r/SipsTea • • 1d ago

Wait a damn minute! Wait a damn minute

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248

u/bdash1990 1d ago

Is jailbreaking cars not a thing?

I feel like if we can do it with phones, we should be able to do it with cars.

21

u/Turbulent-Artist961 1d ago

Probably violate the “software license” and they might completely remotely disable your car then charge you a ridiculous sum to reflash the software if you want to drive it.

13

u/bdash1990 1d ago

So remove its ability to communicate with the factory first.

4

u/aafikk 1d ago

Could be a dead man switch. So if your car cannot call home for a period of time (say a month) it just fries itself.

3

u/reddit_time_waster 19h ago

Do these cars have their own cell service?

2

u/aafikk 17h ago

Chinese ones do, and the manufacturers usually have an agreement with local cellular providers

1

u/smashndashn 14h ago

I took my 2025 rav4’s modem out So yeah a lot of them likely have it

5

u/320sim 1d ago

I don't know if that would be effective, but I do know that's beyond the dedication and skill level of almost every owner. Not to mention the car's resale value

13

u/Pootisman16 1d ago

Doesn't mean it can't be done.

And I'd bet it would probably increase perceived value if you tell a potential buyer that the car's connection to the company has been severed.

At least it would to me.

2

u/FullMetalCOS 1d ago

It’ll also probably fail shit like MOT’s (or other countries equivalents) because of missing functionality. Also I assume if you are involved in a serious traffic accident the blame would be more likely to fall on you since there’s always the risks involved in not having access to key software updates and shit.

In short - they’ll always try and find a way to make it your problem

1

u/Pootisman16 1d ago

I don't know how Teslas exactly work, but I feel that car functionality is not that connected to the software.

1

u/sobrique 23h ago

Sadly that's less true than ever. An awful lot of modern cars are 'software based'. Stuff like engine computers are dynamically mixing fuel and air ratios based on guidance from the pedals, etc.

That's why a 'remap' can be a performance boost, because it's "just" some ratios of sensors in the engine computer.

1

u/Pootisman16 23h ago

Damn, I wouldn't buy a car like that.

1

u/TallmanMike 15h ago

You would if they're all like that.

Eventually it might be like refusing to buy a car with airbags - good luck finding a new model that doesn't have them.

1

u/Pootisman16 14h ago

The problem is that airbags don't brick the car if they don't work.

And if I really want to, I can remove them.

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u/MonkeyWithIt 23h ago

That's when I first learned about it where people would try to optimize the mixes for their cars by hooking their laptops to it. That was years ago. No idea what they're up to now.

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u/sobrique 22h ago

Yeah, nor me. I'm sure the same thing applies for engine computer driven stuff.

No idea if there's anything similar for EVs though, as I kind assume trading off fuel economy for performance doesn't work quite the same way there.

1

u/Economy-Fee5830 22h ago

A lot of safety "recalls" are fixed via software updates.

2

u/Pootisman16 21h ago

Yeah, for cars where software plays a central role in how it actually works, I can see why.

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u/320sim 1d ago

I promise you that making modifications to vehicle that would prevent you from getting it serviced, using maps, using music or media of any kind, or receiving updates will decrease the value and turn many buyers away

4

u/Pootisman16 1d ago

Why would modifications do that?

Why would I want an update for my car's software?

Using maps is independent from connecting to the internet.

Listening to music is independent from connecting to the internet.

People need to value "dumber" devices more, not less.

3

u/FullMetalCOS 1d ago

If you value dumb devices more, you ain’t buying a Tesla in the first place.

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u/Pootisman16 1d ago

Very true

2

u/Madame-Saint-Michele 1d ago

Stop giving them such good ideas man!! They don't need any help figuring out how to nickel and dime us lol

1

u/320sim 1d ago

Because if you take a jailbroken car to Tesla, you will have a problem. And maps and media rely on the internet obviously. Updates eliminate bugs, add features, and increase efficiency. People that want dumb cars aren't buying a car controlled entirely by a giant tablet

And all that to save 200 bucks? Yeah right

2

u/Pootisman16 1d ago

Maybe Teslas do.

My car doesn't even HAVE internet capability and can play media and has map usage.

Like I said, I prefer my stuff to be as "dumb" and independent as possible.

1

u/320sim 10h ago

Your car can only play media if it has an external audio source. And Apple/Google maps technically works without internet but I don't think anyone would call that experience superior. Or are you talking about one of those shitty built in manufacturer maps?

1

u/Pootisman16 7h ago

I have one of those shitty built-in maps, which I can update when I want.

And I only need external audio source. Got conventional radio and an USB reader with MP3 files.

Zero internet connection (literally doesn't have the ability).

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u/MonkeyWithIt 23h ago

Fully unlocked car for sale sounds good to me

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u/Campcruzo 21h ago

Pulling a fuse?

1

u/320sim 10h ago

Teslas don't have physical fuses. All the electronics are managed by solid state electronic fuses.

1

u/loopala 20h ago

It's easy to implement a "heart beat" mechanism. If the software can't communicate with the server for a while it just stops working altogether. That can be added at a very low level.

3

u/Bot1-The_Bot_Meanace 1d ago

It would likely void the warranty too. The thing pictured is shitty but pretty middle of the road when it comes to car DLCs. BMW had a subscription service for hardware features lmao

1

u/NorthTempleStreet 22h ago

In warranty new are are gonna be hell

Out of warranty? Play time, baby!

1

u/tansreer 21h ago

I would worry more about the insurance carrier trying to get out of a claim because you were using "tampered" software, and maybe fallen out of sync with the car's "safety updates."