According to my owners manual there is a device in my truck that records "events" such as speed, safety restraint system use, and breaking. It says that this info may be recorded randomly when idle, moving, or during an accident and that it may be used by repair shops, FoMoCo, and Law Enforcement officials!!

Am I incorrect but does this seem like an invasion of privacy??? Is there a way to disable this device or is it inadvisable?


When on two wheels-
FXSTC
Mesa- AZ

 

:-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun :-staun

Surely that cannot be right!?!

Someone MUST clarify this!!!

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-Aug-02 AT 00:00 AM (EST)]>Surely that cannot be right!?!
>
>Someone MUST clarify this!!!

Thanks for the excuse to go out and sit in my truck to get the owners manual!!!

I think this is new for 2003 because it is not in my "2002 F350 Owners Manual" PDF file.

Here it is:

(page 5-6 of the 2003 F-250/350/450/550 Owner's Guide)-

"Event Data Recorder--

The computer in your vehicle is capable of recording detailed data potentially including but not limited to information such as:

- the use of restraint systems including seat belts by driver and passengers

- information about the performance of various systems and modules in the vehicle, and

- information related to engine, throttle, steering, brake or other system status potentially including information related to how the driver operates the vehicle including but not limited to vehicle speed.

This information may be stored during regular operation or in a crash or near crash event. This stored information may be read out and used by:

- Ford Motor Co.

- service and repair facilities

- law enforcement of govt. agencies

- other who may assert a right or obtain your consent to know such information."

There you go! Big brother is watching you.....

When on two wheels-
FXSTC
Mesa- AZ

 

it is not enough that ya have to pay $30,000+ fer a good truck and then ppl want to know what you do with it?!?!?! it is my understanding that the governmant is supposed to govern the ppl, not be a pain in the a$$!!!


-nathan

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-Aug-02 AT 00:13 AM (EST)]Well the chips will overide speedlimiters so why not this? hec its just a darn computer lets hack the thing...

99 F250SD EC 5.4L 3.73 285 BFG/ATs...
99 Expy EB 5.4L

 

>Well the chips will overide speedlimiters so why not this?
>hec its just a darn computer lets hack the thing...
>
>99 F250SD EC 5.4L 3.73 285 BFG/ATs...
>99 Expy EB 5.4L

I agree. I wonder if there is a way to program the Diablo to do this?

Can you imagine- you get rear ended, then three days later a lawyer for the guy who hit you demands data from your "event recorder" to prove you are a bad driver because you didn't buckle up?!?!?

When on two wheels-
FXSTC
Mesa- AZ

 

I cant believe this.... and I'm in LAW ENFORCEMENT!! That sucks! I really dont think that Ford, or law enforcement can access that information without a warrant.

I'm a Crash Investigator with my department and the only reason I could come up with is that it would act like a "black box" for pre-crash driving conduct. I dont need that information to tell how fast a vehicle is traveling before, during or after a crash.

I dont like it....Not one single bit

 

Much the same as what the car rental companies have been doing for the last two years. They have been checking for speeders and wreckless driving. Big Brother is watching.

 

there is always a way to beat it

 

GM has had this system in vehicles for a few years now, although I believe it's new for FoMoCo in 2003. It works with the airbag module.

Here is some additional info if you are interested. http://www.accidentreconstruction.com/research/edr/faq.asp

Kind of ugly having a passive spy device on board, but might be handy if you were to be on the wrong end of an accident claim.

 

It was my understanding that this is RANDOM...not all vehicles have them. Either way, this stinks of Joan Claybrook and all her left wing loonies.

Maybe we need to just buy pre-1960's vehicles:
no smog control
no "door dingers"
no "Big Brother"

 

 

>Here is some additional info if you are interested.
>http://www.accidentreconstruction.com/research/edr/faq.asp


Looks like it only checks the last 5 seconds before an accident. While that doesn't make me feel any better about it, it may help one of us out sometime. Kinda hard to for someone to say you were speeding if the computer says otherwise.

Still don't like it though.
Bluehawk

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=4318&.jpg
F-250 SD XLT CC 4x4 Shortbed; MAAP nerf bars, Rally/Lightbar combo, PIAA 1300 driving lights, Lund bugshield, Lund SunVisor, tinted windows, K&N airfilter, Access tonneau cover, Rhino Liner, remote starter/security system, custom built console, Cobra 29 ST/WX CB with a Wilson 1000 magnet mount antenna, Realistic 500 channel police scanner, Kenwood 10 disk CD changer, Compaq laptop, SVP 100 Watt siren, and 24 Strobe lights.

Upgrades for the near future include: Warn Rio Grande pushbar with a 12,000# winch, 4" lift kit, fender flares, and 35" BF Goodrich T/A KO tires.