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Remove Event Data Recorder

david73034david73034 Member Posts: 4
in Ford
I am not paranoid. Last month I read an article that insurance companies are considering requiring access to these devices when issuing policies.

I have a 2001 Crown Victoria. First I purchased a complete service manual and could find no location specified for the event data recorder.

Next, I located the service port for the diagnostic computer connection, under the dash to the upper right of the gas pedal. As you follow the wires into the dash you will notice a "Y" connection. the wires to the left go to many connections, while the wires to the right deadend in a black plastic box (4x6x2"). This is the event data recorder.

DO NOT BELIEVE ALL THE SCARE STORIES ABOUT DISCONNECTING THE AIR BAGS IF YOU REMOVE THE BOX. All that happened was the windshield wipers would not work! so, I rewired them.

In addition, I relocated the plug-in ( which was hidden behind the ashtray near the firewall) so that I could reconnect the box if necessary. All I did was move the multiprong connection so it was next to the diagnostic connection.

It is my understanding that these event data recorders are mandated on all cars made from 2001 on.

Congress made it illegal for a dealership to disconnect or remove these devices. However, owners may still disable or remove them.
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    kyfdxkyfdx Moderator Posts: 237,331
    I guess my question would be: Why does it worry you?

    regards,
    kyfdx
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    david73034david73034 Member Posts: 4
    The even data recorder information has already been used in courts to convict people. Also NHTSA has stated 4th amendment protections are not violated when police take the recorders or download them at accidnet scenes.
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    david73034david73034 Member Posts: 4
    GM SDM / EDR / airbag / DERM / Black Box module location listed by year and model including Hummer, Isuzu, Saab, Saturn models with GM based air bag systems.

    Vetronix (Bosch) makes software to read the data recorder and published this list of locations of the event data recorders in various cars/

    General Motors: 1994

    Buick Commercial -LF side under dash

    Buick Roadmaster -LF side under dash

    Cadillac Commercial -LF side under dash

    Cadillac Fleetwood -Call

    Chevrolet Caprice -LF side under dash

    Chevrolet Commercial -LF side under dash

    Pontiac Grand Prix -Under RF seat

    General Motors: 1995

    Buick Commercial -LF side under dash

    Buick Le Sabre -Under RF seat

    Buick Park Avenue -Under RF seat

    Buick Regal -Under RF seat

    Buick Roadmaster -LF side under dash

    Cadillac Commercial -LF side under dash

    Cadillac Concours -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Deville -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Eldorado -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Fleetwood -LF side under dash

    Cadillac Seville -Under LF seat Crash rating

    Chevrolet Caprice -LF side under dash

    Chevrolet Impala -LF side under dash

    Chevrolet Lumina -Under RF seat

    Chevrolet Metro -Under center console

    Chevrolet Monte Carlo -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Eighty Eight -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Ninety Eight -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Bonneville -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Grand Prix -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Firefly -Under center console

    Saturn All Models -Under center console Crash rating

    General Motors: 1996

    Buick Commercial -LF side under dash

    Buick Le Sabre -Under RF seat

    Buick Park Avenue -Under RF seat

    Buick Regal -Under RF seat

    Buick Riviera -Under RF seat

    Buick Roadmaster -LF side under dash

    Buick Skylark -Under RF seat

    Cadillac Commercial -LF side under dash

    Cadillac Concours -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Deville -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Eldorado -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Fleetwood -LF side under dash

    Cadillac Seville -Under LF seat Crash rating

    Chevrolet Astro -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Camaro -Under center console

    Chevrolet Caprice -LF side under dash

    Chevrolet Cavalier -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Chevrolet Express -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Impala -LF side under dash

    Chevrolet Lumina -Under RF seat

    Chevrolet Metro -Call- Under center console

    Chevrolet Monte Carlo -Under RF seat

    Geo Tracker -Call- Under center console

    GMC Safari -Under LF seat

    GMC Savana -Under LF seat

    Oldsmobile Achieva -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Aurora -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Eighty Eight -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Ninety Eight -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Bonneville -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Firebird -Under center console

    Pontiac Firefly -Call-Under center console

    Pontiac Grand AM -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Grand Prix -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Sunfire -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Saturn All models -Under center console Crash rating

    General Motors: 1997

    Buick Century -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Buick LeSabre -Under RF seat

    Buick Park Avenue -Under RF seat

    Buick Regal -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Buick Riviera -Under RF seat

    Buick Skylark -Under RF seat

    Cadillac Commercial -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Concours -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Deville -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Eldorado -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Seville -Under LF seat Crash rating

    Chevrolet Astro -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Camaro -Under center console

    Chevrolet Cavalier -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Chevrolet Corvette -Behind accessory trim plate,

    under heater and AC control

    Chevrolet Express -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Lumina -Under RF seat

    Chevrolet Malibu -Under RF seat

    Chevrolet Metro -Call-Under center console

    Chevrolet Monte Carlo -Under RF seat

    Chevrolet Silverado -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Suburban -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Tahoe -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Venture -Call-Under RF seat Crash rating

    Geo Tracker -Call-Under center console

    GMC Safari -Under LF seat

    GMC Savana -Under LF seat

    GMC Sierra -Under LF seat

    GMC Suburban -Under LF seat

    GMC Yukon -Under LF seat

    Oldsmobile Achieva -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Aurora -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Eighty Eight -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Regency -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Silhouette -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Pontiac Bonneville -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Firebird -Under center console

    Pontiac Firefly -Call-Under center console

    Pontiac Grand AM -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Grand Prix -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Pontiac Sunfire -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Pontiac Trans Sport -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Saturn All models -Under center console Crash rating

    General Motors: 1998

    Buick Century -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Buick LeSabre -Under RF seat

    Buick Park Avenue -Under RF seat

    Buick Regal -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Buick Riviera -Under RF seat

    Buick Skylark -Under RF seat

    Cadillac Commercial -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Deville -Under LF seat

    Cadillac Eldorado -Under RF seat

    Cadillac Seville -Under RF seat

    Chevrolet Astro -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Blazer -Under center console

    Chevrolet Camaro -Under center console

    Chevrolet Cavalier -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Chevrolet Corvette -Behind accessory trim plate,

    under heater and AC control

    Chevrolet Express -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Lumina -Under RF seat

    Chevrolet Malibu -Under RF seat

    Chevrolet Metro -Call-Under center console

    Chevrolet Monte Carlo -Under RF seat

    Chevrolet S10 -Under center console

    Chevrolet S10 electric -Under center console

    Chevrolet Silverado -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Suburban -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Tahoe -Under LF seat

    Chevrolet Tracker -Call-Under center console

    Chevrolet Venture -Call-Under RF seat Crash rating

    GMC Jimmy -Under c
    GM SDM / EDR / airbag / DERM / Black Box module location listed by year and model including Hummer, Isuzu, Saab, Saturn models with GM based air bag systems.

    Vetronix (Bosch) makes software to read the data recorder and published this list enter console

    GMC Safari -Under LF seat

    GMC Savana -Under LF seat

    GMC Sierra -Under LF seat

    GMC Sonoma -Under center console

    GMC Suburban -Under LF seat

    GMC Yukon -Under LF seat

    Oldsmobile Achieva -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Aurora -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Bravada -Under center console

    Oldsmobile Cutlass -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Eighty Eight -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Intrigue -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Oldsmobile Regency -Under RF seat

    Oldsmobile Silhouette -Call-Under RF seat Crash rating

    Pontiac Bonneville -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Firebird -Under center console

    Pontiac Firefly -Call-Under center console

    Pontiac Grand AM -Under RF seat

    Pontiac Grand Prix -Under RF seat Crash rating

    Pontiac Sunfire -Under RF seat Crash ratin
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    euphoniumeuphonium Member Posts: 3,425
    Law enforcements need all the help available for their pursuit of negative people. ;)
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    bohmanskibohmanski Member Posts: 1
    Well, in my opinion, you are bogus! If you blew past a stop sign, and broadsided me, then claimed you DID stop, I would want the info from the EDR. By removing the EDR, you are trying to hide something, and that’s bogus. If you’re an honest person, you would have nothing to hide. Get lost, prick.
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    jsylvesterjsylvester Member Posts: 572
    I would remove it as well. It will only be used by Big Brother to keep an eye on you. The trouble is I don't think the Grand Marquis or Crown Vic has one.

    It will come a time when they will be used to tax you for mileage driven. Of course don't count on a reduction in the gas tax - they have a socialist utopia to build.
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    bugnerbugner Member Posts: 1
    I will also be removing mine as well, bohmanski, you would dare cut out the police guy who trained an extra 4 years to recreate a crime seen? and then we would have to replace him with...someone dumber. He would be out of a job do to the EDR, lets try a different angle, lets put some value into human worth and figure out how to make people honest instead of them having to seek a more in depth way out.

    I'll explain, so I don't remove my EDR, I reprogram it so the log reads in my favor, didn't remove it, still makes me a cheat eh? those that get away with crime have a brain... they might be evil, they maybe dishonest, but they are going to do it even if you cry about it.

    Who wanted the EDR congress? do I trust congress with my money? no, do they have any real values in congress besides staying in office? nope... they are scum, and yet you expect the guy who has to pay all the added cost these wonderful people added to car cost etc not to cheat back? uhh geee would of thought. Don't cheat me and I'll remain an honest person, cheat me enough and it is sad but I'll find a way to get my money back for crap like the EDR... trust me even if 51% of people were honest enough to do the right thing, it is truely sad those 51% end up paying for the others 49% who are dishonest, and thats not even a true statement.... In a real world, 90% of people are honest and 10% cause the other 90% added cost in every area of life, and its people like you that support an idea that if one person makes a mistake everyone has to pay, and thats really sad, make the idiot pay, its called punish the right people and let the other people keep their freedoms, EDR is one step closer to the man telling me what to do, and while you may do tricks like a dog, sir I do not.

    As long as congress can do stuff behind closed doors why the hell should I even have to even consider crap like the EDR?

    Have some values...
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    anac1anac1 Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2011
    Bless you sir for saying this. It is completely an invasion of privacy and a way for insurance companies not to pay in settlements. So the little guy gets screwed to the wall again. I was wondering if you can tell me how you reprogrammed your EDR I would love to do the very same. :D
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    tebbietebbie Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2008 Grand Marque that is still under extended warranty. Can I remove or can the event recorder be wiped? Can the recorder be disabled? What will happen if it is removed or disabled? I just do not like prying eyes.
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    thetazthetaz Member Posts: 8
    Very easy to reprogram and you can even set the odometer to 00000 with the correct software. I have wiped them clean in all my cars and trucks. I don't know about the 2001 Crown Vic but the 2002 CV Sport does have one and yes I wiped it clean too as well as changed the code so that speed and breaking are not recorded. Highway Patrol issued me a ticket for 132 MPH after they came to my house and read it, yes I outran them, and it held in court so I got busy.
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    bryhooperbryhooper Member Posts: 1
    With the pending bill on the senate floor to require all these to be installed in every American car, you can surely understand one's desire to remove this obtrusive, and constitutionally unlawful device. What site(s) are you aware of that instruct how to remove them, and how would I interact with those installed in our vehicles? We have a cars ranging from 1996 to 2007 and of course would love to know how to interface to correct codes, and complete self-diagnostics without having to pay the $150.00 to a mechanic to do something I can easily do myself as I am an IT guy.

    I look forward to your response.
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    regul8thisregul8this Member Posts: 2
    I'd be interested to know what hardware you needed to do the reprogramming and what software, too. I'm a software developer and consultant and would like to attempt this on my cars. Any info you can send would be appreciated. Thanks.
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    regul8thisregul8this Member Posts: 2
    Sorry. I posted the reply to the wrong person last time.

    I'd be interested to know what hardware you needed to do the reprogramming and what software, too. I'm a software developer and consultant and would like to attempt this on my cars. Any info you can send would be appreciated. Thanks.
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    sc00terkimsc00terkim Member Posts: 1
    There was a case several years ago where this man got 30 years for "vehicular homicide". The EDR in his small 4 banger reported he was doing 130mph at impact. The State police crash site investigators estimated his speed at 45mph at impact. He was under the posted limit. The damage should have been proof enough that he was not doing 130mph. The import he was driving could barely make it to 100mph, DOWNHILL ! He was confident enough in the police testimony to clear him of those charges. The "judge" took the faulty EDR reading as "proof" and gave him 30 years. HELL YES ! DISABLE OR REPROGRAM. There are also ongoing cases where EDR downloads that prove the errant driver was not speeding, were not permitted in a Florida court. There are more concerns than privacy here; FREEDOM AND JUSTICE are at steak, especially when a DA is in an election year, or just beefing up his resume.
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    steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    edited May 2015
    Got a link? The only "130 mph" EDR event I can find with a quick search involves a Corvette. Oh, and here's one with an Infiniti. No indication that either were spinning their wheels on ice. Thanks.
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