4G Modem Disabling Instructions:

[drummerboy]

And without clear retention policies or the right to be forgotten, while potentially incapable technically to do something useful with it nowadays that can change with enough time and money. Or they might get hacked tomorrow and that data ends up in the wrong places because they are not that top notch, security conscious tech company as we agreed. I would rather not risk it

Spot on, my man. You might not see any consequences today... but what about a year or two (or even further) down the road?

Companies started collecting data loooooooooong before they had any clue what to do with it. Storage is cheap. Soon enough, processing it all will be, too.

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[onebad58]

Spot on, my man. You might not see any consequences today... but what about a year or two (or even further) down the road?

Companies started collecting data loooooooooong before they had any clue what to do with it. Storage is cheap. Soon enough, processing it all will be, too.

and how does google no its my birthday?

 

[PaddyPrix]

and how does google no its my birthday?

You live in Moscow, they know everything about you. I mean, yeah, some would say that you had voluntarily offered it up to them when you had initially created your Google account, what makes you think that your neighbors are really your neighbors? Since your GT350's have computers in them, I'd just pull all of the wires out, and go back to a carb setup, back when America made cars that were great, not this electronic computer stuff all made in China and Japan by our former enemies.

 

[black bart]

Back in 2008 when I purchased a Pontiac G8 GT, it came with On Star, available on GM vehicles at that time. A year or so after owning the vehicle, articles began to appear on G8 and Corvette forums regarding On Star selling vehicle information to Law Enforcement, insurance companies, etc. Of course On Star denied these allegations, but shortly after denial, On Star issued a statement that they would cease offering vehicle information to law enforcement, etc. I disconnected the On Star module from both my G8 and C6 Corvette and never looked back.

Long story short, if there is a buck to be made by selling your personal information to literally anyone, On Star, Ford Pass et al, will sell it in a heartbeat. These companies that tell you that they are being helpful and actually care about your welfare and the safety of your vehicle are full of crap. It's all about the Bejamins, not your or my welfare. Pull the fuse people.

 

[onebad58]

Back in 2008 when I purchased a Pontiac G8 GT, it came with On Star, available on GM vehicles at that time. A year or so after owning the vehicle, articles began to appear on G8 and Corvette forums regarding On Star selling vehicle information to Law Enforcement, insurance companies, etc. Of course On Star denied these allegations, but shortly after denial, On Star issued a statement that they would cease offering vehicle information to law enforcement, etc. I disconnected the On Star module from both my G8 and C6 Corvette and never looked back.

Long story short, if there is a buck to be made by selling your personal information to literally anyone, On Star, Ford Pass et al, will sell it in a heartbeat. These companies that tell you that they are being helpful and actually care about your welfare and the safety of your vehicle are full of crap. It's all about the Bejamins, not your or my welfare. Pull the fuse people.

I pulled the fuse on both my 19 mustangs.

 

[onebad58]

You live in Moscow, they know everything about you. I mean, yeah, some would say that you had voluntarily offered it up to them when you had initially created your Google account, what makes you think that your neighbors are really your neighbors? Since your GT350's have computers in them, I'd just pull all of the wires out, and go back to a carb setup, back when America made cars that were great, not this electronic computer stuff all made in China and Japan by our former enemies.

that's moscowmills missouri

 

[Wuji]

that's moscowmills missouri

Go, Chiefs.

Thanks, for the info, this is going to the top of my mods list...
I have a friend who started a business helping people identify intrusive RF signals in their home as it has been associated with all kinds of health issues. Here we are in America pushing 5g while Europe and other countries are pulling it out of schools and other public places. I personally do not want additional RF signals penetrating my body and brain as I take a two day cross country trip. If I need wifi for something I will temp enable a hot spot on my phone.
By the way, for those who don't know, you can download music, gps routes, etc to your phone and turn off wifi/data if you want to take a break from it. We all survived in the past without it.... now it's being pushed like its a "NEED"
I work in IT and I hate all of the wifi, bluetooth, RF signals that are flowing through the air....
and don't get me started about electronics in simple appliances like dishwashers, refrigerators, etc...

100% correct run a RF meter in an electric car, or better yet meter a car that has the battery under the front seat.

 

[gnarlycaveman]

i dont know if anyone metioned this yet but i have a 2020 tacoma and it clearly says next to the SOS button that it transmits normal everyday data to its server. it also says you can turn it of though. Maybe the use the data to see how people drive there cars ect. to debate on what warrenties to offer or what parts to upgrade ect. who knows either way we all know its not a car thatll get us tracked down by whomever wants to find us.

 

[drummerboy]

The black piece to the upper right above the sticker is odd its almost like its an integrated antenna maybe that has something to do with it? the modem? or it might be Bluetooth not sure.

Probably the bluetooth antenna. RF meter shows pulling the fuse to the modem disables the modem. 2019 Mustang owner's manual shows only the modem is on that circuit, and this is confirmed as everything else continues to work as normal. This is also the case on most of the cars posted in here so far, but the 2020 Explorer manual someone posted shows other things on the same circuit. 2019 Mustang diagram posted on page 1 shows the modem to be somewhere in the back of the car.

Also correct that the car would not be able to dial 911. Which gets us to another facet of the privacy/safety/convenience conversation. This data collection tech is still in its infancy, and tech in general is constantly advancing. One could hope that maybe one day we won't have to choose one or the other between privacy and safety (such as the case with dialing 911), but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[16Kobra]

Also correct that the car would not be able to dial 911. Which gets us to another facet of the privacy/safety/convenience conversation. This data collection tech is still in its infancy, and tech in general is constantly advancing. One could hope that maybe one day we won't have to choose one or the other between privacy and safety (such as the case with dialing 911), but I'm not holding my breath.

Not wanting to start a big arguement, I have a cell phone that I can dial 911. I dont need the car to call them.

 

[drummerboy]

Not wanting to start a big arguement, I have a cell phone that I can dial 911. I dont need the car to call them.

#PullTheFuse

 

[RaceHorseV8]

Fuse pulled... For those that say your phone already has your position and speed I would say that without the vehicle's data to compare to your phone's GPS data how can anyone assume that you are A) In a Mustang at all and B) that you are operating a vehicle at that time? Maybe you're hanging out of the passenger side of your best friend's ride? Not accusing anyone of being a scrub by the way... Point being that I don't want the vehicle's data sent anywhere. Couldn't care less what my phone's GPS says.
At one point I swore I turned my Wi-Fi off because I was getting messages about sending service data. Months later the messages started again and when I checked the Wi-Fi was on again! Maybe there is a timer that flips it back on after a certain interval? It wouldn't surprise me.
If I have any negative issues from pulling the fuse I will report back with said issues. Thanks to drummerboy for this info!

 

[gnarlycaveman]

its a feature for head on accidents of other reasons you would not be able to use a phone, the car calls out in case of an accident assumming you have been injured or knocked out or say your phone i s not ith you or was thrown from car and so on....

being logical in a forum i see. lol.

 

[nathanks]

A question though. Has anyone actually gotten an insurance rate increase due to tracking their car? I'm not sure how this could happen unless Jake is at the track with you.

I'd say, yeah everyone is in this boat now. The insurance companies didn't come out with these stupid "Safe driving" apps to offer discounts, they did it to collect data on how people drive. They are using that data to base insurance rates on. I'd go one step further to speculate the "real" insurance rate is what you get after you sign up with the app and the data collection begins. The rate if you opt-out is a penalty for not participating.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Also correct that the car would not be able to dial 911.

Are you sure? S550s would call 911 using the driver's Bluetooth connected phone before a modem came with the car.

Manufacturers tend to avoid risks even long shots if they can. Putting an extra bit of their parts between an unconscious driver and help for them while removing existing software to call using a driver's phone exposes Ford. I would expect that Ford would still retain the software to use the driver's phone even if they added additional hardware to make the 911 calls. That way Ford is increasing rather than decreasing the odds of getting help (since the car undoubtedly has antennas with better range than what's inside a phone inside a car). If so, disabling the car's cell wouldn't prevent 911 calls via a driver's phone.

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