Ok, other than the entry in the owner manual, we don't know what it does or how it operates. Let's cool our jets until we know how exactly the data recorder functions.

 

http://www.harristechnical.com/cdr.htm


this is just about crashes i think

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/edr-site/

http://www.harristechnical.com/downloads/cdrlist.pdf
here is a list of what they record

 

These record basically the way bighoss550 has stated, and are contained in either the pcm or air bag monitoring system. The record feature has been used in vehicles with air bags, antilock breaks etc for many years. Main use is to be able to go back and look at the data after an accident or safety system failure and determine what can be done to improve on the system. Also since the requiremnet of OBDII computers by the federal gov't they record the information relating to the emissions systems. All of this informantion can be used and has been used in a court of law in lawsuits brought against automakers for wrongful death etc.

All computers including the ones we use daily to access this board do not fully erase the data when you hit delete etc. Just the first bit of the file is removed so the computer loses track of the file location. The file can be located with specific software designed to retrieve this data. This software is used by companies to reconstruct the data on your hard drive if it is lost do to equipment failure, power surges etc. Also all law enforcement agencies use this same technique to retrieve the files you thought you erased that pertained to some illegal activity you were involved in and keeping stored on your computer. The only way to safely dispose of a hard drive (recording device and be sure the data can't be recovered is to use disc wiping software that basically rights binary data over every sector of the hard drive multiple times. Then once this is done drill holes through the hard drive.

As far as privacy laws are concerned, what you do with your vehicle in public places (roads, etc) is considered public information. You are not entitled to prevent recording of these acts with any available device. This includes your neighbor using a video camera etc.

Hope this helps

 

I got this from another tech:

Seems to match up with what bighoss550 says.

 

ive heard of it before but never cared.....UNTIL NOW!!it doesnt say anything anywhere about recording "P codes". as in powertrain control. so i think were fine, but ill be at the dealer monday at 8 to find out!

the RCM and BCM are in a different world in our trucks, they dont affect the PCM and dont talk. but they do talk to ABS, and ABS talks to PCM.

 

I do Crash Reconstruction for our department. You need to remember some things. First, what is stored in the EDR of the SDM or RCM that can be accessed by law enforcement through the Vetronix CDR is often times MUCH DIFFERENT than the data the vehicle manufacturer can retrieve.

For instance, currently, the GM data we can retrieve will include 5 seconds of pre-crash data including speed, percent throttle, percent braking and seat belt use to name some things.

The Ford EDR will NOT give law enforcement 5 seconds of pre-crash data. It will only give limited data at the time of the crash. Also, the delta-v (change of velocity of the vehicle) has only been calculated in the X axis of the vehicle and not the Y axis. This is changing with some of the latest EDR's just coming out.

We cannot retrieve any data from Chrysler products or from many other manufacturers out there.

This does not mean these other manufacturers cannot record data, in fact, they most often do. They just have not let their proprietary information be accessed by the Vetronix CDR. In the future more and more manufacturers are going to let this happen as it will benefit them far more than it will ever hurt them

Also, what is stored in the EDR of the SDM or RCM is geared towards the air bag system. As such, you WILL NOT find information here of a chip/tuner use, trouble codes, etc (unless you exceed the factory set speed limiter ). That info would need to be gotten from some other computer in the vehicle.

As for what it takes to trigger the recording, a general summary can be found in that 'harristechnical' link, although it can be much more involved than that.

 

that would DEFINATELY be a red flag! 135mph is awful tuf to get stock!

 

Got that right!!!

 

Whoa, the turbo vanes DO need to be cooled !!!!!

given the state of media currenty available at any Walmart,
a small chip can record a LOT of "stuff"...

IS it actually recorded - I doubt it...
we're talking MONEY - not a lot per vehicle, but just a little times a LOT of vehicles would not get past the same bean counters that are decontenting $7 hood blankets from superduties !?!?

And even if it is - We are going to court over the release of this info...
This borders on self-incrimination if it bad things come from MY PERSONALLY OWNEED vehicle !
I have a problem with "THEY" getting to it....
This is my personal property and unless I release it - it should not be released !

NOW - off my late night soapbox - Ya'll have a good one... I gotta go play autocross in 7 hours !

 

In any event this could turn out bad for any of us. We need to know more about this....
Also, anything they can build, we can break.

 

I went to the dealer on Thursday to set up an apointment for a sporadic slight rev up issue I have been having after traveling at a sustained speed for a period of time. The Service Rep stated that many things are recorded that they can look at but the rev up issue they will not be able to find in the recorder and it will have to happen to them for them to find it. I have a Tuesday morning appointment and will inquire for more information about what is recorded and how they use this information, etc.

 

That would be a great help. Thanks!

 

we cant disable the restraint control module tho and thats where the info is stored in our trucks.

it doesnt store any thing about our chipsexcept the speed, so i think were golden i was up pretty late lookin up stuff about this and couldnt find anything else it records. fords intentions must be fairly good ..... for now

 

As I understand it, it records a limited loop that stops when an airbag deployment occurs. Does it record things like top speed of the truck ever? Since the speedo quits and returns to zero at 100 mph, does it record this event or the speed above this event.

 

Choctaw Bob,

My understanding is that it records the speed at that give time frame. Basically the speed for the last 15-20 seconds up to the event (ie, air bag deployment). I am not sure if the computer has the ability to record speeds above 100mph but i believe it can. With the Crown Victoria's that were involved in collisions were the fuel tank ruptured, they were able to determine from the computer data saved at the time of the event, that the vehicle speed was above 100 mph in some cases that went to court.

Hope this helps