Recently I’ve been made aware by a post here on TMS that our cars have a black box recording device. Apparently it records many parameters including speed, rpm, and acceleration, and can be retrieved after a collision. This information has been used by police to convict speeders, by insurance companies to deny repairs and renewals, and even by Mitsubishi to void warranty coverage!

What exactly is this black box device? Is it a stand-alone unit that can be removed? If so where is it and how do I rip it out? Or is it part of the PCM? Can it be removed or neutralized in any way? I really hate the idea of “Big Brother” spying on me in my car, **** Orwellian society!!

 

Yeah, junk like that is bull- I'm so tired of seemingly everything being monitored "for our protection." Its such a total load of crap.

 

Just cause you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you?
wearing a triangular hat made from tin foil will save you from the government's ninja satellites.....

 

The airbag module doubles as an information recorder, it has been that way for several years now. Earlier airbag systems didn't have that capability, but the newer smart systems do.

 

no no dude, thats to prevent aliens from getting into your bRAINS!

 

ripping my air bags out as soon as i get done posting here .... I also think its bull but as easy as it is to use it agaist you it can be used for you.

 

It seems to me that the (legally obtained) information contained in the Event Data Recorder is just as likely to vindicate those who choose to abide by the standards set by society, but stand falsely accused, as to convict those who choose to flaunt the standards, and are ultimately responsible for the resulting chaos. Sure, it's a witness... But at the very least, it's an impartial one.

Having said that, I don't know if it's possible to defeat the EDR or not, but I do recall reading somewhere that it was illegal for dealers/shops/etc. to do so. That would imply that it might be possible, but it's also probably entirely platform dependent, and given that the newer a platform, the more integrated it's electronics, may also be a function of age.

My money's on it can't be done on an S197*.

*feral burro conjecture

 

I would wait on that one. I would bet if you got into an accident your (or their) insurance company could deny coverage because you "tampered" with the data recorder.

 

I was just kidding lol. I am sure it would be a job to remove the air bags and related items

 

For real though, Subaru has a computer system in ito to read the G's as you take corners and if you go over so many G's it voids your warranty. LAME

 

Who told you that?
Many cars with a stability system have accelerometers but...
If you happen to hit a curb by accident, the G-force will far exceed any high speed cornering even at low speed.
If you corner really hard at a low speed it can record a higher G-force than a moderate turn at dangerously high speed.
Besides if you have reading of say 2 Gs cornering, you have probably crashed into something anyway.

 

Very few people can obtain the information from these black boxes. I'm talking like 2 people in the entire state of Texas. It's very rare that an accident investigator will want the information, unless a fatality occurs.

 

Yes, it is rare for anyone to request the data, only very bad accidents where there is no clear answer as to what happened. As long as you weren't doing anything stupid when you crashed, the data in the box can only help verify your side of the story. If you were doing 130 and slammed into someone, then try to say you were only doing 70, well your just an idiot anyway.

 

Your brain splatered on the highway will tell most people that you were going 130 into an accident. No need for a blackbox there.

 

I have a friend who wrecked his 06 GTO while he was showing off to a buddie. He did a hard launch and got up to about 50 while his rear end was wagging around, tires still squealing. He lost it and hit the ditch, totalled the car. He claimed a deer ran out in front of him and he tried to avoid it. He left the scene, and reported it to his insurance that next morning. They covered it. If they had checked the black box, they would have denied it, and rightfully so. All the ins. companies have clauses in there policies stating they will deny racing or exibition related crashes. Now you and me are paying higher insurance rates for his stupid f-up.

 

By the same token, say you are in an accident and the other driver (or even a witness) says you were doing something you really were not. Such as racing, or going way too fast. The black box can save you in that situation.

 

So does that mean I can just remove the airbag module? Is that module a seperate item from the actual airbag? If not then I will remove both airbags, although that will be a tedious task. Any instructions on how to access that module would be most appreciated. I might just go to the dealer this weekend and have him remove them.

 

Is removing the airbags that could potentially save your life worth more to you than the remote chance that the black box might *gasp* tell the truth that you were doing something stupid when you crashed? I mean, the only thing the box is going to do is rat you out if you are being foolish, or if the accident is really your fault. It will tell the officer or whoever investigating the crash a lot of things, but really, as long as you tell them the truth, no problem. That will add credibility to your story, and possibly swing the blame away from you. If you are lying though, it will tell on you.

Moral of the story: don't do stupid things that will cause an accident. If you are in an accident that is your fault, no matter what stupid thing you did to cause it, tell the truth.

That is not so hard if you ask me. Much preferable to me finding out with my face how hard the steering wheel is.

 

I remember a couple of years ago some idiot was driving over 100MPH in a Vette in a residential area and he sliced some car in half killing some young people...the black box was used to prove that he was excessively speeding (which obviously he was) and the parents of those kids were able to put the SOB away for a long time. I'm no saint behind the wheel, but I'm for anything which will help solve a case, etc. Big Brother is watching you a lot more than you think...but when you need assistance (e.g. a robbery, assault, etc.), you'll be happy that someone (or a camera) is watching.

 

Yes, it is worth more, to me anyways. I value my privacy more than my safety. I already chatted with the dealer and he said that they will try to retrofit what he termed "dumb" airbags. If that doesn't work then I'll just have to take my chances with that steering wheel in the face.

PS. Its not about accidents, credibilty, stupid driving, or insurance. Where I live no one would even know how to access the black box, or even know of its existence. Its just a matter of principal for me.