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

Good news for the owners of 4Runners MY 19 and older: the telco companies are taking care of this problem for you. You’ve got a 3G connection and all the cellular companies are pulling down their 3G equipment, meaning your truck won’t be able to connect to the network and thus to the internet.

Another reason I wish I had a 19

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/g39301678/3g-internet-sunset-cars/

 

It’s the way of this new world! And that’s not even the fine print! Im sure it says somewhere that you agree to let them change this “agreement” at any point without notice. It’s standard boiler plate language. The game is rigged!

@ElectroBoy ‘s point about people griping about government control is a good point (also a concern I share).

I certainly hope those that gripe about that gov control also understand how completely out of control the tech sector has gotten. If people share these concerns with their representatives, then maybe we stand a chance to preserve the concept and importance of respecting the individual persons rights to privacy. I know it’s a scary word…but “we the people” may need to to demand more “burdensome regulations” on the tech/business sector, in order to protect the individual unit of government (which is the individual person).

Unfortunately, I don’t see many people nowadays that understand, much less articulate why individual privacy is even an important thing to preserve.

In fact, when the topic of privacy and tracking/data collection by the tech/business sector comes up, it’s with mindblowing regularity, that the most vocal complainers of government “intrusion”, are the first to say “I have nothing to hide! What’s the big deal?”

Maybe that’s because people havent applied logic to their own thoughts in order to be consistent their own opinions.

Or it’s because we’ve been trained to simply parrot opinions fed to us without any further critical thought? Either way, it’s a problem.

 

Not sure if it's the best solution, but the other day I was driving through snow/slush and had PCS warning light meaning that system is disabled. Upon close inspection I found that front radar sensor was covered with some frozen slush. So I guess if you want to disable pre-collision systems for good you might cover radar sensor with something, maybe painted black tinfoil for example.

 

Thanks for posting this article. It's nice to see that the EU is taking privacy issues head-on. I can only hope it is getting some "important" people's attention here in the US as well.

This is something I was considering as well. Hopefully I will never have to take it to a dealership, but that's probably unlikely.

I found this very informative article a while back. It's from 2019, and it involves hacking into a 2017 vehicle (Chevy) to see what kind and how much data are stored in its various onboard computers. Turns out it's a lot, and they even found information from the previous owner of the car. So it's very likely that even without live transmission, the data are stored in almost perpetuity, and likely easily accessed by vehicle manufacturers or dealers. Just something else to consider when selling or trading in your "smart" vehicl.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/tech...-car-know-about-you-we-hacked-chevy-find-out/

Just as an update to everyone else, I have had the DCM fuse pulled for 3 months now and all seems good. No CELs or other problems, and I haven't seen the signal icon light up once. The app was also not being updated with mileage or other info either. One thing I found interesting in the fine print for the Toyota App was that data is transmitted via your cell phone when you hook it up to the vehicle via bluetooth. This appears to only be the case if you have the Toyota App installed on your phone, which made me decide to uninstall it (I was using it to see if it would update vehicle info after pulling the fuse). I'm not being a chicken-little here, I just found it odd that there was no way to opt out without just uninstalling the app. It also makes me wonder what kind of data is transmitted when using Android Auto or Carplay.

 

I'm getting closer to my 2022 4Runner order being filled. Has anyone had any more luck removing the SIM card from the DCM? I plan to opt out of all the data tracking services I can, but like others here, I'd like to physically disable it from my end, if possible. If nothing else, I'll disconnect the antenna and hope for the best.

 

Not so far as I know. And antenna disconnect only seems to work in areas with weak cell signals. Just like your phone doesn’t need a long antenna, it seems the DCM can pick up strong signals on its own.

The only solid solution I’ve seen is to pull the fuse on the DCM. Only downside for sure is loss of the cabin microphone. As others have posted, it seems you can disable the DCM this way for months before any error messages about the DCM battery dying. Indeed, I don’t think we’re sure such a message would ever appear on a 4R using the pulled fuse method.

 

Ya'll must be going to and doing some very important things

 

fun thread

 

Why do we want Toyota to hear us swear at dumb people on the road & log that we floored the vehicle to pass them thus putting that person on the bad driver list to report to a insurance company and decline any warranty work due to ‘racing of vehicle’ hahhhhh

 

yes.

 

We just had lockdowns last year and who knows what future brings us. What could be more important than freedom : )

 

I think I am now a lucky one, recently mine has pretty much not been working. Just got back from a 70 mile round trip didn’t get signal once! Lets hope.

 

The major carriers have, or will be turning off 3G service. Won't this affect the telematics on a lot of vehicles?

 

Yes, it’s explained here:
https://www.toyota.com/audio-multimedia/support/3g-faq/

 

To whom it may concern, I pulled the DCM fuse AND unhooked the antenna's several weeks back. The DCM/signal icons stayed greyed out for about a week and now they're completely gone from the screen like they never existed.

Bluetooth works fine but the the bluetooth mic doesn't work at all. Smarty key unlock/lock/push button start all work fine.

 

And the GPS still works I assume?

 

Does this disable the remote start feature or mess up the lock/unlock??

 

Yes, I've not typed in a destination but the map still works like it should.

I don't have remote start. The smart key lock/unlock/push button start still works fine.

 

Does the Bluetooth microphone piece work?

 

I pulled the DCM fuse on my ORP and the hands free mic stopped working.

 

Thanks. I really want to dig into this and figure it out but I just don't have time at the moment. I do search on the telemarketing issue once in a while. I was hoping the XDA Developer's folks would have tracked this by now but I haven't found anything

 

If you want have a look at this thread. It describes my interaction with Toyota to have the DCM disconnected, and also describes all the DCM feedback indicators on the infotainment screen.

 

No the mic stops working.

 

How far back in model years do I need to go to find a 4R that does not have telematics installed in the first place?

 

2019- had the 3G stuff. The fuse for it is called "MAYDAY." Bluetooth mic still works when this fuse is pulled.

 

What are you guys gonna do about your cell phones?

 

I'm aware of the conversation about pulling fuses and unplugging antennas in order to deactivate telematics. That isn't really my question though.

I'll phrase my question differently and directly: what is the first model year that 4Runners included telematics technology?

 

Keep paying the bill, all options that are sketchy are turned off on mine.

 

I answered this. If 2019- 4runners have old tech, then this technology in this specific thread is pertaining to 2020+ models.

 

Google Pixel with Graphene OS installed.
Location ALWAYS off.
Keep all antenna's(bluetooth, cellular, wifi) turned off unless you need them.
Signal app for calls/texts.
Burner email for any app registration.
Only download must have apps through a sandboxed play store.
Always on VPN.

Minimizing tracking isn't hard, just have to decide if the inconvenience is worth it to you.