[Peja]

I'm told by the dealer this picture is of the on lot security system to prevent theft while car is owned by the dealer. There is a blue & white sticker on each front window "SWDS KARR car security system. It is hard wired neatly into the harness under the dash and plugs into the unit on the backside. The neatness and the difficult access location of the splice leads me to believe the dealer would not spend that much time and effort to install it. Maybe it's a factory pigtail like the trailer hitch to be used if wanted.

It is a knee buster for me and I would like to remove it. Removal looks involved so moving or unplugging seems to be the solution. The dealer is telling me it can be moved but is part of the location/tracking in the Starlink system and if unplugged I will lose those features. Taping it to the harness would work. Seems to be pretty clunky to be part of the factory system. Anybody know the real story??

 

[80 SUBIE]

Yeah, I've got one something like that. Looks hardwired but cheap screw? through the dash bottom to hold it in place. Wasn't happy when I saw it again, thought they'd have pulled it when I refused to pay for it. Pretty nervy to try to sell those and Starlink, too.

 

[Peja]

@80 SUBIE Did you move yours? I forgot to report the dealer said it was also part of the "Shock Sensor" feature. Not sure if that is independent from Starlink. Also if it's required to remain "level" on dash.

 

[jmw15]

This is an after market add on. Seems to be primarily in California. SWDS KARR car security system Is an add on for sales.

Do a internet Google search for more information.

 

[80 SUBIE]

Haven't done anything with it yet. I'd expect it could be unplugged and removed, tucking the stubbed line away but not sure. I suppose they are rather easy to install and cheap - throw away items for those that aren't foolish enough to bite. Although I suppose they somehow tag into a gps tracker system someway. The dealer for my wife's sonata proudly brought it up on his computer to show us how it tracked vehicle location. Except that while the monitor showed it in the far corner of the lot, the car was parked outside his office. He dropped any sales effort at that point, too.

 

[Peja]

@jmw15 Thanks I did a search and they are most often cheap Chinese junk. Cheaply tapped into the wiring harness. Totally separate from Starlink system. Similar to the $3000 aftermarket warranty the finance guy tries to drop on you at closing. Pure money maker for the dealer. They put them on their stock on the lot for theft control and then try to stick a sucker buyer with a POS "alarm" that only costs hundreds of dollars.....

 

[securityguy]

To all that read this thread...this device is a SCAM and should be removed immediately. Do NOT let a dealer talk you into paying for it as many do and try to get $500+ for it. As was suggested above, Google it and get yourself educated. It has ZERO to do with the car being protected while on the dealers lot so they are feeding you a bunch of BS. Get that POS out of your car and I hope that no one got talked into paying for it!!!

 

[Peja]

I got the 7 yr Starlink deal. They never tried to up-sell me with that crap. I'm going to unplug the the "unit" and tape the pigtail out of the way and hope they didn't screw up the harness. At least I got the 10/100/0 gold plan so it's on them.

 

[Sdcerreta]

I removed mine from the car in the first week. There are several pieces to this alarm system and many splices into the factory harness. I lost no Starlink functions, that I am aware of. I left all the t-taps in place and just removed the spade connectors to remove all pieces. I may use these splices in the future and removing the t-taps leave a small section of bare wire exposed.

I kinda felt like the dealer had a way to track me and I am not really a paranoid person. Just seemed odd to deactivate the alarm/tracker and leave it in place.

 

[Peja]

@Sdcerreta You must have very nimble fingers. Where mine taps in is very tight. Tight to the point of even being able to wrap tape around the harness. Curious how many taps and how far apart?

 

[80 SUBIE]

It's a PITA to fully remove the gizmo and restore the wiring to original conditions. There's some convenience to the dealer for access, I guess and to seemingly track vehicles if driven off the lot, and even as sucker bait. There's no money to be made by expending labor to undo the damage. I have a feeling the install is for the most part benign except for the placement - or we see a lot more problems and pushback. They've been doing this for years. I might move mine and re-tape or otherwise fasten it out of sight but probably won't try to deal with the wiring unless it comes up for some other reason.

 

[Sdcerreta]

@Sdcerreta You must have very nimble fingers. Where mine taps in is very tight. Tight to the point of even being able to wrap tape around the harness. Curious how many taps and how far apart?

I recall a dozen or so taps and three pieces of hardware or so. I wil post some pictures this weekend.

 

[Peja]

@Sdcerreta, Thanks. That's obscene to tap and connect that much stuff into a new car. Gimme a choice. Looking forward to the pics.

 

[Sdcerreta]

I could have sworn that there was another piece and more taps, but this is all there was. Looks like a shock sensor, 6 taps and that small piece screwed to the underdash.