FineVu GX1000

@workplaydrive

Thank you @blackboxmycar for this sweet #finevu QX1000 #dashcam to test. Paired with the #powercell8 for parking protection #workplaydrive #roadrage

♬ original sound – WorkPlayDrive

Testing out a new Dash Cam the FineVu GX1000 2K QHD Dual-Channel
Power Saving Mode + Heat Protection Algorithm

I’m still testing the FineVu GX1000 but if you can’t wait to get your hands on one, here is my affiliate link and don’t forget use Discount Code: WorkPlayDrive for 5% off orders over $250

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How to Install a Hidden GPS Tracker – featuring CarLock

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In todays video I cover selecting a place to install your hidden tracker and what you will need to install one. I’m installing the CarLock tracker in my 2022 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am WS6. The install took about 30 minutes using a few of the tools below.

I want to thank CarLock for sending us another tracker and the CarLock tag. We have been using Carlock for almost 2 years now you can check out our Full Review Video from last year.

Carlock 10% Discount Code = WORKPLAYDR10 for use on Amazon

Affiliate Links to Products seen in This video

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How to Install a Dual Dash cam System – Thinkware Q1000

Thanks to Blackboxmycar.com for sending over the new Thinkware Q1000 for us to install on my Wife’s 2022 Hyundai Tucson. If you are looking for a dashcam they have one for every budget and will help you find the best one to suit your needs.

Blackboxmycar.com affiliate links

Blackboxmycar.com Discount Code: WorkPlayDrive for 5% off orders over $250

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Carlock Review – 9 months and 2 cars later

Today’s video is on Carlock.  I’m sure you’ve seen their product in tons of social media posts as I did.  Last year curiosity got the best of me, and I contacted them to see if I could get one.  In December of last year, Carlock hooked me up with the Carlock device and service, and I’ve been testing it over the previous 9 months.  …and by testing, I mean using it daily on my vehicles. 

Carlock 10% Discount Code = WORKPLAYDR10 for use on Amazon

Products seen in This video

In this video, I will cover what Carlock can do for both a daily driver and a garage queen.  How easy it is to install, along with other more discrete install options.  How to use Carlock and how to use the Carlock Tag to make the product even better.

I’ll also cover some of the things that annoy me about the product!   I’ve had a lot of time to use Carlock, so this is not going to be one of those videos where you watch someone read the package to you and say, “this is great; buy it now.

What is Carlock?

Carlock is a real-time GPS car tracking and alert system. Because this device uses mobile connectivity to near-instantly send alerts to your phone and tracks your vehicle, there is a monthly service fee. For Carlock to work you need the device, an account on their site and the mobile app.  If you buy from Amazon using the links below It’s pretty much risk free since Amazon allows 30 day returns in most areas and Carlock gives you the first month free. Once your free month expires, their monthly fee is $9.60, or you can go for a year for $113.  There are no contracts you can stop using Carlock at any time. I’ll go into all the features in a moment; first, I want to cover the install.

Installing Carlock

Installing Carlock is simple. There are 3 options.  The first is to simply plug it into your Onboard Diagnostics port, aka the OBD2 port.  If you’re worried it sticks out or that it’s easy for a thief or your teen driver to spot, you can go with a right-angle cable extension to tuck it up under the dash.  If you want to hide it somewhere in the car where no one will find it, grab the Carlock power connector and wire it directly to any always-on circuit or directly to the battery; if you go directly to the battery, just don’t forget to put a fuse in-line. 

When mounting, I found I got the best shock sensitivity when I mounted it to the vehicle’s metal framing or the body.  Stuffing it up under the dash zip-tied to a harness gave me almost no impact sensitivity. 

After watching this video or reading this post, if you’re interested in grabbing a Carlock or any of the other items I show today, be sure to check the parts listed above or in the links throughout this article for my Amazon affiliate links.  Every purchase you make from those links helps me pay for the products and tools I show in my videos.

Using Carlock

Once you’ve set up your Carlock account and a free month of service, download the app and log in.   Carlock protection activates via the app.  Simply close and lock your car, open the app, and hit the lock button.   Carlock will now protect your vehicle while you’re away.  You will get alerts for things like impact, if the car is started and if it’s moved.

Along with real-time GPS tracking, so you always know where your car is.  If someone unplugs Carlock or disconnects the battery, you will also get an alert.  Disconnected Carlock will continue to run and provide info for 20 minutes on its internal battery.   To disable protection, open the app and tap the lock to turn off security. 

Automating Carlock

Suppose you want to automate the protection process. In that case, you can use Carlock’s Timer feature, which enables Carlock 5 minutes after the engine turns off, or you can also schedule when Carlock should enable and disable. 

Or even easier, grab a Carlock tag. Pair this tag with your Carlock app, then hide the Carlock tag anywhere in your vehicle.  Now, every time you walk away from your vehicle, Carlock will enable, and every time you approach, it will disable.  After months of getting in the car 3-5 times a day, I can say it works about 95% of the time. It doesn’t disable on rare occasions, and I get an alert that obnoxiously goes off in my pocket.  …then, shortly after, it disables the security.  An Energizer lithium coin battery for the Carlock tag lasts about 6 months in my experience.  However, the original battery that came with mine only lasted 2 months, so you may want to have a replacement handy.  I’ll drop a link to the Carlock Tag and quality replacement battery below.

Alerts and Notifications

Now let’s talk about that obnoxious alert.   Carlock’s alert when your car is In protected mode is loud.  It also drops notifications on your home screen for each event. Carlock recently introduced a new feature for the iPhone notifications to use Critical Alerts. When enabled, the alarm will sound and show notifications even when the phone is silent or in do not disturb.

…Even more features

In addition to parking security, Carlock is great for tracking teen drivers.  You can enable Harsh Driving and Speeding notifications which will send alerts to your phone in real-time.  Great for keeping track of your new drivers or what your car is up to when it’s in for service.

One additional feature that comes in handy is the real-time monitoring of the battery.  When my Hellcat sat all winter after about 2-3 weeks, the battery would get low enough to start then throw a check engine due to the low voltages.  Carlock keeps tabs on your battery and warns you when it’s low.  Then from the comfort of my living room, I can say – “Alexa… charge Challenger battery.”

Annoyances

Now I already mentioned one of the annoyances where the App and Carlock tag doesn’t connect right away, so when you hop in the car and start it up, the Alarm is going off in your pocket.  This isn’t a major deal; it stops after a few seconds and eventually connects.  The second annoyance is specific to certain trickle chargers.  Carlock uses the sudden change in voltage from 12 volts with the car off to the 14 volts from the alternator when on.   I use the Battery Tender Plus, which floats most of the time then boosts to over 14 volts to charge the battery.  This means if I enable Carlock in my garage with the trickle charger connected, I get car start notifications often when I’m sleeping. 

My Opinion

Besides those 2 minor issues, Carlock has been an excellent product, and I plan to continue my subscription at the end of my sponsorship. If you were on the fence, I hope you found this video and article informative.  If you’re looking for any of the products I mentioned, remember to check out my affiliate links posted above, and every purchase helps the channel. 

 Thank you

More Affiliate Links

Recording Gear

Advanced Audio setup

Want more WorkPlayDrive APPROVED Products and Discounts!!!! 

Check out my Product Discounts page NOW

*~*~*~*~*~*~* Folow us *~*~*~*~*~*~*

2019+ Ram Rebel Big Horn, HFE, Laramie, Limited, Limited Longhorn, Lone Star, Rebel, TRX, Tradesman 2015+ Challenger  2008 Challenger  2009 Challenger  2010 Challenger  2011 Challenger  2012 Challenger 2013 Challenger  2014 Challenger  2015 Challenger 2016 Challenger 2017 Challenger 2018 Challenger 2019 Challenger Challenger Hellcat Challenger SXT Challenger T/A  Challenger Scat Pack Challenger Hellcat Hellcat Redeye challenger shaker Airlift Performance Accuair Endo-CVT Endo-T Air Suspension Bagged Widebody Hellcat Viair Universal Air Suspension

ANC disable (Disable Active Noise Canceling) 2019+ Ram 1500 Rebel (Chrysler Jeep Dodge info)

Active Noise Canceling, or ANC for short, is available in many Jeep, Dodge Ram vehicles.  Microphones throughout the cabin pick up undesirable sounds, and the ANC module plays soundwaves through the speakers in an attempt to cancel these sounds.

When adding an amplifier or, in my case, speakers with a broader sound range, the Ram’s Active Noise Cancelling sound waves become loud, audible Bass drone that makes the vehicle undrivable.  Shutting off the radio does not stop the sounds as it’s a separate system. 

This video will walk you through disabling the 2019 Ram ANC by de-pining the connector that holds the microphone wires.  Once you remove the four positive microphone wires, Active Noise canceling is disabled, and the annoying bass drone goes away.  I also cover the other option of using the PAC Factory ANC Module Bypass Harness for Select Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram Vehicles.  This Active Noise Cancelling bypass harness quickly installs in less than 2 minutes in most cases. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  After disabling the Active Noice Cancelling in my 2019 Ram Rebel, I Do NOT notice any difference in cabin noise.  ANC Disable also DOES NOT impact the noise cancelling in your phone calls. A different system handles Noise Canceling for mobile calls.

Items Shown in this video

My 2019 Ram Stereo Parts list

Optional Extras

My Affiliate Links

Recording Gear

Advanced Audio setup

Want more WorkPlayDrive APPROVED Products and Discounts!!!! 

Check out my Product Discounts page NOW

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2019+ Ram Rebel Big Horn, HFE, Laramie, Limited, Limited Longhorn, Lone Star, Rebel, TRX, Tradesman, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler Pacifica, Ram 2500, Ram 3500

Mopar Bed Step

My new Short and to the point no nonsense install videos our Featured Product is the Mopar OEM Bed Step Part number 82215289AG

Best price at EastCoastMoparts.com at the time of this video $296.00

Tools in this video

More Affiliate Links

Recording Gear

Advanced Audio setup

Want more WorkPlayDrive APPROVED Products and Discounts!!!! 

Check out my Product Discounts page NOW

*~*~*~*~*~*~* Folow us *~*~*~*~*~*~*

2019+ Ram Rebel Big Horn, HFE, Laramie, Limited, Limited Longhorn, Lone Star, Rebel, TRX, Tradesman

New Ram Rebel and we’re tinting it out with Luxe

Merch Store – Discount code = NEWRAM 20% off through July 5th, 2021

We said goodby to the 2005 Dodge Magnum R/T AWD and hello to this 2019 Ram Rebel 4×4 with a 5.7L. The goal is to create a off-road capable truck that’s still suitable to drive daily.

Today’s install is a simple one, blacking out all the white plastic with the pre-cut LightWrap kits from Luxe Auto Concepts.

More Affiliate Links

Recording Gear

Advanced Audio setup

Want more WorkPlayDrive APPROVED Products and Discounts!!!! 

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2019+ Ram Rebel Ram Larmie, Ram Big Horn

I finally bought the SpoilerKing XL360 and I…

I’ve been staring at the Spoilerking Rear window spoiler since my buddy Ryan over at Hemifam installed one on the old hag. I received a partial sponsorship for this so I figured it was time to go for it. I still paid well over $100 for this item, but the discount really helped. The spoiler featured in this vide is the Spoiler XL w/ Center Cut (380RC)

Stuff You saw in this video

Paddle Shifters from CCH Customs (NON-Affiliate)
https://cchcustoms.com/
Discount Code – WorkPlayDrive

More Affiliate Links

Recording Gear

Advanced Audio setup

Want more WorkPlayDrive APPROVED Products and Discounts!!!! 

Check out my Product Discounts page NOW

*~*~*~*~*~*~* Folow us *~*~*~*~*~*~*

2015+ Challenger  2008 Challenger  2009 Challenger  2010 Challenger  2011 Challenger  2012 Challenger 2013 Challenger  2014 Challenger  2015 Challenger 2016 Challenger 2017 Challenger 2018 Challenger 2019 Challenger Challenger Hellcat Challenger SXT Challenger T/A  Challenger Scat Pack Challenger Hellcat Hellcat Redeye challenger shaker

Luxe Forged Carbon – Chopped Interior Trim

I installed the Luxe Forged Carbon Chopped Metallic vinyl in my dashboard and center console trim to compliment my new Forged Carbon Steering wheel. Each piece took just over an hour to wrap and the results were amazing.

Originally I wrapped it and left the silver trim ring around the edges and I was not happy with the results. You can see photos in the video at 0:19 so I peeled it off and wrapped the entire trim piece.

This is not an instructional video, but I do offer a few tips and as requested I show the entire wrap process for both pieces. Be sure to check out the Awesome Color Matched Paddle Shifters from CCH Customs and my new Forged Carbon Steering Wheel.

Luxe Auto Concepts Stuff (affiliate)

  1. Luxe Forged Carbon Chopped Metallic Gloss
  2. Luxe Stainless Pro Cutting Knife
  3. Luxe White Squeegee with optional buffer
  4. Luxe 3-piece Micro Squeegee Vinyl Applicator
  5. Luxe Soft Mini Squeegee

Required Tools (Amazon Affiliate)

  1. Porter Cable Heat Gun
  2. Interior Trim Tools
  3. 3M Knifeless Finishline tape

Paddle Shifters from CCH Customs (NON-Affiliate)
https://cchcustoms.com/
Discount Code – WorkPlayDrive

More Affiliate Links

Recording Gear

Advanced Audio setup

Want more WorkPlayDrive APPROVED Products and Discounts!!!! 

Check out my Product Discounts page NOW

*~*~*~*~*~*~* Folow us *~*~*~*~*~*~*

2015+ Challenger  2008 Challenger  2009 Challenger  2010 Challenger  2011 Challenger  2012 Challenger 2013 Challenger  2014 Challenger  2015 Challenger 2016 Challenger 2017 Challenger 2018 Challenger 2019 Challenger Challenger Hellcat Challenger SXT Challenger T/A  Challenger Scat Pack Challenger Hellcat Hellcat Redeye challenger shaker