So I took the gaiter off my handbrake lever to repair it and found this odd electrical connection. One end is taped to the metal of the handbrake lever and the other end connects to a small box that was hanging loose inside the center console. Both ends are connected by thin cables. But it doesn't seem like it is connected to any wiring loom? What is it and is the small box meant to be hanging loose inside the center console?

NSA, CIA, FBI, MI5, KGB surveillance and location stuff. Take your pick...
Take it out and see how mysteriously it will reappear after a few days, or some black suits will visit you...

Brilliant 🤣 Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

alex_pescaru wrote:

NSA, CIA, FBI, MI5, KGB surveillance and location stuff. :

Unless its SWMBO's listening devise then you should be Really scared

 .
my first ever FL2 and I did keep it longer than most other cars!
But its now gone way up Norf

Well you are kind of right! Curiosity got the better of me and I opened the box. It's got a circuit board and battery, so I Googled the code on the circuit board and its some kind of tracking device. Must have been left there from a previous owner. That is getting ripped right out of there now! Kinda creepy...

OK I've found out a bit more info on this. Apparently here in South Africa, the LR dealerships fitted satellite tracking systems to Freelander 2, D3, D4 and some RR pre-delivery. I assume to keep track of their stock for theft, etc. They just never bothered to remove them after the vehicles were sold. I'm sure that goes against privacy laws... anyway, if you're in South Africa, check if you have one of these fitted!

Garry, were the dealers offering a security tracking service at the time it was originally sold - with the attractiveness of their products for car-jacking and a quick run over the border for onward sale, it might have been a worthwhile feature?

But thinking further about all this - I am assuming that nearly all new models have a similar device fitted as standard as part of the warranty roadside assistance package. 2005 D3 2.7 Auto
Previously:
2010 MY FL2 TD4e GS - Now gone at 199,500 miles, about 135,000 of them mine.
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel

Worms : from what I can gather from local forums here, yes I think it was probably offered as an additional service. I know the tracking companies here require a monthly subscription. Some people use it as it brings insurance premiums down. But I'm the 3rd owner of this vehicle since new and I wasn't given any info or documentation on the tracking so if there was a subscription it has long since lapsed. Besides, I tested the battery in the device and it's completely dead.

alex_pescaru wrote:

NSA, CIA, FBI, MI5, KGB surveillance and location stuff. Take your pick...
Take it out and see how mysteriously it will reappear after a few days, or some black suits will visit you...

Dang! Spot on, again!