Technical Black Box Locations

[PaulMcgrath]

Hi All,

Insurance renewal has come through and we have change insurers. The car originally had a black box fitted (so it was reasonable for our daughter to drive) but apparently we had to have another fitted as the boxes don't talk across insurances. We asked the installer to remove the other box but he said he couldn't find it as it is not installed where they normally are.

I decided today to locate the blighter and was amazed at what i found and thought i would share with photo's. I wasn't going to photograph until i saw the install!!

Found the unit installed behind the glove box.

The 1st photo shows the cables appearing to be podged into the front of the fuseboard
The 2nd photo shows how the connection is made to the fueseboard
The 3rd photo shows how secure the box was installed (gaffa tape folded back on itself)
The 4th photo shows an overall view of the install
The 5th photo shows the ODB install.

I have photographed how the other box has been installed. It would appear that the unit terminates into the rear of the ODB port and is tie wrapped to the power steering motor. Appears to be a much more professional install.

I have tried to research on the net the locations of the black box installs and the only position mentioned is the ODB location, i thought i would share the other location and if yours is the glove box location, check the installation methodology. I have no idea whether the original engineer connected to the supply or load side of the fuse board!!

 

[B7TMW]

Ridiculous. And one of the reasons I steered clear of any insurance on my daughters 500 that involved idiots coming to my house to fit a needless bit of kit!

I went slightly more (not that much more) expensive and avoided the whole black box thing (we are now in our second year). Insurances are already a contentious subject in the way they "exploit" additional money out of people, charge excessive unnecessary excesses etc. etc.

My daughters friends have them (some insurance companies actually saying they would never get insurance without them) and many have been penalised for simple mistakes that any new driver may make. They are still learning even after passing their tests but it could be argued that many new drivers are actually more careful and already better drivers than some of the idiots you see on the road that have been drivers for 20+ years. We all get into bad habits. One got penalised for her mother breaking the speed limit and one another for being out after 10 o clock at night! I know that a lot of boys that pass their tests are out there on the rampage but to target ALL new drivers, regardless of sex just screams to me that these are more of an additional revenue generator for insurance companies, than they are a safety measure! Both my wife and I drive the car and we are not saints nor nuns who are not perfect.

That fitment you have there just firmed up my thoughts.

 

[Dan at Adrian Flux]

Hi.
I guess that's one of the advantages with our telematics insurance as our box is a self fit unit that you just stick on your windscreen.
https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/young-drivers-insurance/
Regards,
Dan.

 

[chris3234]

We'll if had a black box it would hate my driver
Set off for work 5am or onway home at 12am depending on my shift