Apex GPS tracking on new Gladiator

[MyRight]

Last week, I traded in my '21 Freedom for a '23 Freedom to take advantage of the 15% discount.

One of the line items on the dealer's price sheet included an Apex GPS tracking device that was nearly $1000 add on.
I told them I didn't want it and wouldn't pay for it, but they explained that it was already installed on the vehicle and they place them in various locations, so even a technician wouldn't necessarily know where to even look to remove it.
They provided me with a brochure that describes what the device does and how it works.
Turns out, it comes as a 1 year subscription, so if I wanted to continue to use the service thereafter, I'd have to pay a subscription fee to keep it active.
Piss on that noise.
The sale's manager knew I didn't want it and certainly wasn't going to pay for it, so he told me they wouldn't charge for it and they would disable it, so as soon as I take the Jeep off the lot it would be inactive.
Well, I don't trust this to be 100% truthful, so I will be diving under the dash, trying to locate it to rip that junk out.
Anyone else encounter the Apex GPS tracker?

Here is their site... Apex Protect GPS | Leader in GPS Tracking Systems

Their dealer video says they are plug and play, so it shouldn't be too hard to locate.

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[Hootbro]

Dealer is full of bullshit. They know exactly where they put it and 90% chance it is going to be under the dash knee panel area under the steering wheel.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Dealer is full of bullshit. They know exactly where they put it and 90% chance it is going to be under the dash knee panel area under the steering wheel.

Like this fellow ↑↑↑ says - they are almost always around the area of the OBDII port left of your knee, lower part of dash.

They are using hard sell tactics. These things are usually, not always, but usually plug and play and there's really no install to it but to remove the original OBD port from the bracket, plug the GPS into that, and then the GPS has a pigtail and OBD port that snaps into the bracket.

The "mystery device" is a GPS device. It's powered by the power and ground wires going to the OBD port.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Last week, I traded in my '21 Freedom for a '23 Freedom to take advantage of the 15% discount.

One of the line items on the dealer's price sheet included an Apex GPS tracking device that was nearly $1000 add on.
I told them I didn't want it and wouldn't pay for it, but they explained that it was already installed on the vehicle and they place them in various locations, so even a technician wouldn't necessarily know where to even look to remove it.
They provided me with a brochure that describes what the device does and how it works.
Turns out, it comes as a 1 year subscription, so if I wanted to continue to use the service thereafter, I'd have to pay a subscription fee to keep it active.
Piss on that noise.
The sale's manager knew I didn't want it and certainly wasn't going to pay for it, so he told me they wouldn't charge for it and they would disable it, so as soon as I take the Jeep off the lot it would be inactive.
Well, I don't trust this to be 100% truthful, so I will be diving under the dash, trying to locate it to rip that junk out.
Anyone else encounter the Apex GPS tracker?

Here is their site... Apex Protect GPS | Leader in GPS Tracking Systems

Their dealer video says they are plug and play, so it shouldn't be too hard to locate.

Funny thing - our dealer puts them on everything and often has it as an extra line item on window price signs they make up, and when we get to the financial office to finish signing papers, the last two Jeeps we've bought, the guy points to it on the papers, points to it and then crosses it off saying "you two probably won't want this".

 

[Dickster]

Last week, I traded in my '21 Freedom for a '23 Freedom to take advantage of the 15% discount.

One of the line items on the dealer's price sheet included an Apex GPS tracking device that was nearly $1000 add on.
I told them I didn't want it and wouldn't pay for it, but they explained that it was already installed on the vehicle and they place them in various locations, so even a technician wouldn't necessarily know where to even look to remove it.
They provided me with a brochure that describes what the device does and how it works.
Turns out, it comes as a 1 year subscription, so if I wanted to continue to use the service thereafter, I'd have to pay a subscription fee to keep it active.
Piss on that noise.
The sale's manager knew I didn't want it and certainly wasn't going to pay for it, so he told me they wouldn't charge for it and they would disable it, so as soon as I take the Jeep off the lot it would be inactive.
Well, I don't trust this to be 100% truthful, so I will be diving under the dash, trying to locate it to rip that junk out.
Anyone else encounter the Apex GPS tracker?

Here is their site... Apex Protect GPS | Leader in GPS Tracking Systems

Their dealer video says they are plug and play, so it shouldn't be too hard to locate.

Dealer bullshit.. some dealers are required to install them if the have had too many car thefts. Insurance requires it but they try to get the customers to pay for it.

 

[MyRight]

Like this fellow ↑↑↑ says - they are almost always around the area of the OBDII port left of your knee, lower part of dash.

They are using hard sell tactics. These things are usually, not always, but usually plug and play and there's really no install to it but to remove the original OBD port from the bracket, plug the GPS into that, and then the GPS has a pigtail and OBD port that snaps into the bracket.

The "mystery device" is a GPS device. It's powered by the power and ground wires going to the OBD port.

Yep, I'll be making a video to post up on Youtube on the removal.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Dealer bullshit.. some dealers are required to install them if the have had too many car thefts. Insurance requires it but they try to get the customers to pay for it.

Here's it's part of an anti-theft and theft-tracking system they try to sell you. it's not theft, it's one of those "features" they tack on to make extra money.
Somewhere I have pictures of the list of "features" the dealer has installed and added extra charges for - it usually includes stolen vehicle tracking. The problem is that any smart thief will see that thing plugged into the OBD cable and rip it out.

If you go to the web site of the company named on the device, it talks of their services being sold through dealers and how you can buy it and so on.

There's at least 3 other threads here about these devices, some of the threads 2+ years old.
I've got 3 of them laying in a cabinet in my shop. Don't know why I saved them, maybe I'll find a use for the connectors or wiring some day. I usually save any connectors or harnesses I can get my hands on.

The stickers on this Jeep in the Ankeny dealership talk of the vehicle theft protection -

 

[Dickster]

Here's it's part of an anti-theft and theft-tracking system they try to sell you. it's not theft, it's one of those "features" they tack on to make extra money.
Somewhere I have pictures of the list of "features" the dealer has installed and added extra charges for - it usually includes stolen vehicle tracking. The problem is that any smart thief will see that thing plugged into the OBD cable and rip it out.

If you go to the web site of the company named on the device, it talks of their services being sold through dealers and how you can buy it and so on.

There's at least 3 other threads here about these devices, some of the threads 2+ years old.
I've got 3 of them laying in a cabinet in my shop. Don't know why I saved them, maybe I'll find a use for the connectors or wiring some day. I usually save any connectors or harnesses I can get my hands on.

The stickers on this Jeep in the Ankeny dealership talk of the vehicle theft protection -

Hmm never knew. I know a few dealership around here use ones similar due to theft and required by insurance. When I bought my mine they had a GPS tracker they tried to get me to buy. I know the office manager and waived the cost.

 

[MyRight]

Here's it's part of an anti-theft and theft-tracking system they try to sell you. it's not theft, it's one of those "features" they tack on to make extra money.
Somewhere I have pictures of the list of "features" the dealer has installed and added extra charges for - it usually includes stolen vehicle tracking. The problem is that any smart thief will see that thing plugged into the OBD cable and rip it out.

If you go to the web site of the company named on the device, it talks of their services being sold through dealers and how you can buy it and so on.

There's at least 3 other threads here about these devices, some of the threads 2+ years old.
I've got 3 of them laying in a cabinet in my shop. Don't know why I saved them, maybe I'll find a use for the connectors or wiring some day. I usually save any connectors or harnesses I can get my hands on.

The stickers on this Jeep in the Ankeny dealership talk of the vehicle theft protection -

Yeah, they were trying to get me to accept it, explaining that it helps law enforcement locate stolen vehicles and provides faster recovery. I found one video of Apex marketed in India showing the user can disable the vehicle using the app you install to track it.

 

[Lunentucker]

I figured it was to make repo easier for them.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I figured it was to make repo easier for them.

Those things go on Jeeps delivered and picked up the same day - and paid with cash or financed through your own bank. That's why I have 3 of them. Only my 2nd JT was financed via Chrysler Capitol. the first was a cash sale, picked up the same day it arrived, and the JLU was a different story and combination of financing.
The things are so very obvious to anyone digging around the OBD port........
Unless the Apex the OP talked about is very different, it's still likely easily found.
To disable a vehicle it has to be connected in some spot with easy access to the network.

Besides - I could be wrong, but it would really seem like if they need to repo a Jeep, one call to Sirius or Jeep proper............. they all come with a trial subscription. But maybe that's forbidden.

 

[Lunentucker]

I see now that it's sold to dealerships for a myriad of reasons.
They get information to generate more sales and service. It could probably also be used against you in a warranty claim, since it tracks a lot of vehicle metrics.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

since it tracks a lot of vehicle metrics.

Not any more. They are in a steel Gladiator cabinet in my shop.

How appropriate.

 

[ErylFlynn]

You know the law about forced addons? I hear you can sue for 3 times the cost of the add on.

 

[Hootbro]

You know the law about forced addons? I hear you can sue for 3 times the cost of the add on.

That FTC "CARS" rule was schedule to be implemented this coming July 30th 2024 that would combat forced add on's and deceptive pricing advertising. Unfortunately, the FTC has delayed that pending a couple of Auto Lobbyist Groups (NADA and the Texas Automobile Dealers Association) pending lawsuits over the issue.

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