What is this diagnosis port?

1995 Tacoma, 2.7, 5-speed, 4x4, extended cab...

I have this electrical connection on the lower front of the dash, but it’s NOT the OBD2 port. The IBD port is a few inches further back ( I have plugged my scanner into that to check and clear DTCs).

when I was working on the clutch pedal I removed the lower dash panel, and all the wires for this other port were spliced together in a single ring terminal. It looks like a factory connection. all looks factory, the four wires ALL go to ground... the ring is attached to the lower dash panel mounting bolt right next to the port...

My brother was the original owner, so it’s definitely Factory or pre-delivery dealer installed...

 

And your brother has no idea ??

No clue

 

Attached with metal screws right through plastic trim?

Factory wouldn't do that.

 

Badly installed brake controller hook up?

 

My take it that it was a dealer pre-installed "immobiliser" that probably got "disabled" by a dealer because customer did not want to pay for it. For sure this is not a factory, witch this plastic thing screwed directly to the plastic lower dash panel with sheet metal screws. It looks better with this "magic connector" than if they removed it leaving ugly two holes in the lower dash panel.

Very similar thing happened to my truck. When I was buying it from a dealer the truck had similar "immobiliser" installed in exactly the same place. Dealer asked 300 dollars for it, and I told them I am not going to pay a dime for the thing. They can give it to me for free or take it out. That "immobiliser" required some plastic "key" to be present in the slot for the truck to start. They did not give me the key, but they inserted a "master key" to the slot, so they did not give me the "immobiliser" for free, but at the same time they did not remove anything from the truck.

I left this thing in place with the same thinking as above - the plug looks better than two ugly screw holes in the dash. And anybody who does not know it, thinks the truck has additional security system installed. Actually I know it's working as when I disconnected a ground wire from this plug the truck did not want to start.

 

Four ground wires, and thats all its hooked up to?


Somebody installed something, then for some weird reason grounded everything on the uninstall instead of just uninstalling the last remnant?

 

I wonder if it's something like this: https://www.reddit.com/r/Cartalk/comments/c6a7gi/can_you_help_me_find_more_info_on_this_antitheft/

 

Thanks... my brother passed away in November 2020. I keep asking him but he hasn’t replied yet...

but he was a frugal SOB, so dealer Immobilizer that he declined sounds reasonable.

So frugal, he wanted NO A/C but all the Tacoma’s the dealer had, already had A/C... He never used the A/C because he though it used significantly more fuel... after 10+ years he drove mom on a hot day and she asked him to turn the a/c on... no longer worked...

 

Looks kinda like a KARR alarm/one fob remote installation that dealers can install to help salesman on the lot and give a chsncemto upsell buyers to subsidize the salesman’s convenience.

Is their a control box stuffed up behind the lower dash panel?

 

I had that immobilizer back in the day, it caused a huge amount of issues and I bypassed it.

But I removed the damn socket when I was done!

 

No help here but wanted to say I am sorry to hear about your brother. RIP.

 

Thanks... been a rough 5 months... Everytime I drive the Taco, it brings back so many memories...

 

Definitely NOT factory, but dealer installed. It's probably part of the dealer installed security system as others have said. My 97 5 lug had something similar where you have to have a special key in it to start. Having all the wires to ground is probably how they disabled.

And whoever did that needs to be slapped, although they're probably retired by now.. That's pretty shitty looking wiring.


Remove it. It's doing nothing except being fugly.

Am I a terrible person if I laughed at that? I mean, probably, but for other reasons too... Sorry for your loss, but I'm glad you're able to find little bits of humor.

I had a friend in college, one hot summer day we were driving back from a climbing trip, and I was like dude, turn the a/c on, it's hot as balls. And he says "oh I don't believe in a/c" like he was talking about aliens or something. I was like, "but... the... the button. It's right there..."

 

Are there any other holes in the plastic nearby where a brake controller was mounted? Looks like the same connector used on one I installed about 7-8yrs ago.

Edit: I guess it's possible they were just letting the connector support the controller box, but that would be really sketchy.

 

I know how you feel. My grandpa killed himself two years ago and now I drive his truck.

 

I'd say a brake controller is unlikely. OP said it was there from the day his brother bought it. Especially back in '95 they didn't exactly have tow packages (even today Tacoma don't have brake controllers), so that would have had to have been something he specifically requested to have them install.

I mean, it's been 26 years, so it's possible he forgot, lol.

 

Thanks...

Yeah, definitely not a brake controller. My brother never towed ( or planned on towing) anything...

no hitch receiver and the factory plastic hole plug never removed from bumper...


No worry on the last thing... I view humor as a great coping mechanism... nothing I can do to bring my brother back, do might as well remember him as he really was... he had a good sense of humor too...



I think it was probably a dealer upgrade “security” system that was never installed...

I realized that there is this decal on the drivers door glass...

 

My truck had something like this installed at the dealer before it was sold, it was called Locktronics. Simple engine immobilizer. It was removed years ago but the decal on the window and the screw holes still remain.

 

This is exactly what I have.

 

Yep! I had that. My truck was sold at Fremont Toyota, must’ve been a National dealer sorta deal.