Progressive Snapshot device users?

[mazzdee6]

I had an unsettling experience after plugging recently received Snapshot device into my 14 6's OBD port.

When connected, the dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree w/ every warning indicator, and the car wouldn't start! I immediately removed Snapshot from OBD port; car then started (thank god) but engine indicator light remained lit. Drove around the block...nothing seemed amiss, even while engine light stayed on.

I connected OBDII scanner (with vehicle off) - DTCs U0100, U0121, & P0000 were showing, which after investigating seem to refer to PCM communication issues. My OBD scanner has ability "Erase" DTCs being thrown, but I DID NOT clear them. After a 2nd scan to confirm these DTCs (and hoping no add'l), I unplugged scan tool & started her up. Started fine, and engine light is off w/o manually clearing codes using scan tool. I will be taking car to dealer to look things over - fingers crossed that the cheap-o, POS Snapshot didn't fry any electrical components.

For people considering Snapshot, I'd steer clear of the device. Especially after reading up and learning there have been many cases of prematurely drained batteries, or worse... For the record, I used snapshot in my previous car ('01 Mits) without issue.


Has anyone else have similar experience using snapshot on 2014 6??

 

[badself]

You couldn't pay me to give any insurance company free reign over my every move, and for what, to save some money. Wouldn't do it even to save 50% annually. Not to mention possible damage to your ECU, which I am sure they wash their hands of in the fine print. Other sureties besides Progressive are getting on this bandwagon. Power to them and those who choose to use the device.

 

[IgoZoom]

I am an Independent Insurance Agent in the Atlanta, Georgia area. I also contribute to a few personal finance and business blogs and websites when the opportunity arises.

Last year, a personal finance site asked me if I would be interested in going through the initial 30-day Progressive Snapshot trial and sharing my experience on their site. Although I would NOT participate in any sort of 'tracking' or 'monitoring' program for myself, the idea of exploring it for 30-days and writing about was very interesting.

I had just purchased my 2012 CX-9 GT and didn't want to use it for the trial. So I plugged the device into my 2006 Mazda3 s 5-door instead. On the 9th day of the trial, after sitting for a weekend, the battery was DEAD even though it had just been replaced about six months earlier! I jumped it off using my CX-9 and didn't even consider the Snapshot device as the potential drain on the battery.

The next week, it started fine if I drove it daily. But I drove my CX-9 one day during the week instead and after sitting for over 24 hours, my Mazda3 barely mustered enough juice to turn over the engine. Still, I wasn't making the connection and I was pissed because I thought my new battery was a dud!

Then we had a cold snap (lows in the 30s at night) and it wouldn't hit a lick when I turned the key. This was on Day 22 of my trial and I decided to unplug the Snapshot device to see what happened. The next morning, it was 29 degrees and still fired up instantly.

I did some reserach and discovered MANY people on various websites, blogs and forums discussing similar experiences with it draining their battery. I also found more than 10 instances where a car's alternator and/or other electrical system components had failed prematurely while usinig Snapshot. By prematurely, I mean less than three years old and under 50k miles.

There were also miscellaneous reports about blown fuses, instrument panels going haywire and similar adverse results immediately after plugging in the device!

SO, for the sake of my good ol' Mazda3, I ended the trial at the 22 day mark to protect my vehicle!!!

As for the maximium savings potential if I had completed the trial....

30% off is the maximum discount on the initial 6-month policy. But the fine print stipulates that the discount decreases to 20% for the next 6-month policy and then to 10% for the third 6-month policy period. Keep in mind that those are the MAXIMUM discounts possible.

For the first 11 days, I managed to remain on track for the 30% discount. Then I was driving thru my subdivision (25mph) and hit the brakes and swerved to miss a squirrel and that single event dropped me down to a 22% discount.

After almost eight years of driving Mazdas, I will confess that I turn into parking lots, side streets and even my own driveway at a higher speed than I did in the past. A few days after the squirrel incident, I pulled into my driveway and as I hit the brakes to stop, I got the warning beep letting me know I had earned more demerits! By stopping so quickly in my own freakin' driveway, my potential discount was down to just 16% (from 30%) and probably would have been ZERO if I had finished the 30-day trial.

It's