Hi, We have a Fiesta B&O Play Zetec 1.1 Ti-VCT 2017 and having a couple of minor issues which I'm hoping to get a steer on:

My son's just passed his driving test and insurance have sent a small black box dongle to plug into the OBD port. Not a problem and it's in and working but I'm curious as to what was already fitted and hard wired into the port? Is it some kind of old tech tracker and where does the other end go to? Is it an easy job to remove it completely?

On a side note, there was a separate bluetooth USB/Dongle plugged into one of the USB ports that enabled Apple Car Play to work wireless. The insurance company have said that a bluetooth device is causing interference with their tracker and for it to be removed. We've removed the dongle as Apple Car Play can be used wired but is that what it's likely to be or could it just be a phone with bluetooth on?

Finally, there's what looks like a large circuit board with fuses on hanging down in the passenger footwell. There's two threaded screws above it that look like they clip into it to hold it but they don't line up. I'm wondering if it's something the 'old' tracker I mentioned first is wired into. Is that a possibility? I think next step is to remove the glove box and have a look and maybe remove some panels around the OBD port on the drivers said but thought I'd check-in here first.

Thank you.

8 minutes ago, KeithA said:

but I'm curious as to what was already fitted and hard wired into the port? Is it some kind of old tech tracker and where does the other end go to? Is it an easy job to remove it completely?

Is this an application question for a job with NASA ? 🤔

Presumably you'll need to follow insurance company directions to get the "black box" working otherwise the policy may become void (need to check very carefully)

OBD port is a diagnostic port and nothing else should be or is usually connected (there were some (cr_p "economy dongles but the less said about them the better)
The "large circuit board"s sounds like a Body Control Module  that manages multiple function and is usually held up with some plastic nuts and then a piece of "carpet" trim.
Other than that, NASA may have to be asked😉

Could the "large circuit board" in fact be the internal fuse board? It used to be behind the glove box but on later models moved down to just above the passengers feet. Don't  know what year and models this happened.

cheers everyone, much appreciated. The insurance provided 'black box' just plugs in the OBD port and works no problem. I was just curious what the other one plugged in there was. Guess it's an older tracker style unit. It's disconnected now, so not sure we need to worry about removing it.

I'll have a good look at what I badly described as a 'circuit board' when the kid gets back and report back here.

I just thought any findings/advice would be useful for us and anyone else searching with a similar problem. We can't be the only ones who've bought a 2017 Fiesta with 2 previous owners, that has something already connected to the OBD port 🤣.

OBD ports have been fitted to cars since the mid 90s, or before. Nothing sinister. They simply allow a 'reader' to be plugged in to ananlyse various functions in the car to allow 'fault' diagnosis from various sensors. Your insurance company will be interested in the output from the speed sensor to ensure the young driver isn't practicing to be the next Lewis Hamilton!

I have a teenage (almost 18 yr old) apprentice working with me.

Last week they had their car in the garage for a service (their father works at the garage), and whilst the car was in the garage the black box clocked the car doing 43 in a 30.

Insurer (Admiral - there are other options..) cancelled the insurance.

Upon trying to re-insure, you are asked if you have ever had insurance cancelled or refused.

....

Best quote from go-compare, compare the market etc.  is....

£22,000  ( I saw the quotes)

for a three-grand Polo (previously insurance was £2.5 K)

 

How are young people supposed to get to work legally? No wonder people are just opting out and driving without insurance.

The government want people into work, yet at every stage make it cheaper to stay at home and claim.

 

 

If unplugging what was originally plugged into the OBD  port has had no effect on the car, it does sound like a previous insurance box might be the answer, though afaik they usually give instructions for return when the policy lapses. Presumably the other end is still lurking up under the dash.

One other thought. Back in the day various driving aids for disabled drivers had to be hard wired at some point. Wonder if something like that might plug into the OBD port these days?

17 minutes ago, weesam said:

Insurer (Admiral - there are other options..) cancelled the insurance.

Interesting. On my speed awareness course there was much discussion as to whether you had to disclose attendance. My understanding has always been that you must declare motoring penalties and answer any questions when seeking cover fully and honestly. The consensus (from the "pupils" and instructors) was the same. Several "pupils" commented that Admiral had asked that question, no-one knew of any other insurer who did. (Nearly 8 years back, so things may have changed. I've tried ever so hard to be good since then!😃)

10 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

 On my speed awareness course there was much discussion as to whether you had to disclose attendance.

On my attendance last year, we were given advice that you did not have to disclose that you were on a speed awareness course...

43 minutes ago, weesam said:

I have a teenage (almost 18 yr old) apprentice working with me.

Last week they had their car in the garage for a service (their father works at the garage), and whilst the car was in the garage the black box clocked the car doing 43 in a 30.

Insurer (Admiral - there are other options..) cancelled the insurance.

Upon trying to re-insure, you are asked if you have ever had insurance cancelled or refused.

....

Best quote from go-compare, compare the market etc.  is....

£22,000  ( I saw the quotes)

for a three-grand Polo (previously insurance was £2.5 K)

 

How are young people supposed to get to work legally? No wonder people are just opting out and driving without insurance.

The government want people into work, yet at every stage make it cheaper to stay at home and claim.

 

 

That's a terrible situation. There should be an appeal process or escalation to the Ombudsman. Do you know if it was just an erroneous reading of if someone had taken the car for a spin? Or a rolling road test or something.

The insurance is already sky high for new drivers and every day I see teens ripping up the roads on their illegal fast electric motor bikes wearing their balaclavas! It does make you wonder and question the system for those that are trying to do the right (and legal) thing.

 

19 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

On my attendance last year, we were given advice that you did not have to disclose that you were on a speed awareness course...

That's what we all thought and what the instructors said. I've never tried getting a quote from Admiral so don't know if they still ask that question. I won't be finding out either!

2 minutes ago, KeithA said:

Do you know if it was just an erroneous reading of if someone had taken the car for a spin? 

Yes, that sounds a very unfair situation. If the car was in the garage could the owner not prove they weren't driving. Any test driving by the garage would have been on the garages insurance, not the owners.

How accurate would the box be anyway? You only get a NIP on the evidence of a properly calibrated device used by the appropriate authority. What information does the box have as to the speed limit at the time/place of the "offence"? Most of us know from our Traffic Sign Recognition or Intelligent Speed Assist Systems how inaccurate GPS can be where speed limits are concerned.

here's a few pics of the 'circuit board' in the passenger footwell. There's nothing behind the glove box, so presume this is for some of the fuses (as can be seen on it). It just seems to hang there though, nothing obvious to clip it into. The yellow threaded clips don't fit onto anything and it doesn't have play in it, enough to move upwards. Maybe we're missing a panel or cover or something. 

That's the combined 'Passenger Compartment Fusebox', and 'Body Control Module' (BCM).

See Ford Fiesta Owners Handbook (online)

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/vdirsnet/OwnerManual/Home/Content?variantid=4477&languageCode=en&countryCode=USA&Uid=G1893598&ProcUid=G1893599&userMarket=GBR&div=f&vFilteringEnabled=False&buildtype=web

18 minutes ago, unofix said:

That's the combined 'Passenger Compartment Fusebox', and 'Body Control Module' (BCM).

Thank you, I guess there should be some kind of cover on there and some way to secure it. I'll have a dig around.

 

27 minutes ago, KeithA said:

I guess there should be some kind of cover

It's not what you are expecting 🤣

This one is for the Focus

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005455105267.html

12 minutes ago, unofix said:

It's not what you are expecting 🤣

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005455105267.html

Thanks for that. I'd been searching and figured it was this one. So may different types around.

Yes, that looks like the fiesta version. You also need a couple of clips like these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BBASILIYSD-Copilot-Accessories-1310861-1310862/dp/B0C74PYSSW?th=1

to secure it in place. You already have the two yellow pegs in your earlier photo, you need the bits which slide over the pegs to keep the cover in place. 

Edited June 29, 2025Jun 29 by pcaouolte
Added photo.

@pcaouolte, thank you for that, i'll get some ordered.

Really appreciate everyones help. Thank you.

Trim arrived and fitted.