A very expensive keychain ... and a moron

This past weekend we departed for a 4 day camping weekend in the CO mountains. Had my trailer in tow and family of 4 and brand new 21 Taco. I had a new leather looped keychain like this

https://www.crudo-leather.com/site/assets/files/6988265/black_black-1.746x0.webp

and it was rubbing on my knee, so I BRILLIANTLY decided to loop it around the cruise control lever and forget about it.

To my surprise the first time I attempted to make a left turn the leather loop snapped my key and yanked the cruise control mechanism forward, and the Tacoma's electrical system immediately went haywire - check electrical system, engine overheating, anti lock system deactivated, etc. As you all know the cruise control lever turns with the wheel - DUH! I somehow thought it was connected to steering column.

Pulled over at a truck stop, couldn't get it started and eventually had it towed to dealer and rented a truck to finish off our camping trip.

Picked the truck up yesterday and they said the immobilizer system had triggered, which surprises me because I thought it only checked for key FOB registration. Truck is running just fine, including cruise control. They reset everything.

Is the immobilizer system more than just key FOB chip check? I'm confused.

thanks.
chris

 

The chip is only 1/2 of the system. The reader is in the dash somewhere.

 

Sorry, but that is hilarious. Glad its all fixed though.

 

They never had that problem with 1955 Buicks. I’m about ready to jump off a cliff. That’s ridiculous. Goodbye cruel World

 

So how much did the experience cost?

 

I had a mask get caught when I made a turn, one mask is fine.. 2 gets stuck behind the wheel

 

Sucks to get screwed. Sucks even worse when you screw yourself! Live and learn OP, live and learn.

 

Tally is still coming in, but so far:
1) $280 for F150 rental truck for 4 days (this is with statefarm discount thankfully), tow was free with my insurance
2) $80 for dealer reset
3) $30 for hitch reducer I'll never need again, because rental truck was Ford F250
4) 1 day of precious vacation
5) $320 for lost trailer spare tire and broken bracket - because I was towing with bigger truck, the trailer was at an angle so I must have hit a bump somewhere and broke the spare bracket and lost the tire too. Here's photo of similar setup where some of the tire sits below the bumper line: https://images.etrailer.com/static/...olding-spare-tire-carrier-uf15-954730_644.jpg
6) ~$140 of Uber rides from truck stop to truck rental, to next truck rental, sending kids home with grandma while I figured out solution, and back home after return

I'm shaking my head as I type this, haha.

 

I've been terrified of busting off that cruise control stick ever since I've had my Taco because every time I park with the wheel 45* to the right I brush it with my knee getting out and I'm convinced one of these days I'm gonna break it off.

 

Sorry this happened to you but I admire the way you presented it for us with humor.

 

Also, I'm very curious about the keychain. The link appears to be broken

 

I fixed it, but something like this: https://www.crudo-leather.com/site/assets/files/6988265/black_black-1.746x0.webp

 

At one point or another we've all pulled some bonehead moves we kick ourselves for later. It all seems like a good idea at the time, until it isn't. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves. Kudos for your attitude, and I'm glad it all worked out in the end with the main casualties being just a few bucks and some wounded pride.

 

This sounds exactly like something I would do