A vehicle-installed interlock is an alcohol interlock designed to control vehicle starting based on the result of a driver's breath test. The official configuration of DATECH's AF-i1 includes a handset that measures breath and a control box that centrally processes the device's operation. When you receive a replacement handset or control box during fault handling or service, it is hard to judge that it is the same configuration simply because the box you received looks like the existing device.
What is needed here is not to connect the new part yourself to try it, but to identify on paper which component installed in which vehicle is being replaced with what. Especially when the fleet manager, installer, and driver receive parts at different times, you need to distinguish the fact of receipt from the fact of installation in the vehicle. Only with clear configuration identification can you avoid confusion later about which device the user manual, service schedule, and stored usage records should be read against.
Start by distinguishing the roles of the handset and the control box
The AF-i1 handset is a breathalyzer that measures the driver's breath, and the control box is the central processing unit that connects to the vehicle and processes the device's operation. Besides these two devices, the official product information lists a communication cable linking the handset and control box, installation wiring for connecting to the vehicle, a mount, and dedicated software as part of the product configuration.
So the words "the interlock was replaced" alone do not tell you what changed. You need to note separately whether only the handset was replaced, whether the control box was replaced, or whether both devices and the connection components were included in the service scope. Even if the model name is the same or the appearance is similar, it is safer to confirm through installation records and service guidance whether the combination can be applied to that vehicle.
First gather the records to cross-check in one place
If an identification number is displayed, write it down; if it cannot be confirmed, do not make up a number. Putting together the records you actually have, such as markings on the part itself, the item description on the packaging, the replacement request, and existing installation documents, gives the installer a basis for judgment. Even when it is unclear whether a number on the box is the unit's identification number, it is better to pass on where the marking is and a photo than to record a guess about what the number means.
| What to cross-check | Records you can obtain | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Existing vehicle installation | Information identifying the vehicle and installation documents | Which vehicle the device was installed in |
| Existing handset and control box | Markings on the units, model name, previous service records | Whether each remaining component can be told apart |
| Replacement part received | Item name, markings on the unit or packaging, contents of the replacement request | Whether the part requested and the part actually received are the same |
| Vehicle configuration after replacement | Installation confirmation and date applied | Which parts were actually applied to the vehicle |
This table does not mean the product always provides information in the same format. The key is not to lump the existing vehicle, existing components, replacement part, and actual result into a single line. For example, if you have received a handset but it has not yet been installed in the vehicle, the item received can be confirmed, but the vehicle's configuration has not changed.
When markings differ, a confirmation request comes before a connection test
As a hypothetical case, suppose a fleet manager receives a new handset after requesting an "AF-i1 handset replacement," but the marking on the unit differs from the marking in the existing documents. The facts to observe are that the markings differ and that the new item's description does not immediately match the existing installation documents. There is no basis here for interpreting the difference as a simple typo or a compatible change.
A possible action is to send the existing documents, photos of the new part's markings, and the item description received to the installer or supplier, and have them review whether it is the right replacement for that vehicle. Trying a test connection with a part from another vehicle, or peeling off a label to check, can actually destroy the clues needed to identify the original configuration. The completion criterion is not "it worked when I connected it," but confirmation in the service guidance of which component in which vehicle is being replaced with which part, and that the combination is applicable.
Do not mix receipt, installation, and usage records into one event
The date the replacement was received, the date it was applied to the vehicle, and the date its operation was checked after application can all differ. Recording these points separately reduces the chance of confusing the range of records left from the device before replacement with records generated by the device after replacement. The AF-i1 is described as storing interlock usage events such as vehicle ACC, engine start, test results, and tampering detection along with date and time information, and as allowing log events to be managed and downloaded with dedicated software.
So whether there are records to keep or download before the replacement, and whether there is an ongoing service or support request, are also items to check along with the replacement work. Receiving a new part does not mean that problems in past records or service alerts have been cleared automatically. If the relationship between the existing device and the new configuration is unclear, it is appropriate not to copy past results over as results of the new device.
After installation, settle the guidance to use and the contact path
Once the replacement is confirmed, the user manual that matches the configuration actually applied to the vehicle should be the reference. The official AF-i1 configuration includes a user manual, and service and calibration reminders as well as settings and log management through dedicated software are described. However, who carries out which checks is not decided automatically by the scope of replacement, so it is best to agree specifically with the service contact on the next service or verification procedure.
Finally, rather than only telling the driver what the changed part looks like, pass on the device configuration currently applied to the vehicle and the installation and service contact to reach if a problem occurs. That way the driver can ask for the support they need without swapping and connecting other parts on their own, and the manager can keep a clear record of each vehicle's configuration and replacement history.
