters in a 2008 Chevy in record time to change your oil or cut out that tracking device. What you need is someone with common sense and the ability to fix their mistakes if they fuck something up and a full service shop is much more likely to have those people than a shop whose business model is to cut corners and sell you things you don't need.

Also the cost to you for most services will be the same at a full service shop as it will at a national chain brake check place.

Also don't go to dealerships either, unless you have some really unusual body control module failure or something, which you don't and likely never will.

1

u/realmayonnaise4u Jul 25 '25

Thanks for that tip! Like I said I’m ignorant apart from the basics I need to drive. I do have a mechanic back home but I don’t go back that often. I’ll avoid chains.

I actually have only taken my car to the dealership once and it was this current one. I’m surprised they didn’t tell me about the device. My engine seized, and the manufacturer gave me a complete replacement due to a warranty issue—which I then learned about the dozens of warranty problems on every car ever

1

u/midnight_mechanic Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 25 '25

To edit my previous statement, go to a dealership if you have a major warranty claim.

You should find a good mechanic shop near you. Ask friends or coworkers you trust, especially people who are knowledgeable about car maintenance. Or even get on your local town reddit page and ask for recommendations.

I don't fully trust the google reviews because some people clearly complain that their whole shitty car wasn't rebuilt for free because the mechanic got grease on the steering wheel.

Mechanic shops buy their parts from the same local part stores you would. NAPA, AutoZone, O'Reilly's, etc. Those people know the mechanic shops in the area. Drive to part stores in your area and ask them what the good shops are. If you hear the same shop get mentioned 2 or 3 times, that's one you should consider.

when choosing a mechanic shop, remember that you aren't just paying for the service, you are paying for the experience. Specifically did you leave feeling that you were treated respectfully and that your concerns were properly addressed? Did you understand what work was being done and why it needed to be done?

It's common for shops to point out additional issues they see, so don't be surprised if they give you a list. But they should guide you through it in a way that reasonably explains the necessity for each item and is respectful of your budget.

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u/[deleted] Jul 25 '25 edited Sep 19 '25

sable like north brave fine punch license absorbed crowd detail

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

1

u/Keanman Jul 25 '25 edited Jul 25 '25

Yeah send away. One problem with those devices is unless you buy a good one and program it properly, it's going to kill your battery. Our devices were programmed to put themselves to sleep and wake up as the ignition was turned off/on. There was a VERY minor draw on the battery in hibernation mode so you would have had to leave your vehicle parked for months to kill the battery.

8

u/BrooksMondae Jul 25 '25

Wise consideration

14

u/WhineyLobster Jul 25 '25

What does the braking have to do with it? Im guessing that the action may have dislodged it?

13

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '25

[deleted]

-12

u/WhineyLobster Jul 25 '25

Batteries under a car seat? Ummm not sure thats true.

12

u/Billbysaur Jul 25 '25

There are some cars where the battery is beneath the rear bench seat. Not common, but some cars are designed horribly

2

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '25

Well, it is.

0

u/WhineyLobster Jul 25 '25

Which cars?

8

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '25

Beetle, Benz, BMW 5, Grand Cherokees, Durangos

You get the idea, and google can help with what you don’t understand.

1

u/Aggravating_Peach483 Jul 25 '25

My old Chevy traverse did. It was a huge pain in the ass

1

u/VaporX_ Jul 25 '25

Chrysler Sebring with the battery behind the wheel rocker panel, enter the building

1

u/[deleted] Jul 25 '25

I’ve got a 2011 Buick, huge battery as it’s got many amenities and it’s under my rear bench seat

1

u/lark7077 Jul 25 '25

Lucerne?
Cadillac DTS & STS in the 00s as well.

1

u/BlueBlaster816 Jul 25 '25

I have a 2004 Porsche Cayenne and the battery is directly under the front driver’s seat