New to me secondhand car - tracker fitted
Discussion
I've recently bought 2016 Skoda Superb from a local dealer. Along with the keys and paperwork, I was given a Tracker registration document and a spare tracker fob. There was another fob in the coin tray, inside a plastic bag. The bag had "Fob must be kept in tray" written on it.
I don't need a tracker, as I live in a low risk area, so I just ignored it, left the fob in the car as advised.
The original owner didn't fill in the "sale or transfer" part of the registration document.
Since buying the car, I get an annoying beep each time I turn on the ignition. No errors come up on the dash, no warning lights. I sought advice on the Briskoda forum, and no-one had any ideas. Last night I had a thought - could it be the tracker making the beep?
I've dug out the registration document. the original owner took out a 5 year contract with Tracker Network UK. The unit is listed on the document as "CAT5PLUS". The fob is marked "3D SYSTEM".
I've tried to find information about how the system works, what the fob does, and most importantly is the annoying beep anything to do with the tracker?
I don't need a tracker, as I live in a low risk area, so I just ignored it, left the fob in the car as advised.
The original owner didn't fill in the "sale or transfer" part of the registration document.
Since buying the car, I get an annoying beep each time I turn on the ignition. No errors come up on the dash, no warning lights. I sought advice on the Briskoda forum, and no-one had any ideas. Last night I had a thought - could it be the tracker making the beep?
I've dug out the registration document. the original owner took out a 5 year contract with Tracker Network UK. The unit is listed on the document as "CAT5PLUS". The fob is marked "3D SYSTEM".
I've tried to find information about how the system works, what the fob does, and most importantly is the annoying beep anything to do with the tracker?
I've found a user guide which I think is for the tracker on my car. Apparently the beep is normal, and just shows that the fob has been recognised.
I've phoned Tracker, and they won't tell me anything until I "prove that I own the car". I get the feeling that they will try and hold me to ransom so that I pay for a subscription. I've no interest in this, I just want to stop the beeping and have a car that doesn't get immobilised or worse because it thinks I've stolen it.
Is it possible to get the whole thing taken out?
I've phoned Tracker, and they won't tell me anything until I "prove that I own the car". I get the feeling that they will try and hold me to ransom so that I pay for a subscription. I've no interest in this, I just want to stop the beeping and have a car that doesn't get immobilised or worse because it thinks I've stolen it.
Is it possible to get the whole thing taken out?
clockworks said:
I've found a user guide which I think is for the tracker on my car. Apparently the beep is normal, and just shows that the fob has been recognised.
I've phoned Tracker, and they won't tell me anything until I "prove that I own the car". I get the feeling that they will try and hold me to ransom so that I pay for a subscription. I've no interest in this, I just want to stop the beeping and have a car that doesn't get immobilised or worse because it thinks I've stolen it.
Is it possible to get the whole thing taken out?
Getting it taken out may be a challenge...although my experience was a long time ago! I bought a new car in 2008. Due to value, most insurance companies demanded a Tracker Horizon or better be fitted, so the dealers fitted them as standard. However, after I'd take delivery of the car it turned out the dealer (Stratstone, nuff said) had fitted a cheaper Tracker Monitor instead which was of no use to man nor beast. I contacted Tracker, they were brilliant and charged the dealer directly for the correct Tracker to be fitted and a lifetime subscription! However, they wouldn't remove the Monitor (apparently it was their policy not to), they just fitted the Horizon as well - so I had 2 Trackers fitted.I've phoned Tracker, and they won't tell me anything until I "prove that I own the car". I get the feeling that they will try and hold me to ransom so that I pay for a subscription. I've no interest in this, I just want to stop the beeping and have a car that doesn't get immobilised or worse because it thinks I've stolen it.
Is it possible to get the whole thing taken out?
I suppose they have to be difficult to remove.
Do these things have an immobiliser? I wonder what would happen if the fob wasn't in the car - obviously after I've managed to get it de-registered.
If it's going to be completely useless, have no effect on the car, and not carry on beeping, it can stay where it is
Do these things have an immobiliser? I wonder what would happen if the fob wasn't in the car - obviously after I've managed to get it de-registered.
If it's going to be completely useless, have no effect on the car, and not carry on beeping, it can stay where it is
Sounds like this one https://www.tracker.co.uk/products/s5-plus
Not a cheap option! I'd be chuffed to find that in my new car.
Would probably bring your insurance down too
Not a cheap option! I'd be chuffed to find that in my new car.
Would probably bring your insurance down too
I’ve just bought a car that has a tracker on, I had to sign a form that was counter signed by the previous owner and I get the balance of the subscription (which is 6 months).
I’ve only got one fob that I leave in the car but if you register with them there are other functions that you can do with the tracker.
I don’t need a tracker for my insurance but it comes with an app that shows all my journeys so it’s handy for mileage claims for work.
I’ve only got one fob that I leave in the car but if you register with them there are other functions that you can do with the tracker.
I don’t need a tracker for my insurance but it comes with an app that shows all my journeys so it’s handy for mileage claims for work.
If the subscription was cheaper, I'd keep it. It's £599 for 3 years I think. £249 for 1 year.
The really annoying thing is that the original owner paid for a 5 year subscription, and there's nearly 3 years of that left. The company will not transfer the subscription to a new owner. Sharp practice!
The really annoying thing is that the original owner paid for a 5 year subscription, and there's nearly 3 years of that left. The company will not transfer the subscription to a new owner. Sharp practice!
clockworks said:
If the subscription was cheaper, I'd keep it. It's £599 for 3 years I think. £249 for 1 year.
The really annoying thing is that the original owner paid for a 5 year subscription, and there's nearly 3 years of that left. The company will not transfer the subscription to a new owner. Sharp practice!
Yes, that’s poor. Mines with Vodafone and it just transferred to me for free.The really annoying thing is that the original owner paid for a 5 year subscription, and there's nearly 3 years of that left. The company will not transfer the subscription to a new owner. Sharp practice!
I've just had a reply from "technical" at Tracker. They confirmed that it will be OK to use the car without the fob, and that would stop the beeps.
I guess it would generate alerts though - until they process the fact that the car has a new owner, and de-register the tracker. Apparently it's purely a tracker, with no immobiliser function.
It does seem like a strange car to have fitted with a tracker, especially in a relatively low risk area like Cornwall. It's the L&K 280 model, so maybe the owner thought it might get nicked to upgrade a Golf to R spec?
I guess it would generate alerts though - until they process the fact that the car has a new owner, and de-register the tracker. Apparently it's purely a tracker, with no immobiliser function.
It does seem like a strange car to have fitted with a tracker, especially in a relatively low risk area like Cornwall. It's the L&K 280 model, so maybe the owner thought it might get nicked to upgrade a Golf to R spec?
I used to fit these things. A horizon was basically a monitor with a few extra bits and a gps module.
Monitor was radio based, not GPS, and so the idea of the horizon was to add an extra layer of security to the radio system which wasn’t the best because the signal needed to be picked up by an appropriately equipped receiver car of which the police had a fair few. The radio system sounds rubbish but it actually worked quite well as the signals would still emanate from inside a container or garage whatever.
The installs are very simple with basic connections to power and the aerial runs. I saw many cars with multiple trackers on them, and, as the previous poster has suggested, we were not allowed to remove them - Tracker’s rationale was to “activate” them all - many cars were a right mess under the skin because as usual the quality of installer varied enormously.
Nowadays CAT5 and the S5 category are more intrusive and offer an engine cut. If you have to have one and you’re fussy about your car it is important to get it fitted by someone you trust. There is a lot of extra cack going in your car and the scope for an invisible cluster**** is high.
I am in the unenviable position of having to put one of these on one of my own cars shortly - the guy that I trained to fit them still works doing it but for himself now, and so I’ll no doubt fit it and get him to inspect the job and sign it off for me. It’ll take me ages to do it to an oem standard - time which the installers just don’t have.
OP I’m not going to post here where the most common locations for the tracker unit are in the car you mention as it would be irresponsible and I don’t know how long NDA’s signed years ago last but I feel sure that they are fairly commonly used, and that you would be able to get it removed by any competent auto electrician. I just noticed you have the latest type of tracker though, so actually probably not a bad idea to leave it because they’re expensive if you change insurer and they decide you need it!
Monitor was radio based, not GPS, and so the idea of the horizon was to add an extra layer of security to the radio system which wasn’t the best because the signal needed to be picked up by an appropriately equipped receiver car of which the police had a fair few. The radio system sounds rubbish but it actually worked quite well as the signals would still emanate from inside a container or garage whatever.
The installs are very simple with basic connections to power and the aerial runs. I saw many cars with multiple trackers on them, and, as the previous poster has suggested, we were not allowed to remove them - Tracker’s rationale was to “activate” them all - many cars were a right mess under the skin because as usual the quality of installer varied enormously.
Nowadays CAT5 and the S5 category are more intrusive and offer an engine cut. If you have to have one and you’re fussy about your car it is important to get it fitted by someone you trust. There is a lot of extra cack going in your car and the scope for an invisible cluster**** is high.
I am in the unenviable position of having to put one of these on one of my own cars shortly - the guy that I trained to fit them still works doing it but for himself now, and so I’ll no doubt fit it and get him to inspect the job and sign it off for me. It’ll take me ages to do it to an oem standard - time which the installers just don’t have.
OP I’m not going to post here where the most common locations for the tracker unit are in the car you mention as it would be irresponsible and I don’t know how long NDA’s signed years ago last but I feel sure that they are fairly commonly used, and that you would be able to get it removed by any competent auto electrician. I just noticed you have the latest type of tracker though, so actually probably not a bad idea to leave it because they’re expensive if you change insurer and they decide you need it!
Edited by Julian Thompson on Saturday 11th May 15:23
Tracker quoted me £249 for removal. I've seen mobile companies that quote "from £125". If it's not going to cause any problems, I'll just leave it.
I don't think I'll ever need a tracker to get a decent insurance quote, as pretty much all of west Cornwall is risk A, with just 2 areas being risk B (Falmouth, presumably because of the university, and Penzance, because it has a lot of substance abuse issues). I'm paying less than £300 for insurance, so paying £250 a year subscription to save maybe 10% is pointless.
It might be a good selling point if I sell the car privately to someone in a high risk area I suppose.
I'll give it a week for Tracker to de-register it, then try it without the fob.
I don't think I'll ever need a tracker to get a decent insurance quote, as pretty much all of west Cornwall is risk A, with just 2 areas being risk B (Falmouth, presumably because of the university, and Penzance, because it has a lot of substance abuse issues). I'm paying less than £300 for insurance, so paying £250 a year subscription to save maybe 10% is pointless.
It might be a good selling point if I sell the car privately to someone in a high risk area I suppose.
I'll give it a week for Tracker to de-register it, then try it without the fob.
clockworks said:
Tracker quoted me £249 for removal. I've seen mobile companies that quote "from £125". If it's not going to cause any problems, I'll just leave it.
I don't think I'll ever need a tracker to get a decent insurance quote, as pretty much all of west Cornwall is risk A, with just 2 areas being risk B (Falmouth, presumably because of the university, and Penzance, because it has a lot of substance abuse issues). I'm paying less than £300 for insurance, so paying £250 a year subscription to save maybe 10% is pointless.
It might be a good selling point if I sell the car privately to someone in a high risk area I suppose.
I'll give it a week for Tracker to de-register it, then try it without the fob.
I wouldn't bother getting it removed. We've recovered loads at work with tracker, the system is pretty good.I don't think I'll ever need a tracker to get a decent insurance quote, as pretty much all of west Cornwall is risk A, with just 2 areas being risk B (Falmouth, presumably because of the university, and Penzance, because it has a lot of substance abuse issues). I'm paying less than £300 for insurance, so paying £250 a year subscription to save maybe 10% is pointless.
It might be a good selling point if I sell the car privately to someone in a high risk area I suppose.
I'll give it a week for Tracker to de-register it, then try it without the fob.
If your car should ever be stolen, tracker sometimes activate the system for the price of a subscription.
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