College Station Ford pushed these hard. Salesman used the "we cant remove" line. Very happy I didn't end up buying from them. That was a tiny portion of the crap sandwich that dealership was. Worst experience I have ever dealt with while car shopping.
PSA: Dealer installed "Apex Protect"
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Last: 1 mo ago by rilloaggie
third coast.. said:
Would a 2013 f 150 have one?
Not likely.
I believe a large number of Keating owned dealerships push these on customers by preloading.
I had the opposite experience at CS Ford. It was due to the salesman. Very easy to work with.
He moved to Kansas after his wife got a residency there after med school.
He moved to Kansas after his wife got a residency there after med school.
FYI - when I bought my last car it was at a Keating Auto dealership. The finance guy told me that Keating owns (in some form or fashion) APEX and it's not a choice to have it on their vehicles. I say this for anyone who gets a car at a Keating dealership you have it whether you realize it or not.
Here is a list of Keating Auto dealerships:
https://www.keatingauto.com/
Here is a list of Keating Auto dealerships:
https://www.keatingauto.com/
So if I have a new '21 F150 with the FordPass thing, I'm SOL?
You must not have had Gene. CS Ford was the first dealership I visited and I told him as much, and that I planned on shopping around. They had the exact truck I was looking for (and that I bought elsewhere a week later) so I told Gene to get me a price. He said sure and asked me to fill out some paperwork. I told him that my credit was frozen due to ID theft and that I didn't want it run until we had a deal and I had it unfrozen. He says sure, won't run it until we have a deal so I went ahead and filled it out. He gave me a verbal price and I went on shopping.
I kept in touch with him and gave him the opportunity to match another dealership who gave me a written, out the door price. I exchanged 5-6 emails with the guy asking for his out the door price and got "my printer is broken", "scanner isn't working", and finally "if I give you a price over email you won't come back to the dealership, just come in and we can talk". I told him thanks but no thanks and bought a truck elsewhere.
Well a few weeks later I get a letter in the mail giving me notice that CS Ford had run my credit even though he said he wouldn't. Glad it was frozen and I didn't get an extra hard pull on it. I am sure just by filling the paperwork out I agreed to some small print that says they can run your credit but having a salesman flat out lie and run credit without a deal, after saying he wouldn't is enough for me to tell anyone I know to avoid that place.
I kept in touch with him and gave him the opportunity to match another dealership who gave me a written, out the door price. I exchanged 5-6 emails with the guy asking for his out the door price and got "my printer is broken", "scanner isn't working", and finally "if I give you a price over email you won't come back to the dealership, just come in and we can talk". I told him thanks but no thanks and bought a truck elsewhere.
Well a few weeks later I get a letter in the mail giving me notice that CS Ford had run my credit even though he said he wouldn't. Glad it was frozen and I didn't get an extra hard pull on it. I am sure just by filling the paperwork out I agreed to some small print that says they can run your credit but having a salesman flat out lie and run credit without a deal, after saying he wouldn't is enough for me to tell anyone I know to avoid that place.
2000 Celica bought new at Champion Toyota in Austin and no APEX. Guess they weren't a thing back then.
Gotta check the Acura sometime unless 2007 is also too old.
Gotta check the Acura sometime unless 2007 is also too old.
That is why my 2019 Hyundai had one.AGGODDESS said:
FYI - when I bought my last car it was at a Keating Auto dealership. The finance guy told me that Keating owns (in some form or fashion) APEX and it's not a choice to have it on their vehicles. I say this for anyone who gets a car at a Keating dealership you have it whether you realize it or not.
Here is a list of Keating Auto dealerships:
https://www.keatingauto.com/
Yeah, the CEO of APEX is chummy with the Keating family, so no telling.....not sure they have ownership, but its probably another lie to get the buyer to play along...LOLAGGODDESS said:
FYI - when I bought my last car it was at a Keating Auto dealership. The finance guy told me that Keating owns (in some form or fashion) APEX and it's not a choice to have it on their vehicles. I say this for anyone who gets a car at a Keating dealership you have it whether you realize it or not.
Here is a list of Keating Auto dealerships:
https://www.keatingauto.com/
You can turn your journeys off and even deactivate fordpass if you dont want it. Just unplug the roof antenna.ChoppinDs40 said:
So if I have a new '21 F150 with the FordPass thing, I'm SOL?
A search of some public records looks like ownership is likely common as all of these of these pop on the same address in Victoria, TX:1agswitchin4lanes said:Yeah, the CEO of APEX is chummy with the Keating family, so no telling.....not sure they have ownership, but its probably another lie to get the buyer to play along...LOLAGGODDESS said:
FYI - when I bought my last car it was at a Keating Auto dealership. The finance guy told me that Keating owns (in some form or fashion) APEX and it's not a choice to have it on their vehicles. I say this for anyone who gets a car at a Keating dealership you have it whether you realize it or not.
Here is a list of Keating Auto dealerships:
https://www.keatingauto.com/
Tropacaval Media LLC (dba Keating Auto Group)
Keating Auto Group
Apex Protection, Inc.
All have Ben Keating as Principal, President or member.
Same with us at Keating Nissan when we were browsing new Armadas. What a scummy dealership.rilloaggie said:
College Station Ford pushed these hard. Salesman used the "we cant remove" line. Very happy I didn't end up buying from them. That was a tiny portion of the crap sandwich that dealership was. Worst experience I have ever dealt with while car shopping.
Edit: Just saw the posts above about Keating, figures.
I just picked up my new company vehicle today and it has the elo gps tracker in it. Not sure if I should take it out since our company vehicles go through a leasing company. Thoughts?
Why not just pull its fuse?
This seems to basically say they're all under the same ownership umbrella, unless I'm misunderstanding it - https://www.keatingcareers.com/about-us/
Looks like Ben Keating is an Aggie - this thread could turn fun!
Looks like Ben Keating is an Aggie - this thread could turn fun!
The blue thing? This is a '17 4Runner
The Fife said:
Why not just pull its fuse?
I may give that a try and see if I get an email about it being disconnected.
Just checked my '19 F150 and I'm clear.
As mentioned you should have a white OB2 connection. I just checked my wife's 4Runner. It's a 2016. White connection as 1ags mentioned. But I do have that blue thing. Think that is normal.
Kahu is another brand. https://www.spireon.com/kahu/
Dealers use them to manage inventory, as well as collect usage data to send service reminders.
Anyone have these in their car/truck?
Dealers use them to manage inventory, as well as collect usage data to send service reminders.
Anyone have these in their car/truck?
phideaux_2003 said:
The blue thing? This is a '17 4Runner
Whos the leasing company?Jbob04 said:
I just picked up my new company vehicle today and it has the elo gps tracker in it. Not sure if I should take it out since our company vehicles go through a leasing company. Thoughts?
ELement, Wheels, ARI, Merchants?
1agswitchin4lanes said:Whos the leasing company?Jbob04 said:
I just picked up my new company vehicle today and it has the elo gps tracker in it. Not sure if I should take it out since our company vehicles go through a leasing company. Thoughts?
ELement, Wheels, ARI, Merchants?
We've always used element but have recently switched to using LeasePlan.
Most of these guys are all using Geotab and Network fleet.Jbob04 said:1agswitchin4lanes said:Whos the leasing company?Jbob04 said:
I just picked up my new company vehicle today and it has the elo gps tracker in it. Not sure if I should take it out since our company vehicles go through a leasing company. Thoughts?
ELement, Wheels, ARI, Merchants?
We've always used element but have recently switched to using LeasePlan.
Was your car an ordered unit or lot unit?
It was ordered and built.
I'd remove it. If it was a problem, They'll let you know.Jbob04 said:
It was ordered and built.
1agswitchin4lanes said:I'd remove it. If it was a problem, They'll let you know.Jbob04 said:
It was ordered and built.
Yep, that's what I'm thinking
I like the pull-the-fuse method. Seems like less work and still effective
I'd say replace it with a bad fuse if he really wants to screw with them
Looks like I'm in the clear on the new Yukon. Saw the ODB with the blue clip. Need to check my '15 boost.
I feel like a sucker. New to me Tundra came with an "anti-theft" device. Didn't bother questioning it. Can't remember if they charged for it or not. Mac Haik in League City. Grabbed pics yesterday morning of this fuse box. Will remove it today.
CanyonAg77 said:
I like the pull-the-fuse method. Seems like less work and still effective
I pulled the fuse on mine this morning but it is still lit up. Guess I'm going to have to take it all the way out.
Jbob04 said:CanyonAg77 said:
I like the pull-the-fuse method. Seems like less work and still effective
I pulled the fuse on mine this morning but it is still lit up. Guess I'm going to have to take it all the way out.
Weird. Has to have more than one power source.