'21 stalling and electrical dash gremlins

Recently my '21 with 40k miles has begun to stall when I park or sometimes when I start up. It's not constant. Around the same time the dash info is blank and only the tachometer indicates it's running until I turn on the headlights. Just a few mins ago I started it up to move over in the driveway and it stalled as I was backing down it. When I tried to restart it to move it back, it wouldn't turnover, almost as if the starter was going bad. I turned it off and waited and retried it and it worked again. I just changed my trans fluid thinking it might be the issue since it was due, but same problems persist. Planning on taking it to the dealer next week, but was wondering if anyone had similar issues.

 

I had a similar issue awhile ago turned out to be bad fuel . Once I switched to a different brand of fuel the problem went away . Another thing u can check is the battery .

 

I've gotten fuel from various gas stations and haven't noticed any issues while driving. The battery is probably due to be replaced so I'll do that today.

 

Mice in the wiring harness.

 

clean battery terminals? Check battery connection?

 

I'll have to agree with crazysccrmd as a potential problem. Check for rodent droppings in your engine compartment,air intake( they like to chew on air filters ) and your cabin air filter.

 

Update. Replaced the battery and cleaned the terminal connections. No signs of rodents or chewed wires, but it's dark here. Narrowed down exactly what's it's doing. With the headlights off, powered on, there's no dash lights. If I flip on the lights on super fast, the RPMS drop and it stalls. Ditto if I flip off the lights super fast.

 

What mods?

 

This is always a good question...

We might get the "bone stock except for the flux capacitor my cousin's friend's brother installed a few days ago but no way that's the issue."

 

Besides cosmetic, the only mod is adding the Start-X Remote Starter which has been there since the day I brought it home brand new. Reckon I can chase all those wires to see if something came loose.

 

Yep. 99 times out of 100 Toyota did it right, the mods did it sorta okay. Countless times the mod is years old but a ground came loose, a wire corroded, etc and very few, because it worked for a year, will believe that their a number 1 mod is the problem.

 

not trying to get a gotcha here, but you mentioned 3 years ago when you bought this truck, you had dash light issues,,, about the same timeframe you installed the remote start I assume. This is why @hiPSI is starting with electrical mods, for any electrical gremlin.
Always look first where the human was last,,,,, no matter how long.

"Anyone else with a '21 have their dash and entune randomly dim and brighten while driving? My SR has been doing it since I bought it last week.

Still trying to trouble shoot it, but it dims with and without the AC running. Haven't gotten a chance to try it without the headlights off, Android Auto off, etc."


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/21-flickering-dimming-dash-and-entune.699756/

 

Heh, that issue was me being a dumbass and not realizing there was a light sensor on the corner of the dashboard and dims when driving under bridges, clouds, random papers tossed on the dash.

 

Perhaps the battery terminals are tight, but look at the (-) going to the chassis ground.
Is that bolt tightly attached to the chassis?

To me, it sounds like a flakey alternator, or connection to the alternator.
I would also check in the engine bay, that all of the fuses and relays were secure.

 

I would be willing to bet everything that it is related to your remote start install. The OE stuff is pretty much bullet-proof.