Tracking device found in 2019

Hello,
I've had my 2019 TRD off road for a week now. I'm transitioning from a '96 extended cab 2.7 5 speed.
This morning after a short drive an object fell on my leg from above the brake pedal. It was a little black box with a "Spireon" sticker. It looks like it was spliced into one of the harnesses under the dash.
I disconnected it from the vehicle.
It's got a mini USB port on it which I plugged into a PC but nothing comes up but a red and green light flash on the device.
Does anyone have any experience with such devices? Any suggestions of what to do with it other than maybe use it for target practice?
Thanks for the input.
Jim
Chapel Hill, NC

 

Sounds like this was used as a fleet vehicle. That's pretty standard for any fleet vehicle due to insurance requirements. Plus, a simple Google search pulls up that the company mentioned designs products for Auto Fleets.

 

Your truck was probably a fleet vehicle. Looks like companies use that device to track their fleets.

 

Thanks for the responses.
I'm aware of what it is. I believe the dealer installed it, as it appears to be new.
I understand that some sellers install them when the vehicle is financed. Just in case the need to do a repo.
My question is what use is it now that it is not in my vehicle.

 

Whatever you want to do with it, assuming it's your truck...

 

Fleet vehicle or Walter White owned it before you...

 

These GPS trackers typically transmit via the cellular network, so each one has a built-in SIM card identity and requires ongoing service subscription to function. If you want, you can call up Spireon and pay for the Lojack-like theft recovery service: https://www.spireon.com/getkahu/

 

I had a similar device installed on my 2020 TRD Pro. It was for an aftermarket GPS tracking security system (similar to lojak). They wanted $1200 for this system, I told them I didn't want it because Toyota already has GPS tracking built in. So they subtracted the cost off the price but never removed the hardware.

 

gahaha.

 

They're good at collecting dust and taking up space, that's about it.

 

Hmmm, I did buy this from a Mr. White.
Thanks for the responses.
I believe that it was an intended dealer upgrade. For my safety and piece of mind, of course. I told them I didn't want any of their upgrades. Hold the pin stripe, the nitrogen, flashing brake light etc etc.
Unless there is a better idea I will probably give it back to the dealer.
Target practice is still a possibility.

 

Hook it back up to a 12v battery, take it to the nearest railyard and attach to a random shipping container.

Then stop making payments.

 

Walk around the mall with it.....

 

This has Russian involvement written all over it...

 

[/QUOTE]


This would make a good Covid 19 mask, since I can't find any anywhere..

 

I've heard parent using such device to track their kids.... or wifes to track their husband.....vice versa

 

While it might have been some sort of security system the dealer wanted to use to upsell you, if it had been one of those GPS trackers the buy here / pay here type places use, it would have been wired into your ignition so they could disable the vehicle if you failed to make your payments.

 

I'd have to find out if it was recently pinged.

 

That is correct. It is one of the items that the dealer tries to sell at the close with their variety of scare insurance. The Toyota warranty should be adequate.

Anyway, the device came out easily. It was a harness that plugged into the OBD II port with a 3 wires connecting the transmitter. Initially all I saw was the transmitter box and it appeared that it was spliced into the wires coming off the OBD harness. I popped the OBD connector off the mounting bracket and unplugged the added harness and remounted the stock OBD connector back to the mounting bracket. Now its all back to stock, I think.

Thanks for the responses. I had not considered the Russian angle or perhaps wife.com had it added.

Regards to all......Jim

 

More dealer rip offs. They wanted $1200 for the GPS security tracking, $300 for some clear vinyl protection (around the door edges) and some kind of coating (wax?). I told them I didn't want them and either subtract the cost of those items or I was walking. Of course they were happy to subtract the cost of those items when I started walking out the door. And they left everything on (with the exception of activating the GPS service).