Shutdown of 3G Network - End of Remote start & Connected Services for pre-2020s

The major cellular network providers (AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile) will be shutting down their 3G networks in 2022. So if your 4Runner is model year 2019 or earlier you will be affected if you use Connected Services. For features such as in-nav traffic and location data, WiFi hotspots, emergency call services, smartphone app connectivity, voice assistants, and concierge services. Even the remote lock/unlock functions.

Some auto manufacturers are offering software or hardware updates but not Toyota. Oh what a feeling.

https://www.thedrive.com/tech/43187/how-the-3g-shutdown-in-2022-could-screw-your-car

One more thing about subscription services and remote start:

https://www.thedrive.com/news/43329/toyota-made-its-key-fob-remote-start-into-a-subscription-service

 

It's like Y2K all over again.

I'm not worried I don't use any of that shit.

 

Yeah. Me neither. The iPhone works so much better for my navigation and music needs.

 

Mine’s a 2013, I don’t even know if it has any of those things, and I never used the navigation system because it’s pure garbage.

 

Same with my android Samsung Galaxy Note 10.
Google maps is way better than the GPS Nav on my 4Runner. If I didn't have a garage park in, I'd just get an aftermarket remote start installed.

I do like the car phone feature of the 4Runner but doubt that is affected by this.

 

Our 2021 Toyota Highlander has the cell phone activated remote start. It's a gimmick, it takes forever to work, when you are standing right next to the car. You can turn on your flashers and lights with it too. Seems stupid to me.

I would expect them to charge for that service since they mentioned the connection was a so many month free trial when we bought the car.

We had it in our 2020 Rav4 TRD OR as well. The car would never fully shut off and we frequently found it to have a dead battery in the morning. The server was running all night long. After my Toyota dealer replaced the 2nd battery in it, they disabled that system. I'm sure my mention of the words "Lemon Law" to the service guy had something to do with it.

 

If I’m using navigation I usually stream it via my phone, but use the vehicles nav screen for extra help with gauging distances.

 

It's amazing to me how bad OEM navigation has remained and the fact some manufacturers still list it as an option. Car play/Android auto is the only way to go anymore.

 

The one instance where built-in vehicle nav works OK is when you have no cell service. And you didn’t pre-load your cellphone nav application with the destination. Or you did pre-load but you exited then re-started the app and it needs a data connection to resume.

 

The solution is to preload an offline map. That way you don't have to worry about restarting the app because the information is saved onto your phone until you delete it. It takes additional memory space, but it's super useful. Google Maps/Android Auto lets you do it. I guess Apple's stuff would let you do it, too.

 

So, a question…

Does all this connected service stuff go through the head unit? What if I replaced my head unit, would I be free of toyota’s mainframe? Would that kill skynets’s connection to my vehicle?

edit: and would I still have use of my fob for keyless entry?

 

Are we losing factory nav or just losing the mostly useless traffic feature? If the nav itself is going away that is a major problem. Unlike many, I actually prefer the factory nav to the smartphone app and use it all the time.