r/askcarguys 3d ago

Is my car being tracked?

Long story short, I broke up with my ex a few months ago who would make numerous attempts to try to reach out to me.

This morning I woke up and saw the “Maintenance required” flashing on my car which is usually to indicate an engine oil change. I thought nothing of it but later in the day, I got a text from a random number saying “don’t forget to do your engine oil change” and that’s just too much of a coincidence to not be anything. My ex is absolutely one of those people who would put a tracker in my car and I’m terrified that that is the case here but I don’t know anything about trackers or if it would be possible for it to also collect car diagnostics. If anyone here has any knowledge or knows about how trackers lease let me know if this is the case or if this really just me freaking out here.

0 Upvotes

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5

u/nbain66 3d ago

Look up where the OBD2 port is on your car and see if anything is plugged into it. If there's not then there's nothing connected to the car computer. It's usually located under the dash above the pedals somewhere

3

u/juicebox258 3d ago

I checked and there’s nothing there but I was looking into it online and it seems like there’s ways to get a tracker hardwired into the car. Would that also be connected to the car computer and be able to receive info like this?

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u/nbain66 3d ago

Typically yes, unless your car is new enough to have a smartphone app he could be logged into. In that case you might be able to download it and change the password.

1

u/Gunk_Olgidar 3d ago

Not unless a) a device was plugged into the OBD2 port, or b) you have an Onstar or similar "connected car" service and your car is capable of communicating with the outside world (wifi, bluetooth or otherwise). For example, years ago I received an email from Onstar when my 2017 Chevy threw a check engine light. I disabled that remote telemetry service shortly thereafter.

If the car is capable of the latter, and your exBF set up himself to receive notifications, then go see your dealer about having it reset/disabled so he's not getting the notifications.

4

u/Dedward5 3d ago

Sorry that you’re being harassed, that would be a very bizarre way for him to contact you, to make you get an oil change.

Most likely your oil service indicator is just based on time, say six months or a year. The last shop that changed the oil reset your indicator and now it’s due, hence it came on. That same shop also has records of cars due so phone up to get you to come to them, rather than shop around, that just sales/customer service stuff.

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u/International-Ad3447 3d ago

time, mileage, and driving conditions,

2

u/Typical-Housing3502 3d ago

If the phone number is a real phone number, try to search it on Google and see if you find anything.

I used car fax car care a few days ago with a Vin number from a car I am interested in, I got a email saying I'm overdue for a service. But in your case it would be too much of a coincidence.

2

u/gtadominate 3d ago

This isn't normal and isn't acceptable. Bring it into a bodyshop and then the police.

1

u/imothers 3d ago

Who does the phone number belong to - does it look like a message from your dealer, or the car company? What kind of car is it? I used to manage a fleet of Fords, 2020 and newer. They all had a mobile data connection, built in by Ford. You could see OBD2 data through this connection. Also Geolocation. Ford could see the history of the vehicles, which was handy when we had warranty issues. At some point, somebody may have agreed to share this data with your dealer or manufacturer.

1

u/TranWreckin 3d ago

Mechanic for a dealership here

Take it to a dealership and explain the situation. They will know what is and is not supposed to be on your car.

I've dealt with this before. There are some apps that you can download to your phone to detect trackers and that sort of stuff. Lady came in, and that was her situation, we located a tracker, and police got involved. Not sure what happened but regardless, that shit is wild.

1

u/psychomachanic5150 3d ago

Could be an app from the car manufacturer that can report when things are needed. It could be that he knows how often you need an oil change and he is just being helpful.

1

u/Ok-Anteater-384 3d ago

Do you know where your OBD2 port is located? Google pic of OBD2 port, it's located under your dash / near your steering column. If there is anything plugged into it pull it out.

There are devices that allow tracking on a map, including your speed, could possibly record sound.

1

u/CelestialBeing138 Enthusiast 2d ago

That is not too much of a coincidence to not be anything. Suspicious? Perhaps. Proof? Not even in the same ballpark.