Weird tracking device.....

OK so i am in the process of replacing my heater matrix.

Whilst removing the facial and trim I found a little gadget that looks like a GPS receiver, double sided taped to the top of the instrument cluster.

That is connected to a black metal ECU taped to the facia above and to the right of the passenger side glove box.

There is also a black wire up the passenger side a piller, looks like a arial.

It's not a part of the main loom, and held in with double sided tape, so it looks very after market.

I have had the car 8 years and was unaware of any tracker being fitted.

Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks

some pictures would help...

Here are some pictures.

There are no labels or identifying marks on anything, apart from "IMO" on a thing that look like a sounder.

The first picture does look like a GPS antenna. Is / was it still connected?

It is still connected, I found it stashed behind the facia, which i have taken out to swap the heater matrix.

Had the car 8 years, had no idea it was there. The car was originally owned by a lease hire company though.

the big brother is watching your every move

Where did it get it's power? Was it permanantly live? It looks like a GPS device but one photo has what looks like an ultrasound sensor so could be some sort of alarm. A wire up inside a metal pillar will not work as an aerial.

Looks like Lojack module

this thing with IMO label is not a sounder, but microphone to hearing what happen in cockpit.

open the big black box, it might have a SIM card inside. if yes it is safety device that can be activated via cellphone to locate and turn engine off.
when I worked for Vodafone I sold some but never really seen them "in person"

Arial up the pillar, bit of a faraday box issue going on.....

..might try and open the box, since Famous Four sent me the wrong matrix, so i have nothing better to do.....

Opened up the black box, there is no visible SIM card.

On the back of the PCB there is a label marks NAVTRAK ADR5

Navtrak-The first car tracker to use ADR Cards

NavTrak is a sophisticated tracking system that is fitted to your vehicle. Using satellite positioning (GPS) and mobile phone technology (GSM) NavTrak's 24 hour SOC (Secure Operations Center) can pinpoint the exact location of your vehicle at any time.

NavTrak was the first system to use ADR technology to recognise you as the authorised driver. It can do this by detecting your unique Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) card. Even if the thief has stolen your keys, unless the system can detect your ADR card, a silent alert is sent to the NavTrak control centre.

They immediately start tracking the stolen vehicle and contact you to confirm the car or vehicle theft. They then work directly with the Police to get your car back fast.

Their highly trained agents are available round the clock to deal with stolen vehicle alerts. They tell the Police where exactly the vehicle is, what road it's driving on, the speed it is travelling at and even the direction in which it's heading. By having the ability to live track vehicles enables the police to be directed to the stolen vehicle whist keeping out of site thus preventing high speed car chases.

Reporting a crime in progress with such precision gives the Police the best opportunity, not just to get your vehicle and its contents back undamaged, but to catch the thieves as well.
The Navtrak Range of stolen vehicle tracking systems

Navtrak Standard

Navtrak ADR

Navtrak ADR 3 for Bentley, Lamborghini, Range Rover

Navtrak ADR 5i (Category 5) for Ferrari, Maserati and Tesla


Features and Benefits of the Navtrak range
•Automatic Driver Recognition detects vehicle theft the moment it happens, even if the thief has your keys.
•Pinpoint GPS tracking starts the moment we receive an alert.
•Precise 'crime in progress' information gives the Police the best opportunity to retrieve your vehicle and catch the thieves.
•UK and European coverage.
•A NavTrak system can be transferred to a new vehicle when you change your car.
•Navtrak will reduce car insurance premiums.
•Free return and valet service.
•Free courtesy vehicle for up to 10 days.


Navtrak is Approved By



Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Range Rover and Land Rover



Navtrak News

In 2007 Navtrak was bought by Italian based company Cobra AT.(now known as Cobra UK Ltd) This was a mutully beneficial move combining the vast manufacturing facilities of Cobra and the excellent customer service of Navtrak forming the UK's leading Vehicle tracking company.

Vertuas said:

Opened up the black box, there is no visible SIM card.

On the back of the PCB there is a label marks NAVTRAK ADR5

Click to expand...

Navtrak make vehicle trackers. They are an aftermarket addition, mainly to lease hire vehicles. The ADR is Advanced Driver Recognition. This is to stop people from driving your car when your keys are stolen. Its obviously deactivated as you would not be able to turn on the ignition without the corresponding ADR card somewhere on or about your person.

Its worthless without the access card so take it out and chuck it is my advice!

Ian

OK called Cobra / ADR

The unit was deactivate in 2006 apparently.

It can be re-activated for a subscription fee, or removed from the vehicle.

I think that it may be going bye byes.....