EROAD Locate is designed to be a low-profile, reliable GPS tracker to assist you in your fleet management requirements.
This document covers the installation of the EROAD Locate unit: Installing EROAD Locate requires physically installing the unit in a vehicle, and digitally linking (assigning) it to the vehicle using MyEROAD.
NOTE: Be sure to manually record the EROAD Locate serial number against the vehicle’s registration at install. There may be a need for a waiting period of up to 12 km of driving before you can assign the device to the vehicle in MyEROAD as described in Fleet Manager Info, later in this document.
EROAD recommends installation with a harness. The following instructions use the universal T-harness in light vehicles. The following instructions use the universal T-harness in light vehicles. For all other harnesses, refer to the Geotab Vehicle Specific Installation Notes here: https://support.geotab.com/harnesses/installation/doc/specific-install-notes
16-Pin Universal Harness Kit
The standard 16-pin harness kit comes with a T-harness, several OBD-II mounting adapters for different vehicle types, and cable ties. Refer to the insert included in the package to determine the correct adapter for your vehicle make and model.
High-Level Diagram
The T-harness connects as follows. The installation instructions describe the process in detail.
Note: Using the harness shown above is the recommended installation method because it provides an unused diagnostic port for use with other OBD devices you may use.
Installation Instructions
Ensure the vehicle is off during the installation.
Locate the vehicle’s OBD-II diagnostic port. In most vehicles, you can find it under the driver side dash.
Detach the port from its factory location. Remove the screws or unsnap the port to remove.
Verify that you have chosen the correct mounting adapter for the port. The adapter should fit the shape and size of the port.
Prepare the harness:
Insert the mounting adapter into the short harness starting from the end of the male Molex connector. Slide and lock into place around the female connector.
Note: Depending on the vehicle, you may need to modify the adapter – cutting or shortening it – if the factory mounting location is too narrow.
Connect the short harness to the T-harness and lock into place.
Attach the male end of the T-harness to the vehicle’s diagnostic port. Ensure it is locked into place.
Secure the connection with a cable tie. Trim off excess tie.
Mount the female short end of the harness that you prepared earlier (with the mounting adapter) into the factory diagnostic port location. (This port is free for use with any other OBD devices you use.)
Attach the female long end of the harness to the EROAD Locate device. You will hear six beeps and all three lights on the device will flash briefly.
Use a cable tie to secure the device to the harness. Trim excess tie.
Mount the device to a solid part of the vehicle frame using at least two cable ties. Trim excess tie.
Ensure the bottom has a good line of site to the sky. (The GPS antenna is on the bottom.)
Avoid metal obstructions.
Cabling must be clear of moving parts and won’t hinder operation of the vehicle.
To ensure data quality, the unit must not move around in any way.
Secure harness wiring up under the dash using cable ties. Trim excess tie.
Turn on the ignition. The unit will go through a self-check, lighting the LEDs in sequence
(see Device Check). All three LEDs should be solid.
Reattach dash panels you removed.
Device Check
On ignition, EROAD Locate will attempt to self-configure. For most vehicles this process is quick and simple.
Color | Blinking LED | Solid LED |
Red | Power on and firmware update pending | Power on and latest firmware downloaded |
Green | Cellular modem is on but not connected | Cellular modem is on and connected |
Blue | GPS is on but not connected | GPS is on and connected |
In some vehicle makes and models – such as certain Japanese mid-duty trucks – self-configuration can take some time. During this period, under MyEROAD > Admin > Ehubos, the unit status may be Install Required… even though the unit is plugged in and on.
Self-configuration should complete within 12 hours, or about 12 km of driving, after which you can assign the device to the vehicle in MyEROAD; the vehicle is ready for assignment when Install Required changes to Assign to Vehicle.
Fleet Manager Info
Your EROAD Locate units are listed in MyEROAD under Admin > Ehubos (the ‘New experience’ toggle top-left of screen may need to be switched off).
Units to be provisioned show as:
These units have been allocated and shipped by EROAD to your company (or installation agent), but have not been installed in any vehicle.
When a physical installation is complete, the EROAD Locate status displays as Assign to Vehicle.
Tap Assign to vehicle. A list of vehicles in your fleet appears.
Select the appropriate vehicle, or tap Add New Vehicle or Asset to create the vehicle.
Under Vehicle Plan, select Plug n Drive.
Select Assign to selected vehicle.
You return to the Ehubos page. If you check the Include Installed box, you’ll see appropriate EROAD Locate devices marked Installed.
Uninstalling an EROAD Locate Device
EROAD Locate is a RUC-assist distance-tracking device. Unplugging it WITHOUT following this process may result in misreported distance or ‘Odojump’ errors.
Unplug the device from the vehicle’s OBD-II port and note its serial number.
In MyEROAD, go to Admin > Ehubos.
Check the Include Installed checkbox.
Find and click Unassign for that unit’s serial number (or vehicle registration) and confirm the pop-up.
Your EROAD Locate device is unassigned.
EROAD Locate is NOT automatically transferrable
Do not transfer an EROAD Locate between vehicles. Differences in odometer readings between vehicles may cause the unit to go into a dormant ‘quarantine’ state.
If you need to transfer or re-assign your unit to a different vehicle, follow the uninstall steps then contact EROAD Support.