Over 850,000 automobiles were stolen in 2024, according to NHTSA. Fortunately, a study by the University of Huddersfield revealed that vehicles equipped with tracking systems face a 50% lower chance of car theft. However, if the GPS system fails, the likelihood of recovering a stolen vehicle is also much lower. Don’t worry, though; we’ll show you what to do if your car tracker stops working to ensure safety!
In This Article:
Why Is A Car Tracker Important?
Using a combination of GPS and mobile networks, car trackers deliver real-time location updates to the owner. Some modern devices even report real-time events surrounding your vehicle.
This GPS system benefits you in various ways:
- Theft recovery: If the car is stolen, the police can spot its exact location thanks to the tracking system, increasing the chance of quick recovery. Some advanced trackers even allow owners to shut off the engine from a distance.
- Fleet management: For businesses that own multiple vehicles, the GPS system allows for better management and control over all cars’ locations, routes, speeds, and other information.
- Insurance discounts: Since vehicles equipped with trackers carry a lower risk of being stolen, insurance companies are willing to offer special discounts for your car.
- Safety tracking: High-quality car trackers enable you to monitor drivers or other occupants (say, your kids or family members) and come for help during emergencies. Some features like collision detection also automatically contact others in the event of a crash.
As important as it is, you should find the root cause and fix it soon when the tracker fails.
What Causes A Car Tracker To Stop Working?
A vehicle GPS tracker malfunctions for one of three reasons: technical, environmental, or operational issues. Here are six common causes:
Power Supply Issues
Undoubtedly, the tracking device can’t function without electricity. The tracker relies on two sources of power: one is the vehicle’s electrical system (the car’s battery), and the other is its own internal battery.
If the wiring that connects it to the car’s battery is loosened, detached, or frayed, the GPS system ceases working. Likewise, when the fuse is burned or the car’s battery is disconnected or drained, there’s no external power supply for the tracker.
In this case, it has to use its own batter. However, this battery can only power the device for several hours, and you won’t receive any GPS signal after that.
SIM Card Problems
The tracking system needs a SIM card to connect to the cellular network, transmitting GPS signals to drivers. If you don’t register the SIM or it runs out of data or credits, it can’t enable the mobile connection. So, make sure you top it up frequently.
Additionally, the card will be blocked if not used within 48 hours after registration or if it’s inactive for more than 90 days. In these cases, the tracker can’t send the car’s location to you.
GPS Signal Obstruction
If your vehicle is near tall buildings, trees, mountains, or in tunnels, underground parking lots, garages, or any place with little sky view, the GPS signals are weakened. We also encountered cases when the tracker gave incorrect readings due to wrong time zone settings.
Driving near Wi-Fi hotspots or mobile phone towers sometimes obstructs the GPS signal because of radio frequency interference. However, this is less common as these devices operate on different bands of radio waves.
Firmware Damages Or Software Glitches
A defective tracker might stem from damaged hardware or software glitches. In both cases, it causes crashes, loss of data, or syncing doesn’t work at all.
The device is subjected to normal wear and tear or external factors, like extreme temperatures and excessive vibrations. Internal components also can be short-circuited or corroded from physical damage (e.g., moisture, heat, dust, or mechanical impact).
Also, old and outdated devices can’t receive new GPS/mobile phone signals, so they begin to lose their connection permanently.
Network Coverage Gaps
Bad mobile network signal Reception in rural or remote locations may cause data transfer disturbances. Network standard changes, like the 3G sunset, also affect older trackers.
Configuration Or Installation Errors
When the tracker isn’t properly programmed, such as mismatched APN setting, GPS signal, or GPS update interval setting, it can’t work normally.
Also, if your device comes with an external antenna and it’s not working, chances are the antenna is pointed in the wrong direction or is positioned in an inappropriate place.
How To Diagnose A Non-Functional Car Tracker?
To diagnose a non-functional car tracker, follow these 7 steps:
Step 1. Check LED Indicators
You can easily spot an LED light on almost all trackers, informing you of the power, network, and GPS status. Check if:
- The power is stable.
- The network LED flashes every few seconds.
- The GPS LED flashes or turns solid once locked.
Step 2. Inspect Power Source
Next, verify if the vehicle battery is still functioning using a multimeter. The voltage should read at least 12.6V for a parking car and about 13.5 to 14.5V for a running car.
Use the multimeter to test tracker wiring, as well. Its resistance should be very close to 0Ω, and its voltage should range from 12 to 14V. Also, check if the fuse’s wire filament is intact and continuous.
Step 3. Examine SIM Card
To examine the SIM card, install it into a cell phone. Then, you can easily check the remaining data or credits.
Step 4. Test GPS Reception
Park the vehicle in an outdoor place free of obstructions like tall trees or buildings. Wait for a few minutes and check whether the satellite signals are stable.
Step 5. Analyze App Status
Log into the tracking app and check the last recorded location and the device status both online and offline.
Step 6. Scan For Physical Damage
First, turn off the car and carefully remove the tracker. Inspect casing, connectors, and internal components for signs of water damage or cracking.
Step 7. Review Configuration Settings
To test the tracker’s configuration, try sending SMS commands and check other settings, such as the APN/IP and port.
What To Do If Your Car Tracker Stops Working?
Reboot The Tracker
First, locate the tracker and unplug it from the power source. Depending on the car’s make and model, you might find the tracking system under the seats, behind the bumpers, inside the glove compartments, or in the wheel wells.
Press and hold the power button for 20 seconds or more. Leave it unpowered for 1 to 2 minutes. If you receive a notification on your tracking app, you’ve successfully rebooted the device. Meanwhile, if the LED flashes during this time, repeat the process.
Check And Secure Power Supply
Refer to step 2 in our diagnosis guide above to check the car’s battery, the tracker’s wiring, and the fuse. Replace any blown fuse and damaged wiring.
If the battery’s depleted and you’re left stranded on the road, try jump-starting it using a jump-starter or a donor car to temporarily revive both the car and the tracking system. Once coming home, remember to charge or replace the battery if needed.
Top Up The SIM Card
If the SIM card runs out of credits, you can renew the data package on the mobile app. It’s recommended to register for a prepaid plan that can be automatically renewed to ensure constant cellular connectivity.
Move To An Open Environment
The easiest way to bring your car tracker back to life is to move to a place with a clear sky view, out of obstructions like tall trees, buildings, tunnels, or other underground spaces. This allows for stronger signals and better GPS accuracy.
Update Firmware And App
Look for any firmware updates released by the tracker manufacturer and update the app to the most recent version. Software that is not kept up to date is more likely to encounter bugs and have issues connecting.
Perform A Factory Reset
A factory reset restores all the default settings of the tracker while also removing any existing problems or software glitches. You will have to send an SMS message to the GPS tracker number. Each device will require a different reset command message, so check the user’s manual for details.
Get In Touch With Support Or Replace The Unit
If the tracker still doesn’t work after trying the above steps, please contact customer support. If the unit is not under warranty and is damaged physically, replace it.
When To Replace Your Car Tracker?
Here are five signals that tell you it’s time to replace the tracking device:
- Water Damage: If internal components are corroded, it cannot be reversed. Replacement is necessary.
- Structural Damage: A cracked or crushed casing exposes internal electronics, leading to malfunction.
- Incompatibility With Current Networks: Devices that do not support 4G will simply not work as they dismantle the old device.
- Repeated Malfunctions: If constant resets, GPS drops, or random outages become a pattern, that might signal aging hardware.
- Unavailable Software Support: When there are no firmware updates or company support, it’s time to invest in a new tracker.
How To Prevent Car Tracker Failures?
To prevent car tracker failures, follow these seven preventive maintenance practices:
- Conduct Monthly Inspections: Periodically inspect the integrity of wiring, stability of installation, and the condition of the LED. You should compare the location of the app in real time to the actual location of the vehicle to examine the device’s accuracy. Test the car battery during load to determine the minimum voltage for the tracker to work and charge or replace it when necessary.
- Monitor App Alerts: Turn on push notifications for motion detection, power outage, or offline status.
- Perform Periodic Software Updates: Quarterly updating of tracker firmware and mobile app.
- Use Quality SIM Cards: Avoid general M2M SIMs and choose specialist versions for the IoT that provide worldwide coverage.
- Shield From Moisture And Heat: Fit trackers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location, away from sources of heat.
- Validate Coverage Regularly: Test tracker functionality in normal driving areas to ensure your network is reliable.
- Choose High-Quality Hardware: Opt for trackers with robust, weatherproof materials to protect the electronics inside.
What Are The Best Practices For Car Tracker Configuration?
To optimize car tracker configuration, apply these 5 best practices:
- Use Correct APN Settings: Ensure the APN matches your SIM provider’s specifications.
- Set Appropriate GPS Update Intervals: Balance update frequency with data usage (e.g., 10–30 seconds).
- Enable Geo-Fencing: Define zones and configure alerts for zone entry/exit.
- Use Strong Passwords: Protect SMS-based configuration commands with secure passwords.
- Monitor Data Usage: Track monthly data consumption to avoid service interruptions.
Wrapping Up
When your vehicle tracker isn’t working, fix it right away to get it back in action. It could be due to low battery, no SIM card, no GPS signal, or malfunctioning software. You can diagnose and fix most problems yourself with reliable tools such as reboots, wire-checking, firmware refreshes , and SIM connectivity testing.
If you need more help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
