Tracker fitted by prev owner - worth removing?

[pcman_jh]

My 99 E300TD has a tracker fitted by the first owner. The second owner (the guy I bought it from) didn't renew the yearly fee, so it's lapsed.

A few questions -

Where is the actual device fitted? I'm not asking for any dodgy reasons - honest! - it's just so I can identify and eliminate the 'box' (I'm assuming there is a 'black box') from any other future diagnostics I have to apply to the car. A secondard part to this question would be what is actually installed - a black box and sensors or aerials?

Assuming it can be identified (see above) is it worth removing if I'm not planning to ever renew the membership. I'm more thinking along the lines of if anything goes wrong with its internal electronics (or internal battery?) then it's better being removed than leaving alone.

Any advice or comments are welcome.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

You might as well leave it in there. If its flat, Tracker charge you to repair it. You can't sell it on. You can't do anything with it really, so its worth leaving it there as an 'attraction' for any future purchaser.

It won't cause any interference with your car's systems. The only way you'll find out where it is is from Tracker or the installer, and they'll want proof of ownership.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

next time you get your car serviced, you can have them locate it for you. or take it to a Alarm fitter who can remove it for you for a fee.

but the battery will last at least 10 yrs in it before they recommend changing it. and it wont affect any of your car if it fails. and seeing as tracker dont have your details, they cant get in touch with you if it does activate. but dont worry, if the subscription has lapsed, the police wont come round!

 

[mioba]

It doesnt matter if its there and it has lapsed. It does no harm at all.
If you want to renew the subscription thats up to you as the subscribtion cant be transferred.

If you are going to keep the car for a good few years its worth having the tracker (its not to expensive if you subcribe the tracker for the duration of your ownership (320 one off payment) or 120 annual payments - or there abouts. Since the tracker is fitted you dont have to pay for the system to be installed.

The tracker website if full of alot of useful info

When installed the tracker installation people use "certain" places to fit the device, i guess only a insider would know that.

I believe its just a black box

I dont see the point of removing at all, if you dont want to subscribe to it - then your not obliged to, the tracker corp wont hunt you down and force you to pay the fee.

Infact they are good if you want to sell the car at a later date, it will look worse if you told a future potential buyer that you ripped the tracker out.

personally i would leave it there if your not gonna use it, they cant be sold and used in other vehicles, what harm is it doing

 

[mlc]

I used to work for the AA and at the time they were sales agents for Tracker. We were told that the unit was around the size of a 20 box of cigarettes and that it could be fitted in many different positions within the car. The idea is that the thief didnt know where to look. I would leave it where it is and ignore it.

We had lots of funny stories of people wanting to buying Tracker. The best was the family that wanted tracker fitted to Grannie because she kept going awol from the home, so she would be easy to find!

Mark

 

[Cheltenhamshire]

I would agree with most of the sentiment above, just leave it if you don't want to renew the subs. Have you kept the tracker decal on the window though? After all if your car has a tracker fitted a thief is less likely to want to steal your car, surely a good thing?!?!

 

[mioba]

I would agree with most of the sentiment above, just leave it if you don't want to renew the subs. Have you kept the tracker decal on the window though? After all if your car has a tracker fitted a thief is less likely to want to steal your car, surely a good thing?!?!

Tracker dont use decals, It limits the possibilty of recovery as a high class thieve nicking these cars will find the tracker and rip it out before the cops recover the car.
thats according to tracker anyway. Any decals are 3rd party, just look on ebay

 

[jberks]

Tracker dont use decals, It limits the possibilty of recovery as a high class thieve nicking these cars will find the tracker and rip it out before the cops recover the car.
thats according to tracker anyway. Any decals are 3rd party, just look on ebay

Agreed - I didn't know mine had a tracker until the bumph dropped through the door. Actually, a hell of a money making scheme - don't fit one and just charged for the licence - how would we ever know! (they don't guarantee recovery!)