Help, my truck won't turn off, among other things

So in the last 2-3 months weird stuff has started to happen to my Tacoma. It's a 2016 TRD Off-road with 70k miles.

I had an odd experience leaving work 3 months ago where the truck, inexplicably, started idling and running very rough, it sounded like multiple cylinders weren't firing, it was flashing an engine light and barely breathing. I pulled over, turned off and tried to reach a friend of mine who runs an auto shop for advice, initially, to no avail. After a few minutes I tried starting it again and, it just worked, as if nothing happened. My friend got back to me and wanted to scan it for what codes may have been triggered... I brought it by that same day and there were no codes stored at all, as if nothing had ever happened. He said that he had seen similar behavior with some failed exhaust sensors, but that often they are just one off brain farts.

TODAY, however, I chauffeured my daughter and some of her friends to the mall, and upon leaving while returning to the truck, I found my pickup's alarm going off - full-on honking flashing lights etc - with the doors locked and no one around. The truck did not respond to the key fob at all, either to stop the alarm or unlock the doors. I had to open the driver's side door with the internal key, and as I did, the alarm stopped. Once inside I unlocked the doors, let the passengers in and we proceeded on our way. While underway, the truck chimed to check the blind spot monitoring system, and I began to suspect someone may have tried to, or succeeded in, lifting some of the radar components on my truck, which would make the alarm situation sort of make sense (other than the non-responsive fob).

When I got home I decided to check the bumper area for signs of tampering. I hit the on/off button and jumped out of the truck, and found nothing amiss around the vehicle, but then I realized the truck was still running, which was odd. So I jumped back on the cab to turn it off, only to find the infotainment screen off. When I again pushed the button, the screen came back on, but the vehicle continued to run. I tried shutting it off several times to no avail. Even pressing and holding the button does nothing. In combination with breaks, still nothing. Eventually it shut off after 30 seconds of the screen being off, but the headlights remain on and the truck acts like the accessory switch is still on. I then tried turning it back on, and it started, but now says the ABS system is non-functional. When I press the traction control button on the roof liner, and what do you know, it's now a high beam button.

So... Anyway. I love my truck, but it has somthing very wrong with it. RIP tacocat.

Anyone know wtf is going on? I made a video of it doing it's stupid things.

https://youtu.be/p8d35G6B01E

https://youtu.be/Lx_h7nSKZZc

 

Sounds like you’ve got some electrical demons going on, I hope you get it all figured out as this is way above my pay grade

 

Well this can't be good.
maybe call a exorcise and get the demons out.. sorry i got nothing.

(mice wires?)

 

Dang I’m sorry that’s happening hope you get it fixed

 

Probably a mouse chewing on some wires... could be under the hood or somewhere else.. check all your grounds (remove, clean / add dielectric grease and re-connect).

 

This is my Vote.. Toyota seems to have coated their wires in mouse bait..

 

electrical harness and/or ECU damage?
might be covered under homeowners policy if rodent related

 

I guess it is possible, however, i park in my driveway, and it's been pretty cold lately, that would have to be one hardy mouse. Investigation continues.

 

This sounds like an issue for a trusted mechanic.

 

How old is your battery?

 

I see what caused the issue...you took your daughter and her friends to the mall in an Off Road...everyone knows the Sport is the official mall crawler...don't make that mistake again.

 

When you park, your truck is all warm and cozy. Mice like warm and cozy. Combine that with Toyota’s delicious soy based wire coating and it’s quite possible…..

 

Have you owned it since new? Is it possible it was ever flooded or otherwise drowned?

 

I was going to suggest checking the battery too.

My 2013 Ram started doing similar things and it turned out to be related to the battery dying. It’s also very possible it’s the mice thing…I think the fact that it’s so cold where you live makes that an even more likely scenario because the critters would be more desperate to find somewhere warm.

I have personally had both happen and I could see either (or both) be the cause of all the issues you mentioned.

 

Check for rodent droppings in your engine compartment,pull your cabin air filter check for rodent activity. Pull your air intake and check that for rodent activity. Ask me how I know lol. If it is mice you might want to start parking your truck with the hood up,mice like dark warm places. I put a screen over my air intake and cabin air intake to solve some issues with mice. Good luck.

 

Contact your local priest and have it exorcised..!

 

Mouse eat some wires or the battery might be on the way out.

 

If the truck has the original battery that might be the culprit. Have read on here OEM batteries are not great in third gens. Regardless its 7+ years old if it is in fact the OEM.

Also any electrical mods done to the truck? Any at all?

 

this happened to someone else on TW a couple years ago. He had to disconnect the battery every time he wanted to turn the truck off. However I don’t think he had any other issues in regards to the electronics. I’ll have to go find the thread when I get out of class