this post was submitted on 25 Nov 2023
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First part to get ripped out of new cars
Might be more difficult than that. I'm in the hunt for a new work truck, a ram 2500. I'm specifically targeting a 2019-2020, because the 4G cellular module is easily removed, whereas in newer models it is soldered directly to a main telematics board and is pretty tricky to remove.
These companies don't want you removing these systems in their current state, as they're harvesting your data and selling it off as another revenue stream. I suspect these future monitoring systems, if removed, will brick the vehicle in one way or another.
Just disconnect the antenna and/or cover the module with something that will block any wireless signals. It's easier upfront and simple to undo when you want to sell the vehicle.
It was my go-to solution whenever I bought a vehicle with OnStar.
I suspect that like John Deere there will be a Ukrainian style hack that undermines this bullshit.
A vehicle that doesn't work without internet? That should turn out well.
Look at fleet trucks. Usually you can get them without any bs. Like even no ac, just a frame, body, and powertrain.
Also fancy electronics like that are pretty easy to disable hardware wise. Break a cap in the voltage regulation, break a few pins of a IC, anything really that functional kills it but still let's everything else think it's there or there a problem it has to ignore. Like microphone modules, I shove a pin it and scramble it then fill it with CA glue. Hardware thinks it's there but it ain't doing anything.
Someone linked a nice explainer on the topic in this thread, but my takeaway was that this is unlikely to ever exist
TLDR of the TLDR (which I recommend reading)
the regulatory body is super slow, and won't approve a change unless all the ducks are in a row
there's no safe way to stop or disable a car while it's moving, so the regulatory body won't approve it anytime soon
That second part isn't really true. Many cars now have cellular modems in them to provide WiFi and infotainment features. That means there is already a remote access capability in those vehicles. Disabling a modern vehicle with software is easy enough as the spark is controlled by the cars computer. So having a built-in feature to allow a remote actor to limit or disable the vehicle's spark isn't a big leap.
Safely stopping a car. Safely. Unless you're already stopped at an intersection or something you've got a really big chance of getting hit.
Even just remaining stopped significantly longer than expected at an intersection can easily get you into an accident in lots of places.
That's not really how it works even when a new car goes into limp mode. Usually what happens isn't that they limit the spark. It's that the PCM (Power train Control Module) provides a ground to various systems (which are always powered via the battery/alternator charging system). When the PCM or ECM (Electronics Control Module that monitors network traffic in the vehicle) detects missing voltage from a monitored network sensor, or too much voltage from a monitored network sensor) it will put your vehicle into limp mode to prevent more damage that would occur if you keep driving. For instance if your camshaft sensor is providing a reading that would suggest it's not spinning or is "stuck". That could do internal damage to the engine if the vehicle continues to be driven.
But even so what they meant was that disabling a vehicle in motion is actually dangerous to the driver, any passengers and any other people driving or riding on the road.
Additionally, if the government can do it, that tech could be used by a bad actor for the same purpose and that's just not going to fly.
If I'm trying to pass on a dotted yellow (legal) and my car thinks I'm drunk and kills the engine or governs me to 10 mph, I'm fucked. Remotely stopping a car without situational review is super dangerous (for humans in them).
You'll get no argument from me on that front.
It will go in the scrap bin right next to the OnStar module.
...but wait you don't love accidently talking to someone in Texas every time you go to turn your dome light off/on ?