Dealership disarmed Pre-Collision System due modified grill/Pro grill

It's all well and good for Toyota to require a signature on a waiver before 'bricking' the system, but IMO, that doesn't meet the 'reasonable person' test. The service writer should be explaining what the options are, not just sneaking a paper in and telling you to sign it because 'it's required for the recall'. I would also question the legality of disabling a safety system which is working....

 

But is the TSS system working safely on a modified out-of-spec truck? Lots of liability issues.

 

mine seemed to work fine after i swapped them out. I also got the garnish. It was the same setup as the TRD PRO. Specs couldnt have been off by much. I mean why brick it? why not just unplug it and hand it over to me. And then when i decide to put my factory back on its ready to go.

 

This is exactly why I refused to sign the paperwork.

 

Getting my maintenance done on wednesday. I put the oem grill back on and I kinda like it

 

This thread made me check my service history. Apparently the recall was done on mine when the previous owner traded it in/sold it at the same time.

Part number is 882780C010 if you go looking.

 

You make a good point about rear end collision with a few exceptions.

If the vehicle malfunctioned due to manufacturers error, then the fault would be shared. Think bad brake lines, failure to fill brake fluid etc.

Also, I was not exclusively thinking rear end. Sometimes people pull out in front of you, or walk out in front of you.

It's easy to say, that was not my fault, but a jury could find multiple parties at fault, including the pedestrian, driver, and if applicable a manufacturer that did not fulfill their responsibility.

In the end this is a math equation regarding statistical possibilities reviewed by "outside counsel" that informs the legal team on retainer......not good enough, better add a step where the operator acknowledges that the modifications have rendered operation. Sub optimal.

If they decline, then a yellow or red dash light is good sufficient enough for us to argue, the operator knew the feature was disabled.

It does not get them off the hook in every case, but gives them something they can use to argue they did their best.

 

Yep

I asked them about it an oil change ago and they said the same thing. IIRC it mentions aftermarket or "grille not matching stock trim level". They correctly ID'ed mine as having all OEM Pro parts though when asking if I wanted the foam pad recall fix. They said they mostly saw TSS complaints with the knockoff Pro grilles.

 

I don't know of any other manufacturer that uses a grille sensor, there could be I have never noticed. Toyota could have also put the heritage grille on the 3rd gen from the beginning to save everyone from the grille swapping radar sensor shenanigans. That wouldn't have been any fun though.

 

Most of them put it in the front bumper, like the F150. Imagine the grief that would cause with modification. In a weird way, we are lucky it’s in the grille.

The F150/Raptor guys actually relocate their bumper sensors to a location in the grille if they do a bumper swap.

 

Hmmm. I didn't see this bulletin before, but find this somewhat interesting, in that it also disables the DRCC system, which I would LOVE THAT! I mean, if one could disable JUST the DRCC system, but leave the PCS system intact, does that also then make it so when one pushes the cruise control button, that one would NOT have to hold it in for a few seconds to enable classic cruise control, but would only have to "tap it" to then engage classic cruise control, since DRCC would be disabled? If so, then I would go IMMEDIATELY to the dealer to have them disable DRCC, if I could retain the PCS system! This was interesting!

 

I feel compelled to expand on my experience with the software recall/upgrade for the grill sensor. When they took the truck back in and ran diagnostics on the collision sensor, they got a backup camera error. They didn't understand because it was working. They came and got me and left me in the shop, with the tech while he tried to figure it out. I explained that I have a camera controller and if he gives me a 10mm I'll unhook it. So I open the dash and remove the front/rear camera controller and that clears the error. He explains that he already updated the sensor software to the current version. The system will not let them reload it if it doesn't work. The unit becomes effectively "bricked" as the system ceases to function and cannot be repaired without replacing the sensor. The ECU for the system is in the sensor. They agreed to replace the sensor and restore that system to function properly, as it was when I brought the truck in. I didn't have to bitch or even ask (although I would not have accepted them to remove an important feature that I paid for). I also noted there was no rubber sticky thing on the back of the replacement sensor.

The camera error was not related in any way to the sensor issue. Just wanted to clarify that.