Factory fitted tracker stopped working, what now?
Discussion
Hi guys
I am really stuck. The factory fitted subscription tracker on my 2013 V8 Vantage stopped working a few months ago - first alert was when she didn’t respond to the monthly remote health check. The really bad news is that although not protecting the car anymore the hidden machine is still constantly paging to the degree that it’s taken out a new battery twice in the last few months.
My well-respected indie garage in Suffolk tells me he can’t help because it was factory fitted….reading other threads here I’d definitely want a device that notifies me of movement but
A) how do I get the old one disconnected?
B) which tracker with movement alerts should I choose?
So grateful for steady away advice.
Susie
I am really stuck. The factory fitted subscription tracker on my 2013 V8 Vantage stopped working a few months ago - first alert was when she didn’t respond to the monthly remote health check. The really bad news is that although not protecting the car anymore the hidden machine is still constantly paging to the degree that it’s taken out a new battery twice in the last few months.
My well-respected indie garage in Suffolk tells me he can’t help because it was factory fitted….reading other threads here I’d definitely want a device that notifies me of movement but
A) how do I get the old one disconnected?
B) which tracker with movement alerts should I choose?
So grateful for steady away advice.
Susie
Thenewsusieq said:
Hi guys
I am really stuck. The factory fitted subscription tracker on my 2013 V8 Vantage stopped working a few months ago - first alert was when she didn’t respond to the monthly remote health check. The really bad news is that although not protecting the car anymore the hidden machine is still constantly paging to the degree that it’s taken out a new battery twice in the last few months.
My well-respected indie garage in Suffolk tells me he can’t help because it was factory fitted….reading other threads here I’d definitely want a device that notifies me of movement but
A) how do I get the old one disconnected?
B) which tracker with movement alerts should I choose?
So grateful for steady away advice.
Susie
Mine packed up just over three years after my car was registered and as you described one of the main issues was a rapid battery drain, after the car had started throwing out a few electrical gremlins in the preceding weeks. Unless the unit is removed it will continue to drain the battery. I had a new Vodafone CobraTrak unit fitted at my local AM MD, plus a new battery of course. The Vodafone system was the new standard fit at the time. This was in 2015, and the car was just outside of its warranty so unfortunately I had to pay for it myself. From memory it cost around £1,700 all in (tracker, battery and fitting of both). But there was definitely an issue regarding the decommissioning of the old unit, from the point of view that AM had to be involved. Whether that is still the case now I’m not sure. If you would prefer to stay away from the AM network it could be worth speaking to James Hawkes-Reed at Aston Installations as he is very experienced when it comes to the Gaydon cars electronics and they can also supply and fit a new tracker too. Good luck. I hope you can get it resolved as painlessly as possible. BRM. I am really stuck. The factory fitted subscription tracker on my 2013 V8 Vantage stopped working a few months ago - first alert was when she didn’t respond to the monthly remote health check. The really bad news is that although not protecting the car anymore the hidden machine is still constantly paging to the degree that it’s taken out a new battery twice in the last few months.
My well-respected indie garage in Suffolk tells me he can’t help because it was factory fitted….reading other threads here I’d definitely want a device that notifies me of movement but
A) how do I get the old one disconnected?
B) which tracker with movement alerts should I choose?
So grateful for steady away advice.
Susie
Disconnection of the original tracker is easy for an independent.
That ensures no further potential main battery drain, when the tracker battery eventually fails.
It has occurred to me that batteries eventually leak and the acid can then create quite a mess.
Would it be wise to have the tracker unit completely removed (not simply disconnected), so that there is then no risk of leaking acid damage ?
This is another that was discussed to death back in t’day when the Gaydon stuff was fairly new. Do a bit of searching on the subject…. 
It became well known that the factory Tracker fails, pings repeatedly and kills batteries. The generally accepted solution was to disable the original tracker, which yes any decent independent specialist will be able to do. Just use the list in the stickies, call the one nearest you and then maybe call another couple to verify the price you are offered. Remember all of them will want to service your car so they can inspect and highlight any other issues, and recommend you use them to fix them. It’s their business so that must be expected.
When I got mine disabled by a very well known Oxfordshire specialist, my insurance company were not interested. Being of less value, and not having keyless, the n/a cars are likely of far less value to thieves these days. It’s why everyone has such impossibly low insurance premiums.
Its difficult for someone to pinch your car without the key. Just keep keys safe deep in the house and you’ll be fine.
It became well known that the factory Tracker fails, pings repeatedly and kills batteries. The generally accepted solution was to disable the original tracker, which yes any decent independent specialist will be able to do. Just use the list in the stickies, call the one nearest you and then maybe call another couple to verify the price you are offered. Remember all of them will want to service your car so they can inspect and highlight any other issues, and recommend you use them to fix them. It’s their business so that must be expected.
When I got mine disabled by a very well known Oxfordshire specialist, my insurance company were not interested. Being of less value, and not having keyless, the n/a cars are likely of far less value to thieves these days. It’s why everyone has such impossibly low insurance premiums.
Its difficult for someone to pinch your car without the key. Just keep keys safe deep in the house and you’ll be fine.
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