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About six months ago I bought a VW with their "CarNet" integration. I am concerned about my car relaying information about where I go and how I drive - at a min
by kylec 12y ago
About six months ago I bought a VW with their "CarNet" integration. I am concerned about my car relaying information about where I go and how I drive - at a minimum, I know that it notifies the dealership when I cross over a 10,000 mile boundary because I've received an email reminding me to take it in for service. I've tried to find a way to disable it, but I can't find anything online or in the user manual.
I suspect that this story will become more and more common - ordinary people buying cars equipped with such systems that are unaware of the privacy implications.
- maxerickson 12y agoThe typical solution is to unplug something (on older OnStar systems, the antenna; I guess this has gotten harder as the antenna gets harder to find).
- hackuser 12y ago> The typical solution is to unplug something (on older OnStar systems, the antenna; I guess this has gotten harder as the antenna gets harder to find). Does that void the warranty on your car, or some part of it?
- maxerickson 12y agoI have no idea. Typically in the U.S., such decisions have gone to owners (so they can't require dealer service in the warranty: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0138-auto-warranties-routine-maintenance http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0138-auto-warranties-ro... Complexity has sort of created a situation where you go to the dealer anyway, but they can't deny the warranty just because you obtained proper service elsewhere)
- opendais 12y agoAre you 100% sure it wasn't coincidence? I don't have a connected system [e.g. it doesn't report anything because its a certified used car I got for $11k where damn near everything is manual :P] but the dealer was able to guestimate within a few months of when I would hit the mileage amount I'd need to take it in for service.
- josephv 12y agoOur VW stealership does the same thing. My wife gets emails and mailers when her car is near it's next appointment based on estimated driving.
- kylec 12y ago100% sure? No. However, I got the email a day or two after I crossed 10,000, about 5 months after I bought the car, which is a bit sooner than average I would imagine. It's also one of the advertised features of CarNet (http://www.vw.com/features/vw-car-net/ http://www.vw.com/features/vw-car-net/)
- opendais 12y agoAh, well if its an advertised feature it isn't like you weren't informed. I was thinking you thought it was something shady they snuck in w/o your knowledge.
- spacefight 12y agoHave you read the EULA? ;)
- bagels 12y agoTwo choices: 1) If this is a Volkswagen option/standard item (as opposed to a dealer option), its operation and installation should be documented in the Factory Service Manual. They're expensive, but will show you how to assemble, disassemble, and repair every part of the car. 2) Go to the vwvortex forums and search/ask on there how to remove it, assuming again, that it is not just a dealer add on, and it is a factory option. http://forums.vwvortex.com/forumdisplay.php?5001-VW-Model-Specific-Forums http://forums.vwvortex.com/forumdisplay.php?5001-VW-Model-Sp...
- kylec 12y agoIt is a standard piece of equipment that shipped with the car from VW. After I posted my comment earlier, I decided to do another search and I found this thread: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?7020025-CarNet-Questions-Issues http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?7020025-CarNet-Que... I found the box under my passenger's seat, unplugged the pink tipped cable, and now my CarNet light is red. Fortunately this did not also disable Bluetooth connectivity or anything else that I can find.
- bagels 12y agoAwesome. No matter how obscure the car, there's a forum of enthusiasts out there for it, and that's the first place I always check for information.