4G Modem Disabling Instructions:

[Bikeman315]

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.

You’re making the assumption that you are conscious. It’s bad to make assumptions.

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[Bikeman315]

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.

Well, of course you are right, as usual.

https://owner.ford.com/support/how-tos/sync/sync/settings/how-to-use-911-assist-with-sync.html

 

[drummerboy]

if i hit a tree and an knocked out i owuld want my car to call and give location so i can be saved. not dieing on side of road and saying well at least they couldn't track me.

It's a very good point, isn't it. And an extremely compelling case for not pulling the fuse. After all, if there were no data/privacy concerns, no one would be here discussing how to disable the modem to get rid of the 911 assist feature.

The world finally agrees there are massive data/privacy concerns with facebook/google, et al., but perhaps you forgot that prior to this very recent perception shift, the general population liked to lump those concerns up there with chem trails and bigfoot as you put it. So I think when you bring this up you just make the case for pulling the fuse stronger: in 10 years, do the headlines perhaps read: 1.5m Users Hit By New Ford Privacy Breach As Extent Of Data Misuse Exposed or GM scandal 'hit 87 million users'? Who knows, this is pure speculation, but big companies and big tech have done nothing to earn our trust, so to state this is nothing but conspiracy theorist paranoia is asinine.

 

[dpAtlanta]

Fortunately, the Event Data Recorder (EDR) aka "Black Box" does NOT, and can NOT transmit data. Except for VW and Bentley, the EDR does not even know what date or time it is.
Additionally, it does NOT store any data unless the system wakes up due to an airbag deployment, or a near deployment event. Slamming on your brakes will not wake up the system, unless you hit a big enough speed bump during the braking.
One less tin foil hat to wear.

 

[drummerboy]

Look, we get it, we understand that you and plenty of others aren't interested, or see it as kooky, or too much of a battle, or any other reason why one wouldn't want to stop the modem. And I can never remember which of your points above have already been hashed out in this thread or the one going in the GT500 forum, but we've already been over each of the above points.

...there are also ways to decrease data collection in other areas as well. I agree with you that it is a battle. I might even agree with you that that battle is lost. Where I disagree is on what can be done about it. For instance, how very easy it is to pull this fuse and stop this particular data collection scheme. One down.

Apparently everyone here agrees that there are massive, egregious privacy concerns when it comes to corporate data collection, and here we are with an easy way to stop one. It is not futile. The reality is that many little chips away here and there help. Some require tech savvy, some require constant vigilance. Everyone has their own tolerance level, know how, etc., and sure the average person may not have much they can do. Pulling the fuse is something anyone can do in a few minutes with little to no drawback to the user. I can't think of any other area where the same can be said.

To keep it brief, I'll just say that I'm sure you can agree that there are many people who don't subscribe to the "just get used to it" mentality. To those that are still here following along, there is another thread on this topic going in the GT500 subforum here that is full of fantastic discussion not covered in this thread.

 

[drummerboy]

Better get all the pre-2019 GT350's off the road folks, they've been deemed too unsafe since they lack a modem.

I could have sworn I previously connected my GT350 to my Wi-Fi, but yesterday I could not find the settings in the infotainment screen. Maybe I did that on a different car? Do our cars have the ability to connect to the Wi-Fi or not?

I figured I'd go ahead and turn my Wi-Fi on and test for you guys if the car is able to send its data this way, but I just couldn't find the setting!

EDIT:

The car can in fact scan for and connect to Wi-Fi networks even when the modem fuse is pulled.

 

[Bikeman315]

Mine doesn't have this option. Presumably because it has a modem, it does not need a Wi-Fi adapter.

Of course you do. Go into settings, swipe left once and you will see the wifi icon.

 

[drummerboy]

Of course you do. Go into settings, swipe left once and you will see the wifi icon.

Well, I dunno dude, I'm trying:

 

[Bikeman315]

Well, I dunno dude, I'm trying:

I have 3.4 but that shouldn’t matter as I had WiFi before. That’s how you do auto updates. Maybe look at those settings. It’s in there somewhere.

 

[Bikeman315]

I think you lost the WiFi + hotspot icon because you pulled the fuse. Put it back and see what happens.

 

[drummerboy]

Hotspot menu is available at all times, just pops up an error if the fuse isn't in. Wi-Fi nowhere to be found with fuse in or out.

 

[Bikeman315]

Hotspot menu is available at all times, just pops up an error if the fuse isn't in. Wi-Fi nowhere to be found with fuse in or out.

Gee, that’s nuts. Maybe do a master reset? Can you find the controls for auto updates?

 

[drummerboy]

Gee, that’s nuts. Maybe do a master reset? Can you find the controls for auto updates?

Bingo, all of the Wi-Fi settings are under automatic updates. Thanks!!

The car can in fact scan and connect to Wi-Fi networks even when the fuse to the modem is pulled.

 

[Tomster]

Bingo, all of the Wi-Fi settings are under automatic updates. Thanks!!

The car can in fact scan and connect to Wi-Fi networks even when the fuse to the modem is pulled.

Alright, ill bite.... how is the wifi disabled? The below diagram is not useful. It is showing the TCU to contain both the cellular and wifi module.

 

[drummerboy]

Well... haha... Isn't that interesting. Is that diagram accurate to a 2019 GT350?

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