Battery died after parked 2 months. Recharge and now vehicle stabilty and bsm errors

Quick summary:
2016 trd sport. Didn't drive x2 months. Drained 6 month old battery. It was very much dead.
Recharged battery. Then BSM error and stability control error appeared.
Took to dealership.
"They were unable to communicate" with steering sensors for recalibration.
Dealer said it was because after factory wires in column (that was found to be the remote start). That has been removed. They never managed to troublehoot BSM since they didn't get passed Stability control issue.
New appt set to try again.
The remote folks do not feel it will have any impact since it was not interfaced with any data ports/lines.
The dealership originally stated the after market lines in column were for a "topper shell lock" which they were not. They were the remote start. This concerned me a bit since the "remote" shop is the source is someone the dealership works with primarily and send customer to them all the time when a customer wants a remote start. Suprises me nobody at the dealershio recognized these "mystery wires" as a remote start.
I'm not confident this removal is going to correct the issue.
Curious if anyone has had a similar problem? What was done to correct?

 

#1
If you let the truck sit like that it’s going to do it again.
#2
Remote starts give us major problems.
Lots of times they keep certain ecu’s excited and cause major drain issues
Including
Dead batteries.
Loss of communication to other ecu systems.
Unable to reset systems.

it is what it is.
Doesn’t happen all the time but happens more often than not.

Not going to debate others
Not going to argue
Not going to explain how and why.
Just some info for you.

 

Hey, Totally all in with what you have to say. Im seeking advice. It's appreciated alot.
I had the tech from the remote shop leading me to believe removal wouldn't help and then another automotive electrical guy from a different shop also express a similar doubt that the remote was the problem Obviously, This made me concerned.
The fact that you able to say yes it can and has been a problem is good enough for me.
Maybe removal will allow me to get it back to normal 70K and not a hiccup yet.
I feel better now about the next appt. Thanks !

 

I don’t like to point fingers or anything.
But there are a lot of what if’s with added on systems.

The first thing we do is have things disconnected.
We have to..
We need to get back to factory.

sometimes it doesn’t help.
But how do you know Unless it’s taken out of the system.

If your going to let that sit get a battery tender.

Last battery drain I had was like 500ma.
Remote start was the issue. Brain wouldn’t let the rest of the vehicle go to sleep.
Good luck.
Sorry about your troubles.

 

Returned for 2nd appt. Remote start was removed.
Still unable to communicate with steering sensors.
I asked about BSM. Service apparently can't do that without vehicle stability control recalibration first.
End result. Need to Replace wiring harness since they feel something must have been damaged in 2016 when the "after market" remote start was installed on this vehicle when new. Not covered under my VSA since they say its due to a aftermarket item that was installed. (An aftermarket item they recommend at the dealership when I asked about haveing remote start installed on vehicle when I ordered new)
I quote "We can have a Toyota remote ordered and installed but, there not that good. you would be happiest with going to this shop "A" that we recommend and having one installed as the range and quality of the remote is better". Unquote.
Only recall the conversation since I was suprised they didn't recommend a Toyota remote for a Toyota vehicle.
So, end result $2300 for a harness. Not covered under warranty or my VSA because of an aftermarket item "likely" caused problem in harness.
No guarantee this will fix the problem but it's our only option at this point.

I'm going to take some time and absorb this.

 

What they're telling you is that they think it'll cost more time to troubleshoot than to just replace. Or, they don't know how.


I would take it to the shop that installed the remote start or at least give them a call. They hopefully know the product they installed, and they know what they had to cut into, which would really narrow down the search.

 

The shop that installed said when They removed the remote and simply because it was a 2016 install and the manner it was connected they feel it has nothing at all to do with the product or the installation causing a diagnostics issue. The remote was functional upon removal.
Its a total he said, they said we blame a damaged harness that was likely caused by a remote. Remote shop says installation was correct and remote is corectly fuctioning without shorts or errors.
And I sit here told to believe that the only way a component failure could occur is simply because of after market part. That we "assume" but dont "know" caused a problem somewhere in a harness.
I also find it unusual that this entire thing started when a battery went dead and created a wow moment where something like this just never happens ever. It seems to me the onset is more with a low voltage event not a remote that was installed 71,000 miles ago. But Hey, if you can blame it on something without actually proving I guess thats how it goes.

 

I'd get a second opinion before I threw thousands at what they think might be the problem.

 

The days of good technicians that trouble shoot and diagnose are almost gone. It seems all the new younger guys only know how to change a bunch of parts untill they eventually get lucky and change the bad part all while guessing on the customers dime.

 

Oh they're out there, just hard to find. This type of work doesn't fit the modern day dealer's Turn-n-Burn model, so often you have to take to an independent or find tech who does side at home. My buddy is one such tech.

 

Most remote starts are nothing more than interrupting the starter wire off of the ignition.

I highly doubt the remote start caused any problems. It is possible that someone shorted or damaged the wiring when they were installing it.

They are very simple systems. Is it POSSIBLE the remote start is to blame? Yeah, but maybe like 1-5%

I used to install ignition interlocks which are very similar. We used to have a lot of techs and mechanics blame our systems and many never took a minute to understand how they work (it's much simpler than fixing a car). We would yank the system out and the problem would persist 99% of the time. There were a couple cars that got faulty equipment or that someone messed up the installation on, but it's really unlikely IMO

 

Rodents?

 

Low battery voltage can kill modules:

https://youtu.be/AtWc2ibs7FY

 

This is funny but not that funny and it happened to me. The wiring harness was chewed to pieces. Almost died driving home from work one day.

For this guy, I recommend getting a trickle charger:

$70 NOCO GENIUS5, 5A Smart Car Battery Charger, 6V and 12V Automotive Charger, Battery Maintainer, Trickle Charger, Float Charger and Desulfator for Motorcycle, ATV, Lithium and Deep Cycle Batteries

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W8KJH44?ref=aa_scomp

 

It happened to me. Twice. That's why it came to mind.

 

Looks like OP found an identical circumstance that turned out to be a bad steering angle sensor. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/“check-vehicle-stability-control-system”.596499/

 

We just had that exchange in his post lastnight.
His was the sensor.
I believe my problem will be the same.
The initial reason the battery went dead. (Tender not required. ) was because I didn't drive it.
Had a 2nd custom car I had just done some custom work on and was enjoying it before winter that was for about a month.
That car has a tender and went back in storage Then "Covid Hit" my workplace. That next entire month, well I worked it, I only drive on "non work days". So, there we have 2 months not starting the Tacoma. simply very unusual circumstances. It's back to being driven regularly.
I have a different service location I turned to and a electrical specialist appt. Next month.
We shall see if it is Harness or sensor.

 

Condenced final outcome. Finally resolved
First dealership service center was wrong.
Not the harness or remote being culprit.
Simply a bad sensor following a low voltage event.
Replaced under service agreement. No cost. All is well.
First shop wanted to replace steering column harness and suspected harness damage caused by remote. This is why they felt there was no communication with the sensor. This would be a uncovered repair at an est. Of $2,300.
2nd opinions can be valuable folks.
If I would have went for the first shops approach someone would have been scratching there head at the end of the day. I likely would have been on the receiving end of some unfortunate expenses.
And still with the original problem.

 

Thanks for coming back to report the final conclusion.

 

excellent this might save someone the hassle a few years down the road.