4G Modem Disabling Instructions:

[RaceHorseV8]

Thanks. It is a collaboration of all interested parties. Next on the list is the wifi.

I'm at Sync 3.2 and never signed up for FordPass so instead of a FordPass icon I have one in that place called Isync. I can disable Wi-Fi under the Automatic updates icon and when I do the Wi-Fi hotspot option is greyed out.
One thing that I have a question about is what is a key code card? When I popped open the fuse panel door I saw no key code card that the owner's manual said should be there? Does anyone have a pic of that and what is it used for? Thanks for any info!

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[drummerboy]

l door I saw no key code card that the owner's manual said should be there? Does anyone have a pic of that and what is it used for? Thanks for any info!

Strange, I just looked that up in the owner's manual. I've never seen this either, don't know what it is. Maybe that's their terminology for "cover with diagram on it" - but I also have no cover. Or maybe it refers to something else that actually exists in another location.

A quick image search does show a lot of fuse box diagrams when you search "key code card" mustang

 

[RaceHorseV8]

Strange, I just looked that up in the owner's manual. I've never seen this either, don't know what it is. Maybe that's their terminology for "cover with diagram on it" - but I also have no cover. Or maybe it refers to something else that actually exists in another location.

A quick image search does show a lot of fuse box diagrams when you search "key code card" mustang

I think you a

Strange, I just looked that up in the owner's manual. I've never seen this either, don't know what it is. Maybe that's their terminology for "cover with diagram on it" - but I also have no cover. Or maybe it refers to something else that actually exists in another location.

A quick image search does show a lot of fuse box diagrams when you search "key code card" mustang

That could be it. I didn't look at the back of the panel because I knew which fuse I was looking for. Seems like it would be a card that has the code for a keyless entry keypad but since we don't have that there's no reason to have the card.

 

[DCShelby]

Get an Agilent E440 spectrum analyzer with the internal preamp and a good conical spiral antenna, use peak detection with max hold with a resolution bandwidth of 300 kHz, power meters are junk. Then go sniff around.

 

[SideShowB0b]

looked at this thread last week; come back now, and there’s 8 more pages!!! geeze you guys. and i dont see comment s from anyone who has actually pulled fuse #10. I did. iphones (i have 2 of them linked with the car) neither would connect with the car via bluetooth. reinstall the fuse and turn on the car - phones sync right up as normal. 2019 Bullitt, WiFi turned off the whole time. anyone else loose bluetooth when removung this fuse?

 

[drummerboy]

My phone connects just fine with the fuse pulled.

Can't imagine why yours would be different, but you could try unplugging the TCU in the trunk. I haven't inspected it yet, but it might be possible to just disconnect the modem's antenna as well.

 

[SideShowB0b]

only one fuse there...hard to mess up...lol


weird that your GT350 would be wired different than the Bullitt. ill mess with it, see what i can figure out....

update: tried it again; pulled the fuse with the car shut off. got in it the next day and drove to work, phones connected no problem. dont know wth. maybe a “reboot” got it all sync‘d up again.

 

[Bikeman315]

Just got this in today's mail. Now you have a reason to put your fuse back...............

 

[Tomster]

Just got this in today's mail. Now you have a reason to put your fuse back...............

They can keep their points..........

 

[RPDBlueMoon]

Wait I am pretty confused. What does Wi-Fi modem have to do with the 4G modem?

You have to pay to be able to use 4G data, if the 4G modem is constantly working and pulling data how is it able to do that without a data plan?

Also couldn't you just hack into the car and just do a DDoS attack on it, so that the modem or IP address stops working and will need a reset?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

You have to pay to be able to use 4G data, if the 4G modem is constantly working and pulling data how is it able to do that without a data plan?

Definitely someone would be paying. But maybe Ford is paying for a plan for nothing but collecting data if you don't spring for one to use yourself.

 

[Bikeman315]

Definitely someone would be paying. But maybe Ford is paying for a plan for nothing but collecting data if you don't spring for one to use yourself.

Doesn't FordPass use the modem when it is not connected to a WiFi network? You pay if you want a WiFi hotspot but FordPass is now free,

 

[drummerboy]

Wait I am pretty confused. What does Wi-Fi modem have to do with the 4G modem?

You have to pay to be able to use 4G data, if the 4G modem is constantly working and pulling data how is it able to do that without a data plan?

Also couldn't you just hack into the car and just do a DDoS attack on it, so that the modem or IP address stops working and will need a reset?

The car is connected to a 4G network (AT&T I believe someone said) and communicating to Ford before leaving the factory. Presumably the data is valuable enough to Ford that working out a deal with AT&T themselves is just how it's going to be from now on.

The Wi-Fi and 4G are separate communication methods - to me it seems the Wi-Fi is easy enough to take care of by not connecting it to your Wi-Fi (maybe a password change is a good idea), and turning that feature off in the settings. They aren't as forthcoming with a method to disconnect the 4G (again, that data is valuable to them), so the fuse is an extremely easy way to cut it out.

Some of us couldn't possibly care less about the features afforded to us by the 4G connection, and at least on the 2019 GT350 the TCU is on its own fuse, so... easy disconnection.

 

[drummerboy]

Here's some additional data on where different antennas are located:

Thanks to previous diagrams, I was quickly able to locate very strong signal from two antennas (circled). They are below the sheetmetal, so access would be from below the car:

When vehicle hotspot is turned on, these two above are pulsing to beat the band. I do not know what purpose they serve other than creating the in-car Wi-Fi hotspot network, if any. I was unable to detect any RF from these locations except when hotspot was on.

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In the rear package tray is clearly the 4G antenna. When refreshing FordPass data or locking/unlocking doors, it sounds exactly like a mobile phone sending/receiving a text.

It phones home precisely every 2min 5sec with a packet of data that sounds to be the size of a large quantity of text or small photograph. I can't really tell the quantity of data, but it isn't terribly difficult to discern small amounts such as text and large amounts such as many pictures or a video.

I pulled the fuse during one of these transactions and the signal stopped immediately. It is at this time that I'd again like to assert that pulling the fuse is the easiest way to kill the 4G communication (presuming your car has the TCU on its own circuit like my 2019 GT350).

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Disregard the arrow for now.

Circled is the location of possibly two antennas, one almost certainly being the bluetooth antenna and the other one communicating with the key fob. There is chatter coming from this location that I previously interpreted as Wi-Fi scans, which is in fact the key fob comms.

The arrow points to another possible location where different chatter is heard, but I am not 100% confident, it's a little confusing. Here it is circled:

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I will be happy to do any further testing, though I can't think of anything else at this time other that the Wi-Fi antenna location. I would need to connect to Wi-Fi and attempt to update the unit to identify the location of the Wi-Fi antenna, which is something I'm not going to dive into at this time.

 

[DrumReaper]

Good stuff @drummerboy

wow!!! Thanks so much!

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