BI OBD Protector Anti-Theft Immobiliser for OBD Socket Cover for OBD Interface

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Once installed, you will also need to ensure that mechanics or dealership technicians can access the port for maintenance or servicing. When a fault occurs, an OBD reader can be used to scan for error codes that have been logged by the car. These correspond to a specific list of errors, which can help narrow down what might have caused the problem. A variety of Ford models have also been targeted, including the previous-generation Fiesta and Focus.

This allows a thief to steal the vehicle without needing the original keys. The whole process can take just a few minutes. How common is OBD car theft?The earliest OBD ports were introduced in the 1970s, and they became more prevalent on American cars in the 1980s. Californian legislation introduced in 1988 meant new cars sold there had to have basic OBD compliance. The rules around OBD ports mean that car manufacturers cannot restrict their access, or make them hard to locate inside a car. For professional car thieves, this delivers a potentially efficient way to steal a vehicle. The basic idea of an OBD port is to allow car manufacturers, garages and owners easy access to diagnostic information about their vehicle. This is done through plugging a device into a port that uses a common design.

A: The OBDS has been successfully tested and validated by several vehicle manufacturers. No manufacturer raised concerns about the warranty. You can see an example from a well-known manufacturer under this LINK . Tech-savvy criminals can use the On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) port fitted to modern cars to start the car and drive it away.

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The problem has made headlines, typically with attention-grabbing videos of how easy the process can be. Read on for information about what stealing a vehicle using the OBD port actually means, and the measures you can take to protect your car. So, what is an OBD port? Programming replacement keys, should a new spare be needed, can be done via the OBD port as well. Why is the OBD port a theft risk? In 2001, the European Union introduced requirements that all new petrol cars must offer OBD access. New diesel-powered models were included from 2003. This standard is often referred to as EOBD. What can an OBD port be used for?