How do you disable Event Data Recording? New Computer?

[mikeelia]

Call me paranoid, but in looking at page 7 of the Owner's Guide, I see that not only does the car's "black box" record speed, but also the steering wheel position and a bunch of other things. It would appear to me that your insurance company and /or law enforcement could easily use this against you for the smallest thing. It would also appear pretty easy for Ford to void the warranty, which is a worry to a lot of people. From the small amount of information in the Guide, it may even be that there is more than one Data Recorder in this thing.

I want this gone, even if it means a whole new computer. If there are software or hardware solutions, I'd be happy to hear if anyone knows about them or has any ideas.

Forget fancy wheels and which exhaust is better. This is a pretty big issue: Big Brother sure appears to be watching.

I'm glad I'm using the GT for a daily driver and my Buick for real performance pleasure.

Mike Elia
05 GT lime
87 Buick Regal Turbo T [computer controlled: just enough and no more]

 

[topless beach]

The info in your black box is already being used against you. I read that an insurance company is already offering discounts to anyone who will allow one to be installed to monitor your driving habits.

There have also been cases where a summons was issued for the black box in a serious auto accident that was being litigated.

In a world w/ photo radar and closed circuit monitoring of roadways how long do you think it will be before the gov't checks your black box before renewing your driver's license.

Better speak up now before it's institutionalized and accepted. There is a bill pending in GA right now to force the state to quit requiring a fingerprint to issue your driver's license. The gov't will rationalize anything that increases their control.

 

[gp001]

Not this topic AGAIN!

 

[mikeelia]

And how do I find this discussion "again"?

I see exactly two other threads on this when I run a search. One was before the cars were even available, and the other seems to be about a blown engine.

Neither has ANY information or input.

I was hoping a vendor or computer guru might chime in with some suggestions.

Mike Elia

 

[gp001]

Sell the car, huddle in the corner wearing one of THESE, and watch out for THESE

 

[Roni]

I see exactly two other threads on this when I run a search. One was before the cars were even available, and the other seems to be about a blown engine.

Neither has ANY information or input.

I was hoping a vendor or computer guru might chime in with some suggestions.

Mike Elia

It has been talked about for the last 3 months but the last 3 months have been erased, coincedence...I think not.

 

[gp001]

It has been talked about for the last 3 months but the last 3 months have been erased, coincedence...I think not.

So that's what happened to the servers.

 

[mikeelia]

So does anyone know anything constructive? [or destructive?]

So, if this has been discussed for 3-months, then what was the consensus? Is this a part of the "regular" diagonistics? Is there some way to separate recordings? I mean, there must be a steering sensor that can be disconnected?! What about some of the others?

Can you just superglue the pins?

Mike

 

[gp001]

Contact Mulder, he has the fix

 

[GOLDENPONY]

Sell the car, huddle in the corner wearing one of THESE, and watch out for THESE

 

[amorak]

You're insane. There is no data on that they can recall to use against you - the reason there is steering and throttle inputs to the computer is for the traction control. I suggest you stop drinking coffee with roofies in it... If you read the schematics, there is no static ram linked to the TC portion of the computer, it simply processes the inputs from steering and throttle on a real time basis, in order to stop your crazy ass from spinning out of control when you see a flying saucer

 

[amorak]

Ohh, and furthermore, the computer does not datestamp any of the data, and a dump of the computer data would tell you very little, other then throttle and steering posistion during the last 10 seconds... Simply drive with your tinfoil hat and all will be well.

 

[martimus]

You're insane. There is no data on that they can recall to use against you - the reason there is steering and throttle inputs to the computer is for the traction control. I suggest you stop drinking coffee with roofies in it... If you read the schematics, there is no static ram linked to the TC portion of the computer, it simply processes the inputs from steering and throttle on a real time basis, in order to stop your crazy ass from spinning out of control when you see a flying saucer

Ah dude... hate to burst your bubble but in the US the cars ARE equipped with a black box (similar in concept to the ones installed in commercial airplanes). While the specifics of what it holds aren't completely known, the data could be subpeoned by a judge and this is whats being discussed. In terms of the original question, I suspect tampering with it would be a violation of some idiotic Federal law.

Coffee with Roofies? Hmm... must be a Canadian thing!!

 

[crash]

Sell the car, huddle in the corner wearing one of THESE, and watch out for THESE

ROFLMAO because I just pictured it all... GOOD POST!

To qualify this... I have been formally trained in Ford engine controls... So EEC V is smart! Yes, it CAN monitor these inputs, but only for a programmed output under a set of parameters. That is why we are in bed with a former Ford Electronics engineer. We can change ANY parameter installed and monitored by Big Brother... LOL! And turn off any we cannot remove! It is called the SCT Custom Tuning package.

The rest orf the parameters are used by the adaptive strategies, activating other systems (Airbags and TCS), and the diagnostics performed by the TECH using WDS at the dealership.

Your cellphone is a more likely threat for tracking. Be sure you turn off the "Send Location" feature, or you are sending a GPS signal when you call someone, and DEFINITELY when you call 911.

BTW- This thread has no merit at this time. I just went through the claim process after a 150 MPH chase (Yes this is my second GT). My insurance carrier asked NO questions, and CERTAINLY didn't ask for my PCM... Although my rates went up $40 a quarter.

mikeelia- I think your time here is better spent looking for wheels. JMO.

 

[Z28Marcus]

Well, I don't know about Ford cars, but for GM vehicles like my TransAm the black box has been in cars for a while. It DOES record the most recent few seconds of driving activity... i.e. inputs such as speed, airbag deployment, braking etc. And in some cases has been used to help prove the innoncence or guilt of people involved in lethal car crashes - thus it's a double edged sword. It's a Federal offense to disable or tamper with it. I'd guess that it's no different for Ford vehicles though.

As for warranty stuff, well I'm not sure of what info the black box stores that could be used to prove you say abused the car. Does it store for instance the highest speed *ever* attained? I'm not sure if it goes that far.

On one hand, in regards to the warranty issue, I sympathyse with a manufacturer since it is unreasonable IMO for anyone (not saying this is you - just making a point) to think they can do whatever they want with the car and an expect it do not break; on the other hand if there are genuine design faults or weaknesses or defective parts that are revealed by some spirited driving or 'lite' racing (in the case of cars that are clearly marketed at performance cars like the 'Stang), it should be fixed under any existing warranty, unless, for example, it can be clearly seen from looking at the parts that the driver destroyed a perfectly good clutch by constantly riding it off the line or regularly dumping it at 6000 PRM.

Overall, being an already law-abiding citizen, I feel I already regulate myself, so I'm not exactly in favour of allowing someone like Ford or GM to look at my driving *habits*. So I don't think parameters that have no context to recent events, such as highest speed ever reached should be stored ;for the reason that I do visit the dragstrip where high speeds are quite legitimate. Why should this be available to anyone else? Esp. when we live in an age where the media is a joke. Can you imagine it, a story about a highspeed crash that say get's turned into a typical media campaign against fast cars... "The black-box in Mr X's car showed he had reached speeds in excess of 120 mph! Blah blah blah".. But what the story would typcially fail to mention (given our useless mainstream media circus who don't give a crap about accurate detailed reporting and love to spin everything) is that this speed was done at the local dragstrip and had nothing to do with what Mr X was doing at the time the crash happened when he was actual obeying the speed limit.

 

[thedogrunner]

I happened to see a program on National Geographic channel last night about the Autobahn in Germany. Which, by the way, I wish we had here in the US. Anyway, they showed how the German police catch speeders. One method shown was getting a computer readout from a car's onboard computer which recorded it's speed. They actually pulled the information on location and wrote this poor guy a ticket. I'm not saying that this is possible here in the US yet. However, it is interesting to see that the technology exists and is being used today.

 

[Z28Marcus]

I happened to see a program on National Geographic channel last night about the Autobahn in Germany. Which, by the way, I wish we had here in the US. Anyway, they showed how the German police catch speeders. One method shown was getting a computer readout from a car's onboard computer which recorded it's speed. They actually pulled the information on location and wrote this poor guy a ticket. I'm not saying that this is possible here in the US yet. However, it is interesting to see that the technology exists and is being used today.

I though the autobahn was unregulated speedwise?

Really, anyhoo... never heard of that. If that's really how it works, the problem I see with that scheme is just as you have people hacking cellphones and whatnot, i.e. strealing device ids and other similar scams, you will could end up with people capturing other blackbox ids. Then the transponder in the speeders car sends out whatever id number they pick. So you end getting a ticket in the mail and the speeder gets away with id theft.

 

[thedogrunner]

Only parts of the Autobahn are unregulated speed-wise. I know, news to me too. In addition to on-board data recording they used high tech cameras that enhanced photos of speeders so they could read the license plates and get clear shots of the driver. I have to say it was pretty impressive.

 

[351CJ]

How do you disable Event Data Recording? New Computer?

Well, go under your driver's seat, un-plug it and see if your car still runs.

 

[crash]

I will look at the vast number of parameters and if any such items exist, I will notify you all, and turn them off.

That and the torque management and the top end governor!