Sensor Errors Won’t Stop and Dealer Can’t Fix It!

Oddly enough, I had the windshield replaced yesterday on my 2018DC - the insurance company told me I had to make an appointment to get the camera recalibrated! Yet, I tried out the lane departure feature today and it's working just fine. Since insurance is covering 100%, I'll still have Toyota do that, but near as I can tell, it's a wash.

 

Yes... brake warning goes off at random times. It doesn’t happen that often. But, I guess I just accept it.
I think it happens in all their cars. No biggie.

 

Sorry to hear they didn’t cover your ABS wore issue. I think mine is a different system than ABS. The ABS is one of the only warning lights that didn’t go off in my case.

 

Can't tell if you were responding to me but to be clear, mine wasn't a brake warning. I got a warning that said TSS Malfunction Return to Dealer or something like that. There was no indication it was the ABS Sensor.

 

Update - Ok! We have a root cause!
After 6 weeks in the shop... the Toyota Factory Engineering Representative tore the dashboard open and found that the soy-based wire insulation had been chewed by rodents.

TTTRDPRO was right! He posted that it was rodent damage very early on. Apparently, this happens with the soy-based wire insulation which toyota and many other manufacturers now use in their cars. It is NOT covered by the Toyota warranty.

I’m waiting for the estimate to replace the wiring harness. Maybe $6000?

 

Someone on Facebook last week had to have their entire trucks harness replaced. I think they said it cost their insurance $12k

 

I had a very similar issue to that described here after driving on the highway in torrential rain for about an hour; Toyota went through everything and found no rodent damage, and the issue resolved once everything dried out. I made them note it in case it ever happens again, I have proof that the issue started while still under warranty.

 

So Toyota makes the wiring harness irresistible to rodents and it’s your fault?

That’s a sizable Engineering fubar if true.

 

I just sat and read through this entire thread. I am a used car technician. I’ve worked on at least one of each of them all the way back to a Plymouth Grand voyager lol

I also work at a Toyota dealership, and I feared this was the direction this was headed. Can I make a recommendation to keep rodents out of the cab once this is resolved?

 

I'd like to hear your recommendation.

 

damn.... how can it not be covered. that is crazy.

 

Soy based insulation stinks. Now I have to worry about rodents eating my truck.

OP - so was the rat literally in your cab? Wonder how it got in there?

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/mouse-rodent-proofing-stage-one.44679/
Do exactly like this guy, I would however not reccomend drilling any holes, or using any metal fasteners(screws etc) as this panel is spot welded in and you don’t want to deal with rust down the road. Get creative. So far I’ve got mine taped on with multiple layers of tape until I can come up with a safer more permanent solution. It is a very real problem, sadly with most manufacturers, and how they do get in the cab.

 

due to their skeletal structure, they only require a hole literally the size of their heads to fit their whole body through. Period. Unfortunately our trucks came equipped with foot wide holes in our firewalls

 

Make sure to check with homeowners or rental insurance. Others have reported that their homeowners insurance have covered rodent damage.

 

car insurance as well.

 

Luckily for me, I have owls that live in the palm trees in front of my house - I'm pretty sure they snag up any rodent that comes anywhere near my house. So my suggestion to everyone, is get owls.

 

Just read this whole thread. First thought was rodents. Snowstorm? That only encouraged the rodents to seek shelter in your truck while it was parked.

If only the dealer had looked behind the dash 6 weeks ago...

Thanks for the link @Kywildman, I’ll be doing that to my truck ASAP!

 

so I assume the dealer eats the cost for replacing the wiring harness under the rear bumper? It was misdiagnosed.

 

Toyota is setting themselves up for another frame recall type lawsuit with this. THEY put the soy-based wiring in there in the first place; THEY ought to eat the cost of replacements.

Soon as the weather breaks (again) I see I'm going to have to start closing off openings. I have woods all around and plenty of rodents around, too.

 

It’s already been tried many times to no avail. Same with Honda, Kia, Hyundai meh

 

This is why I feed the stray cats that hang out around my home, but I don’t feed them too much.

 

https://youtu.be/0t2VPBF6Kp4
must see

 

If insurance won't cover it I'm sure an independent could splice the wiring back together depending on the severity of it. Had to have melted harnesses repaired before. Much cheaper than replacing if it comes to it, or if it's doable

 

my 4 yo has asked to watch this rat episode a few times this week LMAO
he knows how smart they are

 

It is interesting, learned a few things...Little bastards!!!

 

I mean in all honesty, maybe THEY are the superior species?!

 

@RainMan_PNW ?

 

This rodent damage thing is more common than I thought. You would think Toyota and the other mfgrs would at least put out a TSB for the dealerships so they know to look for it if a vehicle comes in with a bunch of unexplained sensor/electrical issues. They obviously know about the problem, at least give the dealerships a heads up so they don't spend time/money chasing the issue. Although, as I type this I think that if they did issue a TSB that would be admitting the problem and they'd be taking ownership of it, which it looks like they're trying to avoid.
Whatever, I'm gonna do the rodent screen thing on Monday, or maybe take some stuff with me and do it on my camping trip this weekend.