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Comment by martin_a | Hacker News Reader

> Somewhat related, an easy early fix was to disable the car's microphone in the headliner light assembly.

This (and maybe the things he does further on) would probably interfer with the eCall system that is mandatory for cars in Europe. The author seems to be in the US so that might be fine, but if you're in Europe, please don't do stuff like this.

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I suppose such system is mandatory in a car when it's sold, such after sales changes would be fine as safety is not directly impacted. Source: my daily drive is a car without a modem on European roads, no problem.

All modifications to the car (in most, if not all EU countries) need to be homologated (eg. approved) by the authorities. So yes, removing eCall from a modern vehicle is (legally speaking) a lot different than driving one that came without it.

Obviously, that's a nice theory but as we both know in practice there's a lot of modified cars on the roads in all kinds of way and they pass their annual inspections fine - even insurers cover them as long as you disclose the modification.

Well, safety is impacted, but it seems to be up to you. If you want to go down like _a real man_ because your car couldn't call emergency services that's your choice. Other people might (hopefully) make another choice.

Well thats a choice right? We dont NEED these systems, its just mandated by governments. Just like here in spain they changed from emergency triangles that you need to put on the street to a little crappy light you put ontop of the car. That light will do nothing in sunny spain or if your car happened to stop after a curve. Its stupid crap mandated by governments to make it look like they are actually doing something new, but they forget about basic stuff. Same thing with this call system, its my car so my choice. If they want to take my car apart to figure out that i disabled it, then go ahead. I'll just pull the plug the moment you force me to plug it back in.

> If they want to take my car apart to figure out that i disabled it, then go ahead. I'll just pull the plug the moment you force me to plug it back in.

Be that stupid if you want to. But rest assured that insurance companies will always try to get their money back or not pay at all if something has happened. If they find out that you tampered with your eCall system and if they can somehow link some damage to that, you will be held liable.

It's mandatory for cars to be manufactured with it, but obviously not for all cars to have it since the are many older cars on the road without it.

It maybe mandatory for it to be deemed roadworthy for a newer vehicle, but not required on an older vehicle.

e.g.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-privat...

> You must inspect all reversing lamps fitted to vehicles first used from 1 September 2009 other than quadricycles and three-wheeled vehicles.

Older vehicles don't require a reverse light. My P-reg vehicle (1996?) didn't have a working reverse lamp, but passed the MOT. I have since fixed it.

2009, that's wild. Were there common cars without it, or did they just forget to require it cause everything had one anyway?

That's true, only cars build after March 2018 need to have it. If you car is older you're fine.

eCall is sending GPS location after the crash, microphone is not necessary.

eCall is also opening up a two way communication with the emergency line, so they can gather more information. Might be helpful if your microphone does work in that case.

The law text might appear to allow other interpretation as laws always do, but I believe the actual implementation is a phone with power input, an electronic report trigger API, a mechanical 911 button, and optional SIM. They come with a mic and a speaker.

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