Do our cars have "Black boxes"?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by srt8_hmi, Oct 8, 2008.

  1. srt8_hmi

    srt8_hmi My dream is over.

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    Is there any realtime data logged and stored somewhere in the car? I know with how advanced computers and cars are coming its just a matter of time, didn't know if it was in its early traces. The consequences would suck...
     
  2. StevoSRT

    StevoSRT Moderator

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    Like the rumors (not sure if they were true) of the corvettes having the "black box's in their glove compartments or something where dealers would pull data and void warranty's (not that you have to worry about that)?
     
  3. skeletonizer

    skeletonizer New Member

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    Yes they do.

    They are much more likely to clear you of wrong doing in a multi car crash than to incriminate you.

    Unless of course you are an idiot and drive like an ass.
     
  4. srt8_hmi

    srt8_hmi My dream is over.

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    Please do elaborate!!!!
     
  5. markus

    markus Silver Supporting Members

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    yup. buddy of mine got into an accident. cop plugged into it, told him the speed he was going along with some other details.
     
  6. Cheatek

    Cheatek SRT once, SRT always

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    Ferrari took it the opposite way. On the F50 I believe it was they had black boxes and everytime you took the car in for service the tech would access it and check how you were driving. The catch? Too slow and Ferrari would take the car back! You know something as crazy as that's just gotta be true!! Lol!
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2008
  7. srt8_hmi

    srt8_hmi My dream is over.

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    Is there anything to prove this? Or is it total bullshit?
     
  8. markus

    markus Silver Supporting Members

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    some cars actually have a place in the bumper that they can plug into to get this information. not sure where it is on our cars. might be where you'd plug your predator/obd/starscan into.
     
  9. Cheatek

    Cheatek SRT once, SRT always

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    I wouldn't doubt it but in my experience most cops don't seem to know what car is what out there, I find it highly unlikely they're gonna know where to find some black box plug-in port on every car. I suppose they might have some books or printouts or something to tell them where to find it but what's to stop the car owner from either moving the plug-in or getting rid of it altogether.
     
  10. StevoSRT

    StevoSRT Moderator

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    not hte case up here....one state trooper has a g/f on my street and he drives a Modded R/T Charger lol

    another couple drive mustangs....one VERY highly modded 5.0

    they know their sheet haha
     
  11. Cheatek

    Cheatek SRT once, SRT always

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    Yea but the average popo doesn't know an SRT8 from an R/T, heck the NAPA auto parts store guys didn't even know what an SRT8 was, I had to show em my car out the window!! WTF MAN?!?!?!?!?!!? Anyway, just my 2 cents (worth bout .00000001 cent in this economy, lol!)
     
  12. StevoSRT

    StevoSRT Moderator

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    interesting haha

    well i know here the cops generally know their sheet lol....cant say for you CA sissy's LOL
     
  13. Cheatek

    Cheatek SRT once, SRT always

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    Come on dude, who can keep all the Mercs straight?? There's way too many models, numbers and letters to get right PLUS M-B changes them like every year. I'm a car guy and I can't even keep them straight, lol!:stars:
     
  14. StevoSRT

    StevoSRT Moderator

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    have you not figured out the #'s on the Mercs yet? lol

    I can tell what merc it is by the size and look to it, and the #'s tell you the size of the engine in the car.....

    I.E. C300 is a C class with a 3.0L engine lol
     
  15. ChargerGirl

    ChargerGirl Mama / DB Geek / Driver

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    I've taken my uncle's philosophy on things like black boxes and street cameras... if you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. Granted, I'm wondering how dealers perceive track time. Not fondly, I'm guessing.
     
  16. StevoSRT

    StevoSRT Moderator

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    i really think the black box's are used for accidents more than anything....

    i think they can see if you were breaking/accelerating/turning things like that helping to determine who was at fault.

    so yeah your pretty much spot on...if your not an asshole your good
     
  17. Cheatek

    Cheatek SRT once, SRT always

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    Oh dude, don't get me wrong, I understand exactly what they stand for (even BMWs messed up and error filled system, lol) but what I'm saying is there's TOO many of them to keep track of when you start going back a few years is all. I guess I should add ... for the AVERAGE guy, not you of course Mr. MB fanatic, but for the average joe, lmao!!
     
  18. StevoSRT

    StevoSRT Moderator

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    hahaha

    well....as far as popo goes....they would probably only need to know C, E, S, GL, ML, CLS things like that....not really the #'s

    but most of the time im sure they are looking for plates when ID'ing a car anyway lol

    and they have internet in their cruisers so if they are looking for a car...they can always google LOL
     
  19. Cheatek

    Cheatek SRT once, SRT always

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    Bingo, got it right on the money there bro. This whole thing is making me sick tho, enough BIG BROTHER already!!:cry:
     
  20. JMatt

    JMatt Platinum Supporting Member

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    Federal regulations about two years ago required black boxes. The regs phase in over time. I'm checking with one of our attorneys to find out exactly what MUST be included in the black box data.