How to disconnect the tracking telemetry on the 5th gen 4Runner

It's optional...for now. Given that most vehicles, even the cheaper ones like Corolla or Chevy Spark, have internet connections and GPS tracking standard, it won't be long before insurance rates are based on driving habits. My wife says I drive aggressively, but her opinion is pretty subjective. I'm a grandma compared to most other drivers on the road here in Virginia. We've been with the same insurance company for 20 years and have never made a claim, but if they move toward using telemetry to determine rates, I'd guess ours might go up despite our claims history.

Just another example of tracking by private companies can have a fair amount of impact on daily life.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/allsta...determine-your-car-insurance-rate-11633685400

"Since late summer, car insurer Allstate Corp. has been talking to state regulators about helping to lead an industrywide effort to transition in the coming years from sizing up risk in applicants with factors including credit scores to largely using telematics to determine rates, the company and regulators said.

With telematics, insurers monitor policyholders’ driving behaviors either through smartphone applications or devices embedded in their vehicles. Insurers slice the tracking data to tailor individual rates."

 

Just took my 15 min break for work and tried this, but I couldn't reach the DCM connectors through the small space. I thought about a post I read on a radio forum where someone said that sometimes a tuner can receive a signal if coax isn't plugged in but it's in close proximity to the plug (i.e. the tip of the conductor can "broadcast" the signal a super short distance). So I pulled the coax antenna cables out as far as I could (6 inches) and wrapped them with metallic tape I had in the garage for connecting flexible HVAC ducting. I then wrapped the whole thing with electric tape to prevent any potential contact shorting from the metallic tape.

I don't know if it will work, but figured it's worth a try since I'm not doing anything permanent and it only took about 10 minutes. I'll let you know if the app updates with mileage after my trip tomorrow.

 

Thanks for the gist of that article. It sounds like insurers are disingenuously saying they want to stop using credit info, which everyone is sensitive about, to using actual driver behavior. Good for them, bad for us.

I bet more and more people have been freezing their credit reports over the years due to all the security breaches and it’s been less effective for insurers since they can’t access as much info.

 

Hi, new to this forum and SUVs. I have a new-to-me 2019 Limited and cannot find any DCM fuses. I found the fuse box under the dash but the label did not indicate any DCM fuse, it's different than the 2020 label posted earlier. My 4Runner does have the SOS button on the overhead console (it’s red). Does anyone know how to easily disable any tracking? I'm not experienced enough to take apart the dash or multimedia console.

 

I’m sorry, I’m at a loss. The 2019 model does come with some connected services, which certainly includes location tracking to facilitate emergency response in case you have a bad crash or something and hit that SOS button to get help. I’m sorry about the lack of DCM fuse in an obvious place.

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

I believe before the 2020 model year it’s called the “Mayday” fuse.
Look under the hood in the engine compartment fuse box.

 

Thank you, will look for that fuse. Do you know if pulling it will cause any other problems? I don’t care about the hands free calling, though it would be nice to know if it is affected for the future/resale.

 

From what I can tell it’s only assigned to the Safety Connect system. Try it. You can always reinstall the fuse later.

 

thank you. I will try it tomorrow and see how it goes.

 

i've pulled the fuse and so far everything that I use seems to be working. I don’t use the hands-free phone capability so I don’t know if that is affected like pulling the DCM fuse in later models disables the mic. Thanks so much for your help!

 

I have a 2021 4-Runner TRD Off Road trim level and I removed the DCM fuse a few months ago. I've never had problems with any DCM connection or warnings after doing so. I am fascinated by the reports of still getting signal after disconnecting the antenna. I'm wanting to put the fuse back in and test it to see what happens.

I'm in the camp of not wanting to be tracked.

 

Holy S... will it never end. I feel like we're living in China.. or quickly going in that direction. It would be nice if we could develop a quick disconnect to the GPS and wireless tracking, so it's available if needed/wanted. I was recently hit by a semi; interestingly, the patrolman knew the state, where'd I had been. He wouldn't answer, when I asked how he knew.

 

I'm wondering if we could come up with nice a quick disconnect/reconnect switch, like a fuse kill switch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F6cLX4djNg .

I'm wondering if this would work for the switch. https://toyotaparts.lagrangetoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-switch-8448035101?c=bD0xJm49U2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHM=

To go here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=Smfi-ThvkHE&feature=emb_logo

FYI; I tried to reach out to the contact here for opt-out and questions, but it's no longer monitored: https://www.toyota.com/privacyvts/

 

Hi All. I also would like to have a kill switch where a disabled feature can be re-enabled. Then you could re-enable your cell connectivity if you wanted to download a software update, etc. In post #162, @SVMTRCSR posted a picture where the cables that run into the shark fin are plugged into the DCM console. (reposting that image here). I have been thinking about unplugging the cell cables and then plugging in a new cable and run it into the glove box. That cable could be wrapped in Faraday tape should it not already be shielded itself. With the cable(s) terminating in the glove box, I could have a Faraday cap of sorts on the end. I can leave that "cap" on most of the time unless I want the cell connection and then I could remove the cap. Alternatively, I could potentially route the cable(s) from the shark fin into the glove box too and be able to connect them together to provide a cell connection when wanted.

Here are some questions that I have in order to assess if any of this is viable:
-What kind of cable is used to run from the DCM console to the shark fin?
-What type of connector on this cable plugs into the DCM console? Does anyone know the replacement part model number for this type of cable?
-From the experiments where the shark fin cable is disconnected, people have been able to still get a cell signal when close enough to a cell tower. For those who have done this, can you tell if there is an opportunity to further cover the connectors or the DCM console itself with Faraday tape? Cell coverage is only getting more pervasive so I think that getting a cell signal while close to a tower does not satisfy my comfort level.

While I am annoyed by the lack of privacy, my main concern is having the car be braked or turned by a hacker while I am driving. To that end, I have been looking for a way to disable the driver assist systems that can affect braking or steering.

In post #60 here, https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...sable-toyota-safety-sense-tss-p.557456/page-3, there is a PDF instruction form, https://www.tacomaworld.com/attachments/t-sb-0059-18-pdf.3150666/, that shows how to use Toyota TechStream to disable such things as Pre-Collision. See screenshot. What I have not yet found is if the "kill switch" can be disabled or not. One concern I have with this method is that if the Toyota TechStream software can do this, it could potentially be hacked remotely and turned back on.

Does anyone have knowledge of how to disable any driver-assist/pre-collision systems via pulling a fuse which could not be undone by a remote hacker?

Thanks!

 

did you buy yours new? There should be a sticker by the sos button to opt out with a phone number.

i called and told them to opt me out of the connected services, so my sos button shouldnt work now or whatever other “apps”that use cell connection.

Im pretty sure that by buying the vehicle somehow I agreed to always agree with any changes Toyota, affiliates, and partners want to make to our agreements, forever and ever….So because of that I would still love to physically disable this connection capability.

 

One of these days I'm going to dig deeper into the dash and see, if possible, to wrap the DCM to prevent it from connecting with cell tower. Mine still transmits when near a tower even though antennas are unplugged.
I'm also with you on the pre-collision system as mine sometimes seems to be thinking guardrails are a hazard and alerts go off "brake" when on curvy roads? My safety sense system is between my shoulders.

 

Well, I had a 2019 with less than 10K; it was hit by a semi, so I've got 2022 in transit to replace it. I'm wondering if the dealership activates it and if I can ask them not to do so. How long ago id you do this? I'm wondering if things have changed, since then. When you opt out of connected services, what features/conveniences are disabled? It looks like they store your private information for many years, and that is unacceptable to me.

This article that MI-FL offer roader posted is very telling about where we're headed. https://www.wsj.com/articles/allsta...determine-your-car-insurance-rate-11633685400

 

A lot of people are not aware that this is already happening - from their phone. How many of us have our insurance company's app on our phone? Oh sure, for convenience sake, we have easy access for insurance identification cards, information about what to do if in an accident, and so on. However, if your phone is connected to your vehicle via bluetooth, and the insurance app is on your phone...

 

I just disconnected the DCM fuse and so far there are no bars on the DCM and I can still hear audio on all of my speakers.

 

keep us updated if you run into any issues. It woukd be nice if it’s as simple as this.

 

I did this maybe a week after buying my new 2021 4runner, last year. I just called the number that was on the notice sticker on the overhead (near the sos button.

it’s worth a shot asking the dealer not to register the system with toyota, or activate it…whatever they call it.

I dont use the features that much. Basically, I just use nav occasionally, but mostly use carplay for music, maps, calls, etc. It’s through hardwire. Ive never paired my phone with the car via bluetooth, so I dont think it has rooted all the info from my phone.

i can still make calls from the cars system without carplay as long as im connected by cable

 

Man I am still sooo old school. I distinctly remember when smartphones came out and started seeing “apps” appear, starting w facebook etc.

Ive always viewed many of these apps, as simply handing over the keys to the castle.

Every once in a blue moon i need to use my phone to access my work gmail or gcalendar. The popups that google throws at you to download their “app” are incessant, and the “no thanks” button gets smaller and smaller every time I see it.
Google will be the last app to get access to my phone. What’s funny is, there’s not much on it lol.

Except one time I accidentally did not clear my cache after using my phone to access my work email. A week later, I accidentally discovered that google basically “did the math” and married all my history from my personal phone to my work google account. The only google account Ive ever had was my work account, and it still tied it together! Took me over an hour to figure out how to undue that crap.

It’s easy to say “check you privacy settings” but after 15 years of constant google changes, they’ve gotten better at hiding what and how they collect info from you.

 

The doorway to personal privacy does get more narrow each "update". I'm glad I found this thread.

 

lol, very true. Its one of the reasons that I still have a 6 year old iphone, and I hold off on updating the OS till they force me. After a while, you just get tired having to dig through all the new settings to see how many new doors and windows they’ve cut into the wall.

 

I can one up you on that one... an old Blackberry with no installed apps. Although, I still have an old "googled" Galaxy 5 that I intend to decommission.

 

haha! Nice. I’ve looked longingly at the .Jitterbug flip phone in the past. You might inspire me to pursue my passion lol.

I’ll add, it was my mom that bought me my current iphone. She thought that I needed to get with the times and let go of my flip phone.

 

I have been wondering if once you pull the DCM fuse, you could do some rewiring to get the hands-free calling to work again. Does anyone know if the hands-free calling controller is on the DCM module itself? Or, is it simply getting power from the same fuse as the DCM? That would be a great solution. If you want cellular, plug in the DCM fuse. If you don't want cellular, just unplug the fuse and nothing else would be affected.

 

While often dismissed as a type of 'tin foil hat' paranoia, this article on reuters.com this morning certainly reinforces the OP's concern. This isn't just a 'right to repair' issue - there are too many commercial parties unrelated to the automotive repair market who are trying to access this information.

If given a convenient alternative, I'd certainly turn it off.

Your connected car knows you. The tussle for that data's hitting high gear

https://www.reuters.com/business/au...ssle-that-datas-hitting-high-gear-2022-03-14/

 

Thanks for that article. It’s disturbing that the automotive industry is moving so fast into the business of collecting, analyzing, and selling car/driver data. It’s just like the gathering of online internet data by google, FB, advertisers, etc., building user profiles and marketing it.

People gripe about government control. But this is the business world having access and control. New cars will have more services and features that will require internet connections. Auto insurance will offer discounts if you give them access to your car’s data to verify your driving habits and charge you accordingly. And eventually it will be required.

Don’t think that disconnecting your DCM will keep your data safe forever. It will just stop real-time transmission of it. Lots of data is stored onboard and can be accessed through the OBDII port. So if you aren’t signed up for real-time connected services, whenever you take you car to the dealer for service they connect to the OBDII port, download all the data, and upload it to the Toyota database. It’s a brave new world we’re living in.

 

Am I reading this correctly? When you buy or lease the vehicle, its active. By purchasing or leasing a vehicke with active Connected Services, you are agreeing to the terms and consenting to collection...