Backing with trailer(s) & BRAKE!!! Any way to turn off??

I own a watersports rental company in SW Michigan, so constantly am backing up trailers of WaveRunners, boats, etc. & even using the preset trailer profiles, cannot seem to figure out a way of fully turning off the backup parking sensors? I’ll be backing a trailer & it is absolutely jarring when it just slams on the brakes & lights up the screen in red with “BRAKE”!

From a bit of reading the only possible way to turn these off is when connected to a 7-pin trailer connector, which none of our trailers utilize, so here’s my ask…

What if I were to wire a up a 7-pin connector to 4-pin? Basically a dummy plug, that tricks the vehicle into thinking there’s a 7-pin trailer connected? Does anyone have any feedback on whether this might be a “solution” to this issue? My gut is telling me that I’d have to wire those extra 3-pins to something to show some form of voltage, so the Tundra believes that it’s got a legit 7-pin trailer connected…

Any thoughts or other ideas are greatly appreciated. I’ve also recently purchased a cable to run TechStream, as maybe within that software there’s a way to disable, but haven’t yet been able to get that up & running.

Thanks to any & all for any suggestions, pointers, feedback, as it is truly driving me absolutely bonkers that I can’t simply back a trailer without a locking up of brakes each & every time!

 

There's a button to the left of your steering wheel with a pic of a car and a road cone. That should turn off the sensors.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but I’ve tried that & it is for turning off the cross traffic sensors, does not seem to do anything with the rear sensors…

One other thing I’ve tried is using the Carista app, which thankfully was able to turn off the seatbelt chime, and found a setting for changing the distance of the rear sensors to long vs. normal, but haven’t found it to make any noticeable difference in turning off these ridiculous sensors…

 

What does the owner's manual say under the towing and sensors sections?

 

Found this. Maybe it'll work for you.

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

I just went in there and deactivated so I’m gonna give that a shot today and pray that that is the solution I’ve been hoping for.

I’ll report back after trying a few trailers today & thanks again!

 

Sure thing. With all the tech in a new Tundra, I'd highly recommend setting aside an hour or two to go through the manual while in the truck and play with all the features and goodies. It's fun and then you can help the next poor soul overwhelmed by the gadgets!

 

Are you using a 7-pin dummy plug?

 

I think you may have quoted the wrong person?

I do not have a Tundra anymore, but I have never used a dummy plug either. I was just recommending a run through the manual as I would for any vehicle. It's the single best way to get to know the features and functions of a new vehicle for any owner.

 

Confused by OPs response… the braking is PKSB which is turned off via button to the left of the steering wheel. The intuitive parking assist is just distance detection, it doesn’t do any braking. Wonder what the real issue is here…

 

Directly from the manual........the panel of buttons to the left of the steering wheel

Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automated Braking consists of the following
functions that operate when driving at a low speed or backing up, such as when
parking. When the system determines that the possibility of a collision with a
detected object or pedestrian is high, a warning operates to urge the driver to
take evasive action. If the system determines that the possibility of a collision with
a detected object or pedestrian is extremely high, the brakes are automatically
applied to help avoid the collision or help reduce the impact of the collision.
For static objects
For rear-crossing vehicles
Front and Rear Parking Assist with
Automated Braking (PA w/AB) (if equipped)
FUNCTIONS
SYSTEM ON/OFF
Press
Refer to the section “Parking Support Brake function” (static objects and rearcrossing
vehicles) in the Owner’s Manual for limitations and more details.


If equipped, turn off in the MID....

The parking assist sonar system operates when the vehicle approaches an
obstacle. The distance from your vehicle to nearby obstacles when parallel parking
or maneuvering into a garage is measured by sensors and communicated via the
Multi-Information Display (MID) and/or the multimedia display and buzzer.
When the sensor detects an obstacle, the direction and the approximate distance
to the obstacle are displayed on the MID and/or the multimedia display by
illuminating continuously (far) or blinking (near), and beeping sounds will switch
from intermittent to continuous as you approach and get closer to a detected
obstacle. When the sensors detect two or more obstacles, the audible alerts will
respond to the nearest zone.
Always check the surrounding area when using this system.
Rear
center sensors
Rear
center sensors
Front
center sensors
Front
center sensors
Front corner sensor Front corner sensor Front corner sensor Front corner sensor
Rear corner sensor Rear corner sensor Rear corner sensor Rear corner sensor
Multi-information display (MID) Multimedia display
SYSTEM ON/OFF
(1) Press “ ” switches and select “ ” from the Multi-Information Display (MID).
(2) Press “ ” switches and select “ ” and then press “ ” to turn the system
on or off.
(3) Press “ ” to go back to the menu.
Refer to the Owner’s Manual for limitations and more details on this

 

So I really thought I had this solved by GODZILLA's post about being able to turn off the rear sensors...went about my day & was able to back a few different trailers without issue...UNTIL...I'm backing a boat into the water, with sensors off, cross traffic sensors off(button to left of steering wheel), trailer mode enabled, etc. & BOOM!

Just as I'm putting the boat in the water, SLAMS on the brakes once again! I just cannot for the life of me figure out why, no matter what I do, the vehicle will just decide to abruptly SLAM on the brakes...

I wish I had a way to take a video or something to show you all what'd going on, but it's so random that I'd have to leave a camera running for, possibly hours, but could happen on the 1st trailer of the day. Absolutely no rhyme or reason I've yet been able to figure out.

Am I truly the only one having this issue, after turning everything off & still just slams on the brake entirely randomly?

Thanks again everyone for the assistance & GODZILLA, turning the rear sensors off through the menu does seem to help, but still not 100%. Any other suggestions would certainly be welcomed. Thanks again!

 

Are you opening your door while backing? New safety feature, the truck will not move with the door open.

 

The back up “safety feature “. Is a major failure on the new Tundras. Worst, most complicated, unnecessary thing they have ever done.
My truck doesn’t even have the button that turns it off.
To launch my boat, I did this - I was able to change the backing view in the display when in reverse, plugged in the trailer lights, put it in tow mode.
It backed without shutting down.
But unfortunately can’t back with the tailgate down. ( stupid again)
We need a dealer recall fix to completely remove this BS and fire the persons responsible for putting this on any vehicle.

 

Is this the trailer brakes being locked or the truck?

I don’t have a new 3rd gen, but boat trailers that get dipped in water have hydraulic surge brakes. Usually you can do a mechanical lock, a pair of pliers inserted into the mechanism to prevent the slide and the actin of the hydraulic brakes. Just remember to remove the pliers or whatever when doing the boat towing.

 

Nope, not opening the door & yeah, I’ve realized that one a handful of times when I’m jumping in the truck quickly & put into gear before door is closed & just end up revving the engine…

As I said before, GODZILLA, turning them “off” in the menu certainly helps, but isn’t apparently 100% off…

What freaks me out the most is how we “launch” our WaveRunners…we have our guests sitting on them, while on the trailer, unhook the ratchet strap & then slowly back them into the water & once floating I, intentionally, hit the brake, they glide out past the dock & it works phenomenally.

What I dread the thought of is backing the trailer of WaveRunners, with guests onboard & before they’re in the water, the stupid sensors !BRAKE! & well, I honestly don’t even want to think what could hypothetically happen.

I haven’t been on this forum for long, but does anyone know if Toyota Techs ever chime in on issues like this, because I still just cannot believe there is no true 100% “OFF” for having the vehicle randomly lock up the brakes. Seems more hazardous than if the vehicle just didn’t have them.

Anyways, when I began this thread after doing some reading online and seeing in the manual that the seven pin trailer connector supposedly will 100% deactivate the rear sensors, does anyone know if I were to wire up a seven pin to four pin trailer adapter in order to trick the vehicle if that might work?

 

The button to the left of the wheel has been a 100% solution for everyone else who has had this issue. Hate to say it, but you might have a gremlin that a dealership needs to look at.

As for techs on here, there are some. I know of one, but he retired before the new model came out. As for others, I'm not as sure.

 

Heres something you could try. Can you just put it in neutral and let the weight of the boat or trailer back you the rest of the way down the ramp? I havent launched my boat with the Tundra yet.

 

Ah ha!

so just doing a little bit of research on my seven pin to four pin dummy plug idea and I stumbled across “ParkSense,” which is a jeep, dodge rear parking sensor system & from the below link to a forum about it. It sounds like they have the same exact issue I have where you cannot disable those rear sensors without having a seven pin trailer connector hooked up, so here’s a thread about people trying to figure out how to defeat Jeep/Dodge’s silly system…apparently Toyota’s not alone in this arena…

https://www.promasterforum.com/threads/dummy-plug-to-defeat-parksense.76121/

 

Is this light on in your dash?


If it’s not on, PKSB is still on. Maybe you’re pressing the PKSB off button but it could reset after cycling the ignition.

 

Yeah, that light is on, among others…

I’m feeling pretty confident that the test plug seven pin connector I just ordered from Amazon will hopefully work to 100% deactivate the rear sensors… I’ll definitely report back once I receive it on Wednesday…

 

See below image…

 

PKSB feature is definitely off and my truck slams on the brakes when backing my landscaping trailer ( using the 4 pin connector ), pretty startling to say the least; feels like hitting a stone wall. No problem whatsoever when backing my RV ( using the 7 pin connector ).

 

Since you've done everything correctly, then it's not working as it should.......take it to the Dealership and get it fixed, why do a work-around? Warranty should cover it. I use a 4 and 7 pin frequently, when I'm using the 7 pin it automatically turns off the rear sensors/radar but with the 4 pin it doesn't, I have to hit the button PA/AB button.

 

after reading all these posts and the problems I decided I had better read my manual with regards to Trailer towing. I guess I lucked out that my '23 SR5 did not come with BSM but did come with the integrated controller and 7pin hookup for my trailer as part of my factory Tow Package. Hooked it up and all works fine for driving and backing. Sounds like the BSM/ATD 4pin/7pin combinations can complicate things. Thanks to all of you who have posted and shared you experiences for us to learn from. Much appreciated.