I ran across this article Nissan GT-R Warranty Claims Being Voided By Black Box Data Proving Racing | Auto Repair Blog at InternetAutoGuide.com "Racing" based on the traction control being turned off too much?! or heavens forbid launching it!? Anyone had a problem like this with a G?

 

Every car nowadays that has an ECU pretty much has a "black box". I remember when the ECU's on cars started getting more advanced years ago and they talked about how they could tell how fast you were going at the time of an accident/if you applied the brakes/etc to determine liability between parties.

I don't know but would assume it also registers traction control on/off settings. Pretty much anything electronic (everything in the car) is recorded and just like a PC, someone can access it in one way or another.

I don't know if they could "prove" racing, but they could probably make a good case for it.

 

but that being said, no one is going to make an attempt to access your ECU unless you're involved in an accident

 

It seems the GT-R has not only recent, but historical data based on the article?

 

Yes, this was big news when it happened. There were all the jokes about the $8,000 transmission repairs a couple of years ago (the article is from 2008). However, for the 2010 model year Nissan re-did the programming for the VDC for the GTR and I don't think it's an issue anymore.

The VDC on the GTR is completely different from the VDC on the G. The VDC on the GTR also regulars engine torque and clutch sliggage to prevent the transmission from being damaged during hard launches.

 

All cars record data now and have for some years. Anything and everything that can be monitored electronically is stored, but it has a rolling overwrite. The preceding 15 seconds to 1 minute is hard written in a significant crash event (I don't know if this requires airbag deployment on Nissan/Infiniti) but can still be erased if you know how. The only way to retrieve this is with proprietary software. It is seldom done unless there is a litigation or liability issue because it is expensive.

Some of the data recorded is vehicle speed, throttle position, braking, acceleration and deceleration forces, abs info, and a host of other stuff.

The GTR may be a separate case and it may be more readily accessible to the dealerships.

 

Thanks for the replies. I feel better now. For awhile, I started thinking that there may have even been an ulterior motive for installing the rear view camera.

 

on a gtr yes, because nissan dosen't want to be replacing 20k trannys left and right.

only cars that have black boxes are domestics.
I knew someone that totaled a escalade.
he claimed he lost control on wet surface and appiled the brakes.
he didn't know about the black box(rat box) told the insurance co everything for like 5 seconds before a crash.
it gives speed/g fores/lateral g's/brakes applied or not/was traction on etc.

eventually the insurance co are trying to do this across the board for every car & give you a discount(progresive does this now)

they save money from personal injury cases and you get snagged for anything, who wants a car that rats you out. I persoannly would never go for it unless it's standard equipment,then you have no choice.
like the brake overide they want in every car.