4 ms·

If, god forbid, I ever have to buy a newer car the first thing I will be doing is yanking the damn cellular modem out of it. It's my car - not one I'm sharing

by EricE 4y ago

If, god forbid, I ever have to buy a newer car the first thing I will be doing is yanking the damn cellular modem out of it. It's my car - not one I'm sharing with the manufacturer and who knows who else. With luck I'll be able to be buried with my current "dumb" vehicles.

anony999 4y ago
>> the first thing I will be doing is yanking the damn cellular modem out of it That may be illegal just like it's illegal to tamper with consumer electronics/HDMI devices
- deelowe 4y ago
  How would it be illegal?
  - jjoonathan 4y ago
    It shouldn't be illegal, but I don't doubt for a second that data-grubbing DRM-pushing auto manufacturers would conjure up a "think of the children" argument and have it made illegal if this ever became a widespread workaround.
- AlexandrB 4y ago
  IANAL, but my understanding is that the DMCA makes it illegal to distribute information or devices that would let you break HDMI encryption. But it's not illegal to "tamper" with your own device. For automobile manufacturers to use the DMCA in this way they would have to make a case for some kind of copyright infringement that would be possible if the cellular modem was removed. Not impossible, but it would be a stretch for now.
  - GravitasFailure 4y ago
    A few manufacturers have tried using the DMCA in an attempt to quash non OEM parts for repairs and modifications, with John Deere being something of a poster child. I believe it's been at least partially quashed for the consumer market, but we'll see how long that lasts.
nilespotter 4y ago
Good luck trying to figure out how. I desperately want to do this in my new vehicle but I can't find information on where they are or how to get to them. Also it would void my warranty (although I'd do it anyway if I could).
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- judge2020 4y ago
  > Also it would void my warranty No. For automobiles especially, your car's warranties aren't voided unless your modifications contributed/create a problem in the car. For Tesla, perhaps they could argue that removing the modem means they can't diagnose effectively because it's offline and not reporting any errors, but if a motor died they'd still have to fix it despite the modem being ripped out.
- 13of40 4y ago
  I've told this story here before, but a while back mine malfunctioned while it was at a body shop and started calling the SOS service repeatedly. After the police called me (and came by my house the next day) I contacted the dealership and they actually sent me instructions for unplugging it. I haven't gotten around to plugging it back in, and now if I pick "customer service" in the car's menu it just gives me a 1-800 number to call. It did complain profusely the first two or three times I started the car afterwards, but it eventually gave up.

by EricE 4y ago

anony999 4y ago

>> the first thing I will be doing is yanking the damn cellular modem out of it That may be illegal just like it's illegal to tamper with consumer electronics/HDMI devices

deelowe 4y ago
How would it be illegal?
- jjoonathan 4y ago
  It shouldn't be illegal, but I don't doubt for a second that data-grubbing DRM-pushing auto manufacturers would conjure up a "think of the children" argument and have it made illegal if this ever became a widespread workaround.
AlexandrB 4y ago
IANAL, but my understanding is that the DMCA makes it illegal to distribute information or devices that would let you break HDMI encryption. But it's not illegal to "tamper" with your own device. For automobile manufacturers to use the DMCA in this way they would have to make a case for some kind of copyright infringement that would be possible if the cellular modem was removed. Not impossible, but it would be a stretch for now.
- GravitasFailure 4y ago
  A few manufacturers have tried using the DMCA in an attempt to quash non OEM parts for repairs and modifications, with John Deere being something of a poster child. I believe it's been at least partially quashed for the consumer market, but we'll see how long that lasts.

nilespotter 4y ago

Good luck trying to figure out how. I desperately want to do this in my new vehicle but I can't find information on where they are or how to get to them. Also it would void my warranty (although I'd do it anyway if I could).

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
judge2020 4y ago
> Also it would void my warranty No. For automobiles especially, your car's warranties aren't voided unless your modifications contributed/create a problem in the car. For Tesla, perhaps they could argue that removing the modem means they can't diagnose effectively because it's offline and not reporting any errors, but if a motor died they'd still have to fix it despite the modem being ripped out.
13of40 4y ago
I've told this story here before, but a while back mine malfunctioned while it was at a body shop and started calling the SOS service repeatedly. After the police called me (and came by my house the next day) I contacted the dealership and they actually sent me instructions for unplugging it. I haven't gotten around to plugging it back in, and now if I pick "customer service" in the car's menu it just gives me a 1-800 number to call. It did complain profusely the first two or three times I started the car afterwards, but it eventually gave up.