Royalty Auto Post Another Good Video - Troubleshooting Battery Current Draw

[rstcso]

Sorry to post another one of Royalty Auto Service videos, but this is a good one about troubleshooting batteries where something is drawing current while the vehicle is turned off.

Synopsis: Use a thermal imaging device to look for areas with more heat than surrounding areas, then troubleshooting those circuits.

Most common item drawing current... OBDII plug-in devices from insurance companies to "save money" by letting them monitor everything you do.

 

[dishdude]

I subscribe to his channel, he posts a lot of great videos.

 

[BHopkins]

I watched this video earlier today. I found it very informative. I imagine that the big insurance companies won't be too happy, if this video gets a lot of views. They might have an influx of customers returning their devices.

I'm thinking about running a test like this on my wife's X5 that we recently bought her. The dealership installs a GPS device on all cars it sells, and includes an app so the buyer can track their car. It's redundant, since the X5 already has it's own GPS and app, so I'd like to remove the dealership installed device. But before doing it, it would be interesting to see how much of a draw it is on the battery.

 

[rstcso]

I watched this video earlier today. I found it very informative. I imagine that the big insurance companies won't be too happy, if this video gets a lot of views. They might have an influx of customers returning their devices.

I'm thinking about running a test like this on my wife's X5 that we recently bought her. The dealership installs a GPS device on all cars it sells, and includes an app so the buyer can track their car. It's redundant, since the X5 already has it's own GPS and app, so I'd like to remove the dealership installed device. But before doing it, it would be interesting to see how much of a draw it is on the battery.

When we bought our Pilot, there were only three dealers in the state of Texas having the Elite with the color combination my wife wanted. Two of those dealerships had GPS tracking as add-ons. We bought the car from the one not having GPS, or any other add-ons.

Prior to buying, I researched these GPS add-ons. Some were being used legitimately for location of vehicles on dealers' lots (some are huge), while others continue to have full access after the car is sold. If financed, and possibly even if not, the contract you sign may have a stipulation you cannot remove the device and the data may be sold to huge data collectors/brokers who sell the information, primarily to insurance companies.

When I got home from buying it, I looked to verify a device hadn't been installed. They are usually installed inline with the OBDII connector, but may be anywhere.

 

[Urshurak776]

I like these guys. I watch this channel and Eric O at South Main auto. Both are very informative.

Eric O did a similar video a year or so ago.

 

[Marcozi]

That module is monitoring the car's movement.