Development of DIY Electronic Upgrades

Well, here's the thing I don't understand. Exhibit A is that there exists a billion 3rd gen remote starts. Exhibit B states that in order for a remote start to work, it must communicate to the ECU in some way... right? If the only way to make a remote start work for a PTS system in the first place is to bypass the immobilizer and tell the ECU to start the vehicle.. why have the rest of the pieces not fallen into place? Why have they instead just not spoofed all the other actions I listed? It's not enough to just spin the starter motor by turning on the starter relay, the ECU needs to be in a state to be officially 'commanded' to start via some authorized communication.

Therefore, since aftermarket remote starts ARE already doing the communication part... what is the issue with the other spoofs? If we take a look at the signals involved, they are mechanical. All button presses detected by the vehicle (brake press, unlock button press, PTS press) - these are all electromechanical implemented by a normally open switch (for brevity sake).

Therefore:

1. Spoof the fob being in range (spoofing the immobilizer comms to the ECU) - ALREADY being done somehow
2. Spoof the user pressing the handle lock / unlock button - Either a CAN alert to the ECU OR a 2 pin signal OR touch signal
3. Spoof the user opening the door - A 2 pin signal (door detect switch)
4. Spoof the user pressing the brake pedal - A 2 pin signal
5. Spoof the user pressing the PTS switch - A 2 pin signal

Just doing these operations in sequence seems logical and easy to me. This must mean 1. They really have not figured this out (which I don't believe) or 2. There is another issue which I am not aware of.

 

For someone who speaks with such certainty, you didn't seem to understand anything the OP even wrote. Everyone understood the OP but you. Go away and reflect on that for a bit.

 

I’m definitely interested in whatever you end up coming up with.

 

Kevin8se7en:
It's OK. I am not the best at being concise. I also don't think I explained my full intentions well enough.

Also, I speak loosely about "spoofing" these signals. I am here to assure you that this is indeed not only possible, but stupidly easy. There are 1001 ways you can skin that cat. If anybody wants an in depth electrical explanation I will give it.

 

Sounds great! I don't have much to say, but there may be a switch in the seat too?

And that this post can use some cool links:

OVTune
2 low range
Anytime Camera
Remote Start
Screen Mirroring
Tailgate Opener
Folding Mirrors
Heads Up Display
Dome Rock Module
Credit Card Key
Passenger Smart Handle
ECT Stealth Pro Knob
ECT Always On Mod
Total Tail Stage 2
Puddle Pods
Ultimate LED Turn Signals
LED Headlight Sidemarkers
LED Headlight Conversion Harness
Matt Gecko LED
TVD Vinyl
3D Parts

 

There could be a switch in the seat. I never thought about that; however, I can confirm its not needed for the start process. I am used to a standard key ignition.. and when I had it, I could start my vehicle by standing outside the door and just leaning in.

I don't like sitting in my truck to start it if I am just coming right back out, so I generally end up leaning in the door, depressing the brake pedal with my hand, and pressing the PTS button. This happens without me sitting in the seat.

 

I’m interested in any progress you make on any of these ideas.

 

That reminds me of a couple Tips and Tricks on the 3rd Gen that I wanted to mention:

35. If the engine is running just press Push to Start button in any shift (R-N-D or S)except in P and radio won't go off (or a cellphone/bluetooth phone call for that matter). (Courtesy of abec)

63. To start the truck without having your foot on the brake (useful for when a rider goes to the truck before you do and is sitting in the passenger seat) push the PTS button once and release, then push the PTS button and hold it till the truck starts (Approximately 10-13 seconds). This process was tested on a 2017 & 2016 Tacoma TRD Off Road with an Automatic Transmission and still requires the smart key to be in the vehicle in order to start.

 

Likewise!

 

This all sounds great. I would be all over the remote start I only need to start once. I put my hand on the brake to start it again every winter morning lol All I can offer is an additional idea: Something or some way to disable the door ajar chime electronically without just unhooking the door switch. To this date, there is no way to do this.

 

Dealer or Carista app, but I'm sure you're aware that if you push the door switch once, it will turn off the door ajar chime.

 

Not sure if it’s been said yet, but my guess is the single start option is what most would want. I have cell based remote start and it’s annoying to double start. I don’t know what my $ tolerance is for a solution for that. Probably about $100. But that’s on top of the system I already bought.

 

False. Not a customizable option, sadly. Pressing the button does not work in Access cab. Unless it’s the beeping after you shut the truck off entirely and the steering wheel needs to lock. I wanna listen to the radio with the doors open in accessory mode.

 

Lol you only have 13 posts. Nobody knows you here yet. You could be the best damn developer out there but nobody knows that from one post.
In addition, you are speculating quite a bit in your post. I am an engineer. We don't speculate.
Good luck and if I were you I would develop whatever you want to make you happy. If it works, present it to others to see if they want the same.

 

I shouldn't need tons of rep on a forum for people to understand my profession if I tell them. Regardless, this is not something that is too big of deal.

I am not sure what you mean by engineers not speculating. When you want to ship product, it has to be specified, sure. When you want to come up with new ideas though, you have to investigate and form a theory on why something works the way it does. The investigation part is what should fill in the holes. I have no clue what the communication looks like between the electronic units, which is why I need to reverse engineer it and investigate. I cannot say with 100% certainty that my ideas are sound, only likely. The point is: I can't form a reliable idea of what it looks like with the available information. You have to start somewhere.

From my experience, engineering is not cookie cutter. Most of the time, you don't know every input and output at the beginning of the project. This is what testing and investigation is for.

Its not like I am asking anybody to build a bridge in which they "speculate" how wind forces are going to make it dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp8hvyjZWHs

That stuff carries lives. Likewise, I wouldn't ask anybody to use a new device I made that was based on speculation.

 

Not to be a debbie downer but you have to prove to us that you can even create a single functional product. I've seen a few successful engineers here who presented their products rather than just talking about it. I wish you the very best.

 

Huh? He doesn't have to prove shit...I mean that's the beauty of the ol interwebs isn't it. Say whatever you want, do whatever you want, believe, don't believe...

 

Yeah, I think some people are mis understanding. I don't think I have said a single time that I was making a product, even in my original post. I only asked if there was interest in looking at these ideas. I don't need to prove anything to anybody on this forum. I am not asking for buy in. The issue is that I see a lot of forum posts on remote starts and other issues that just seem to come to a dead end after a certain time. Therefore, I don't have an idea if anybody is still interested or if they have moved on.

Just FYI, there is such a thing called "market evaluation" in companies, where they will spend some up front time trying to understand the market for a product to see if its worth their time. I am doing the same thing here (minus wanting to make money.. more of an open source type thing).

The only thing that I ask is that I don't get the whole "snobby", "know it all", "I have seen this before", kind of talk out of respect for the community forum: not trying to blast people's ideas before they have evidence to do so. I specifically tried to form my post to not talk about making an actual device for the masses. I am a curious embedded engineer, that's all. If it turns out that something good comes of it, then you are welcome to partake in anything I plan to offer.

 

I want one of you ever get this in production.

 

A couple times I tried an experiment with the remote start, I stood at the open door with my finger pushing in the door jamb switch and remote started the truck.

I figured if it worked then I could hook up a toggle switch to keep the circuit closed.

As soon as I let the jamb button loose the alarm went off so that leads me to believe that there is also another switch or sensor somewhere.

There are switch's or sensors under the seats but they are for passenger detection regarding the air bag system