12-12-2023, 12:50 AM | #1 |
Electrical Engineer
Drives: 2023 1SS A10 Black Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Illinois
Posts: 802
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Free Theft Protection - The OBD II Port Removal
Since we all want to reduce the chance of theft, and because we know that access to the OBD II port is the primary mode of attack for low-effort thieves, why not remove that access.
The factory OBD II port is held in place with two clips that are easily depressed from the cabin-side. I did it with my fingers. Once depressed, you can remove the OBD II port from the rear and gain access. That access looks like this: From here you can either intercept data wiring to route to an interrupt switch (like a 4-pole toggle to remove data access), or you can hide this harness, or you can de-pin, whatever you want to eliminate useful access for a thief. There are only eight wires used in this 2023 1SS, as shown here: And the schematics for this port are as follows: Removing this port from the socket and hiding it is free. It may be enough to deter a thief who is looking for an easy job. A missing port may cause them to go looking, or may deter them to look for an easier job. You can hide the port in several locations and then simply unhide to provide access to a shop or tech for actual service. If you have a range device to deactivate AFM, hiding the port may be handy if you don't like the light. Whatever your reason, this is a free step that may just make the difference between a 60 second job and a walk-away abort. You may also feel like installing a fake port in place of the OEM port is a good deterrence, since a thief will notice the missing port andmay go looking. I would be better if the port had a functional 12V and ground so their tool would power up. You could even add some 10k ohm resistors between the data pins so it looked like something was there. Good news, you can buy the OEM port, pins, and retainer for a few dollars form Mouser Electronics. And if you want to pin this to provide voltage so it appears as if it might work, and looks like it has pins, you can get the pins and retainer here also. **UPDATED** The Pin information I shared previously is reported to be incorrect. I apologize for that confusion, I was referencing service information and the pin compatibility on Mouser. Below is user confirmed pin compatibility: WM3324CT-ND https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Molex/0504208000 I have ordered the items above and will report back once received for a verification of fitment, but the part number is from the GM service manual and looks identical. I do not recommend you do the following. This is the "do not do this" portion of the post: Once you have pins and the replacement OBD II port, there is nothing stopping you from re-wiring this port with reverse polarity, meaning you put 12V on the ground and signal pins and then ground the 12V pin while serving the 12V side from a dedicated fuse at the battery (sized for the wire used). Doing this is not advised as it would destroy the tool being used to steal your car, or a tool used by an actual service tech to fix your POS. The latter is why a cover indicating access is not advised is strongly recommended. Even with a cheap cover indicating that access is not recommended, you may be liable for damages that occur to scan tools that are connected to your booby-trap. Don't do this, even if you're tempted to. PSA over The cheap cover may be recommended with the hidden port, to protect the pins from being shorted out. This depends on where you relocated the port.
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2023 1SS A10 Black NPP/C2U/H72 - Daily Driver
Historically an Accord and Camry owner with self-performed maintenance/repair. 1100: 5/3/22 . . . . . . . 2000: 6/25/22 . . . . . .4000: 8/17/22 . . . . . . . 6000: 9/10/22 Daily Driver mileage update: 22k mi. @ April 2024 New Engine @ 22,600 Build Log: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...6#post11353116 Last edited by keep_hope_alive; 05-05-2024 at 03:17 PM. |
12-12-2023, 08:22 AM | #2 |
Drives: Wild Cherry LT1 Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,929
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I may consider moving the real port and installing a dummy in its place. As far as powering it up for their device, not a chance. There’s close to zero chance a Camaro thief will get on their hands and knees looking under the cramped dash to find it. I own the car and the thought of dicking around under there incites pain.
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12-12-2023, 08:37 AM | #3 | |
Drives: '22 Camaro ZL1 1LE A10 Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: SoCal
Posts: 322
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Sounds look a good idea. I personally don't care about thieves and they deserve what they get. If I take my car in, I'll just put the original back in place.
There should be instance where my car would go into a service center without my knowledge. Quote:
Last edited by sactownbwoy; 12-12-2023 at 09:43 PM. |
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12-12-2023, 06:28 PM | #4 | |
Electrical Engineer
Drives: 2023 1SS A10 Black Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Illinois
Posts: 802
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Quote:
I'm with you. I will certainly pin the dummy so it looks legit, but I'll put extra pins in unused places and omit the 12V pin so if they were somewhat smart they would realize the port won't work as pinned. Since the threat of theft is very low for me, a simple solution is all I really need.
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2023 1SS A10 Black NPP/C2U/H72 - Daily Driver
Historically an Accord and Camry owner with self-performed maintenance/repair. 1100: 5/3/22 . . . . . . . 2000: 6/25/22 . . . . . .4000: 8/17/22 . . . . . . . 6000: 9/10/22 Daily Driver mileage update: 22k mi. @ April 2024 New Engine @ 22,600 Build Log: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...6#post11353116 |
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12-12-2023, 06:52 PM | #5 |
Drives: ZL1 1LE, bolt, scary flatbed, hhr, Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: Florida
Posts: 69
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So gotta ask….how are the bad guys using the obd port to steal the car?..
Love the idea I just don’t understand the why of it. *** flame proof jacket on *** |
12-12-2023, 08:00 PM | #6 |
Drives: Chev Camaro 1le Join Date: May 2021
Location: toronto
Posts: 37
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12-13-2023, 03:06 AM | #7 |
Makis
Drives: 2020 Red Hot ZL1 A10 Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: London - UK
Posts: 806
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I would like to understand this a bit further before going for another solution. I thought that the way to steal our cars (or any modern car) is by intercepting the signal emitted by the keyfob.
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Red Hot 2020 Camaro ZL1 A10 <-- Enjoying the hell out of it
Mosaic black 2018 Camaro 2SS A8 (sold) |
12-13-2023, 06:55 AM | #8 | |
Electrical Engineer
Drives: 2023 1SS A10 Black Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Illinois
Posts: 802
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Quote:
People are discussing pedal locks, steering wheel locks, removing fuses, disconnecting the battery, fuel kill switches, starter kill switches, etc. But those methods require you do something inconvenient every time you drive the car. For a weekender, probably fine. For a daily driver like me, I won't use it if it's not easy and convenient, and this is the ultimate convenient solution as I don't have to do anything else. If the port is being used, eliminate the port. No need for clubs or kill switches. There is also easy access under the dash to the BCM - which I don't like either. So I'll end up making a cover to hide all of that using security screws, to further frustrate and make my car not worth the effort. The little secret to not getting nicked is to just be more difficult than the next guy. Thieves will move toward easier prey, as there is plenty of it around. Can people use different tech to copy a key? Sure, it is also a sophisticated attack but one that does require your presence. With enough persistence and patience, any car can be nicked. What I am doing here is just reducing the success rate with an attack that we know is used and doesn't require you to be around.
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2023 1SS A10 Black NPP/C2U/H72 - Daily Driver
Historically an Accord and Camry owner with self-performed maintenance/repair. 1100: 5/3/22 . . . . . . . 2000: 6/25/22 . . . . . .4000: 8/17/22 . . . . . . . 6000: 9/10/22 Daily Driver mileage update: 22k mi. @ April 2024 New Engine @ 22,600 Build Log: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...6#post11353116 |
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12-14-2023, 08:10 AM | #9 |
Somewhere in the Kalahari
Drives: 2021/18 (de-fresh) 3LT RS Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: California
Posts: 665
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OBD2 locks are apparently also a thing -- which could be interesting to put something like this on top of a replacement OBD2 port (and particularly a "rewired" one, to reduce the likelihood of unintended damage to "friendly" equipment).
https://a.co/d/aD2V9Yo https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRF5D18D https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NDVY3PP Disclaimer - the $180 price on this last one seems a little crazy, but shared as food for thought! EDIT: And items like these add some additional possibilities for installing a spoofed OBD2 port: 12-inch cable with connector: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B213F7N1 Extension cable: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GBGNC87 Y-cable: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071L8W7Q7 Correctly wiring just the power/ground to the replacement port and then adding a plugin device that has an illuminated power indicator might further add to the confusion for thieves. Another creative option: some off-the-shelf dummy OBD connectors have a piezo siren that activates if a device is connected to the port. A hidden button has to be pressed to deactivate the siren. Last edited by The Maverick; 01-06-2024 at 01:40 PM. |
12-15-2023, 12:42 PM | #10 | |
Electrical Engineer
Drives: 2023 1SS A10 Black Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Illinois
Posts: 802
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Quote:
A port lock is likely cheesy and easy to defeat. Those keys are probably generic. Maybe a lock over a dummy that has some power from a cap to make it seem like it worked then it didn't.
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2023 1SS A10 Black NPP/C2U/H72 - Daily Driver
Historically an Accord and Camry owner with self-performed maintenance/repair. 1100: 5/3/22 . . . . . . . 2000: 6/25/22 . . . . . .4000: 8/17/22 . . . . . . . 6000: 9/10/22 Daily Driver mileage update: 22k mi. @ April 2024 New Engine @ 22,600 Build Log: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...6#post11353116 |
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12-16-2023, 02:13 PM | #11 | |
Drives: '22 Camaro ZL1 1LE A10 Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: SoCal
Posts: 322
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The little things add up and makes it that much more difficult. Relocating the port and putting a lock on the dummy might be enough for opportunistic thieves to move on to the next car.
The longer they spend on one car the more likely they can be caught. Especially if the tools they are using allow for a real quick getaway. Quote:
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02-11-2024, 12:19 PM | #12 |
Drives: Sharkskin Metallic ZL1 Join Date: Mar 2023
Location: S.E. MI
Posts: 71
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How about an OBD splitter? The end replacing the original OBD can be modified to supply power only, the other end zip tied up under the dash, and would also act as an extension when you need to use the real OBD port. Thoughts.
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02-11-2024, 02:11 PM | #13 |
Drives: 22 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: GTA
Posts: 353
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OP -- did you find a good place to relocate the OBD port?
I think buying a dummy one and relocating the oem one is a nice simple deterrent.
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Sold: '17 m6 2SS [arctic blue]
Current: '22 m6 zl1 [vivid orange] |
02-11-2024, 03:25 PM | #14 |
Drives: 2024 ZL1 Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: Campbell River, BC, Canada Eh!
Posts: 377
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Cut the blue and the yellow wire (pin 6 & 12) and install a double position single throw switch (DPST). The port will still be hot, but they won't be able to do any communications with any of the modules with out the CAN data bus. Hide the switch somewhere discrete and just flip it on when you need to connect to the OBD connector. If you are really worried you can install a TPSD and cut the green wire on pin 1 too and wire it in, just to be sure. |
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