4G Modem Disabling Instructions:

[drummerboy]

Also, the recent activity in these threads lead another forum member to ask for assistance in locating the correct fuse on another Ford vehicle, and in that manual it was labeled "Embedded Modem Module" so when looking for the correct fuse, I would search for telematic, modem, tcu, embedded, etc. and perhaps scan through the chart and note anything else that sounds suspect.

While searching different terms/phrases found in that manual to identify possible culprits, I came across many other online conversations where people are disabling this spy device on their cars, not limited to Mustangs and Fords, investigating and helping each other figure out how to do it, and linking back to these conversations we started here on 6G, and I think that's pretty cool.

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[Fedj]

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.

I can offer 2 cents here. My Fiesta ST (rip) had a weird issue I was trouble shooting. The keyless remote lost a tremendous amount of range. I work at a body shop and had a buddy in a related field send me component locations. There are TWO systems that interface with the key. There is the transponder for the ignition button and if you have smart entry the trunk and door handles. It reads a very low power signal from the key. When you push the button on the fob to lock or unlock the car, the fob transmits a signal to that is received by a different set of antennas. I'll bet the circled mystery area on the right of the center console is where the antenna for that system is. It was in the center console near the gear shift on my fiesta. My wife's edge... if you remote start with the key fob, the led on the fob lights up red if the car turns off or fails to start, and lights up green if the car successfully starts. The key fob antenna is sending and receiving when you push buttons on it. I'll bet that's what that is.

 

[Fedj]

Does anyone know how much data could be stored in the unit and transmitted? If you pull the fuse and drive for a month and put it back in, i wonder how much data they would get. All of it, or only the last 5 minutes. It would be easy to design it to retain the data in massive quantities if they suspected someone would unplug the transmitter. I'm wondering if they just assume most of people have no clue and never would disable the modem, would they just have it every 2 minutes and 5 seconds send up what ever it has and not have a lot of information stored/buffered to transmit. If i knew that were the case i might put a switch on the fuse so that i could let them have what evert they want, use the remote features and scheduled starts, but turn the modem off if I went to track day.

 

[awpe]

Is it possible to get data from TCU for yourself? I mean get all speed/acceleration g-force, steering wheel turns and position from gps? I'd like to know how well I perform on track...

 

[Firsttexan]

Mines under warranty. I will just short the #10 fuse and put it back. What? Who? I have no idea.

 

[Tomster]

Is it possible to get data from TCU for yourself? I mean get all speed/acceleration g-force, steering wheel turns and position from gps? I'd like to know how well I perform on track...

Then buy a GPS and use track addict.

 

[dx2]

Just FYI: Since a few months it is actually possible to modify and customize Sync because of the leaked jailbreak method. But since it is not open source this might be hard to achieve except for the smallest modifications. You could shut down the sync os process which is responsible for communicating with the modem, or you could add your own software which works with all available vehicle data. So practically yes, it is easiest to get a separate tool for this

 

[RocketGuy3]

So to be sure, this fuse box is in the passenger foot well? Do I need any special tools to do the job? Even better if anyone happens to have a pic or video showing the deed... Sorry if I'm late on that, only checked a few pages of the thread.

 

[PaddyPrix]

Is it possible to get data from TCU for yourself? I mean get all speed/acceleration g-force, steering wheel turns and position from gps? I'd like to know how well I perform on track...

Yeah, there are a bunch of generic ones available on the OBD-II, and if you get fancy you can also try pulling more specific things over the CANBUS, like reading the individual wheel speed sensors. Get something like an ASL Race Capture, AIM, heck, even a RaspPi and once you find those addresses, just log the values, and you're set. You'd be better off using an external GPS though, things start to get inaccurate at 100+ mph. If you don't know how well you perform on track though, there are some free apps like Track Addict which work well, and if you download Race Render on your home computer, you can import your GoPro video, sync the data over from your phone, and make all those neat overlays.

 

[Lorne34]

So to be sure, this fuse box is in the passenger foot well? Do I need any special tools to do the job? Even better if anyone happens to have a pic or video showing the deed... Sorry if I'm late on that, only checked a few pages of the thread.

there is a panel that needs to come off. I haven't done this yet, but was planning on tackling it in the next couple weeks

 

[Rapid Red]

The thread is old but I just wanted to add that it's understandable to have concerns about data collection, cyber attacks, and potential privacy breaches. Taking steps to disable the 4G modem can be a way to regain control over your personal information.

Are you using FaceBook, cell phone.

 

[f00man]

Are you using FaceBook, cell phone.

Argument can be had that cell phones may use geolocation for safety concerns (ie. 911, amber alerts, etc.). But why on earth does Ford (or any car manufacturer need to track my location? Or my driving habits? I’m not flying a commercial plane, it’s my personal vehicle for personal use.

So using the excuse that cell phones track us anyway is just asinine. In fact, it borrows the argument that Ford has less reasons to do it themselves.

The S650 being a Fully Networked Vehicle is even worse. “They” can send it to limp mode remotely, and it’s embedded.

 

[nathanks]

Argument can be had that cell phones may use geolocation for safety concerns (ie. 911, amber alerts, etc.). But why on earth does Ford (or any car manufacturer need to track my location? Or my driving habits? I’m not flying a commercial plane, it’s my personal vehicle for personal use.

So using the excuse that cell phones track us anyway is just asinine. In fact, it borrows the argument that Ford has less reasons to do it themselves.

The S650 being a Fully Networked Vehicle is even worse. “They” can send it to limp mode remotely, and it’s embedded.

Agreed.. and to add to this the cell phone data can't really assume you are driving. If it's your vehicle, they will assume you are. Plus the vehicle can send data points like seat belts, acceleration rates, etc. All of this is data the insurance companies would probably love to have. This is the reason I don't use their dumb safe driver apps.

 

[Rapid Red]

This shit makes me LMAO .......

Rock on

 

[RPDBlueMoon]

Since this old thread is being brought up again, did anyone watch the Alex Murdaugh trial?

Alot of the discussion here is actually relevant. Investigators were able to figure out how fast he was going and his GPS location, from his car. I forget the exact details basically he was on trial for murdering his family. At the time of the murder, he was in his car near the scene, he got out, grabbed his wife's phone and got back in his car. He then drove away, and tossed his wifes phone through the window. They found the phone on the side of the road and were able to say that it was him because they used data from the car that give them the GPS and speed, they were able to see him slow down at the point where they found the phone

It actually was a big point in his case that actually helped sway the jury. He didn't have a Ford but it was a GM car. I wonder if GM had something like this and if he disabled the fuse if the Investigators would have been able to get that data.

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