Rogue wiring under the steering kick panel

[vkyolv]

Has anyone else come across what appears to be rogue aftermarket wiring? I went to install my Taser JL and discovered this weird wiring that looks attached to the back of my ODBII and crudely runs up under my dash near the radio.

This is on a Gladiator Sport S with the 7" radio. I am not happy if they have installed some crap on my vehicle.

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[ShadowsPapa]

There's a couple of threads about these - I had one and created a thread, I know of at least one or two others, and half a dozen who found similar devices - GPS devices.

They often piggy-back to the OBD connector to get power, ground, etc. and you'll have an in-line fuse, like yours does.

I removed mine and put the original OBD connector back in the bracket.

 

[vkyolv]

There's a couple of threads about these - I had one and created a thread, I know of at least one or two others, and half a dozen who found similar devices - GPS devices.

They often piggy-back to the OBD connector to get power, ground, etc. and you'll have an in-line fuse, like yours does.

I removed mine and put the original OBD connector back in the bracket.

Thanks.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Does anyone know what it's purpose is. I have the same thing. I'm inclined to remove it if it doesn't have a purpose.

 

[vkyolv]

Does anyone know what it's purpose is. I have the same thing. I'm inclined to remove it if it doesn't have a purpose.

After ShadowsPapa responded, I started looking deeper and found that the dealer I bought from has an add on that includes a vehicle tracking device for recovery in case of theft. Since I didn't pay for the dealer add on's I am removing it too.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Dealer installed.
There seems to be at least 2 or 3 schools of thought as to why:
* tracking leased vehicles,
* tracking vehicles being taken for test drives (some dealerships no longer require to have a sales person along for the test drive)
* finding vehicles in large dealer lots (the dealer I bought from - they could walk for 60 seconds and find a vehicle, not that big, but a place like Karl Chevrolet - a sales guy could walk all morning and not find the truck in inventory they are so huge!)
* upselling - being able to sell theft and tracking service with the vehicle.
There are companies that sell these devices to help locate stolen vehicles. The odds of a truck being stolen here - very slim, unless you are in construction and leave your equipment at the site, unattended overnight. and if that's the case, you do not want your truck back - around here they take them just to totally trash and burn them.

The devices aren't cheap - one forum member who apparently has a trucking company said they are something like 150 a pop.

It appears that some dealers install them on every vehicle that hits their lot. And the reasons seem to be varied.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

After ShadowsPapa responded, I started looking deeper and found that the dealer I bought from has an add on that includes a vehicle tracking device for recovery in case of theft. Since I didn't pay for the dealer add on's I am removing it too.

In some places it might be handy - but then I locate mine via uconnect. I may or may not continue that service after the free time expires.
But here - the chances of theft? EXTREMELY THIN.
I know of one vehicle, personally, that was stolen. Small town cafe, parking on the street out front. The guy left his keys in the truck. Some young people driving up I35 a few miles away decided to pull into town for some fun. Saw the truck, keys in it, they took it.
otherwise I know of people who to this day leave their keys in their vehicles, doors unlocked, no problems.
South side of Chicago - you may want this service.
But it's only for theft - not vandalism, stealing of tires and wheels or parts off the vehicle. My neighbor said someone stole the panels off his T-top Firebird - this won't do a thing for that, only full theft of the whole thing.

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