Device/Wire identification

Recently bought a 2017 trd sport and noticed something screwed into the plastic but not sure what it is. Any help in identifying what it is and/or what it could be for would be greatly appreciated.

 

Any identifying marks or numbers on it? Where do the wires go to? Any add ons from the dealer?

@caribe makaira

 

Looks to me like a cheap anti theft device. You start the vehicle after you insert a "key" into the plastic part.

 

Was thinking it was a GPS tracker. I'd remove it personally, but be careful so it starts afterwards. I think they have a kill feature if that's what it is.

 

That's a lot of vampire taps. I'd be a little upset if a dealership did that.

 

Unfortunately not. Wires go to a black box under the dash to the left of the obd port. Dealer didn’t disclose any add ons to me so I don’t believe so.

 

Possible but I don’t think it’s very likely. There’s no where to insert a key. Maybe put a card infront of what could be a sensor however I’m really not sure.

 

That was my most likely because it doesn’t seem to have much of any function. I want to remove it but am afraid of it disabling the vehicle. I’m going to send pictures to the dealer and see if they know because I got it at a GM dealer, not Toyota. Next step is taking it to a Toyota dealer though I don’t want to spend money if I don’t have to because the vehicle has been fine. Sorta “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” sorta “this shouldn’t be there wtf is it”

 

Alarm system valet button perhaps

 

The key is just a small piece of plastic that is inserted and makes contact with the wires.

 

I'd want it off because the way it's wired, I don't have high hopes for longevity. If you have issues with a wire making good contact, you may be disabled. I'd like to deal with that on my own terms instead of the side of the road. That seems to be the way it always goes.

 

Sweet fancy Moses look at the taps and tape. Pull all that shit out asap, heat shrink and carry on.

99% sure it's a dealer "add on" alarm of some sort.

 

I don’t know what it goes to so I don’t want to mess with it. I’m gonna send pictures to the dealer and see if they’ll handle it. First priority was the sensor, second all the taps that were done for god only knows what reason.

 

For sure. Gonna be doing a cross country trip in the next month and wasn’t sure what the sensor was for so I looked behind the plastic. Removing the plastic revealed the mess of wires and taps which I knew wasn’t factory and couldn’t see any reason why it should be like that.

 

Some dealers that typically sell cars to those who are less "financially responsible" (you know, those shady dealers in the bad part of town that dont care about bad credit, or places like Right Way, etc...) typically install GPS tracking with cellular connectivity and starter kill switches to disable the car if you are late on a payment, or worse, for when they have to have a repo company track down the car after default on the loan. They are often wired in the same way with the little crimp on wire taps. Even some large, more reputable dealerships install these now. Dealers also never disclose that they are installed, so most owners never even know they are on their car.

That is most likely what this is. See this article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/car-repossession-device-starter-interrupter-auto-dealer-car-credit-city

And this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsSlZf8NUn0


TL;DR: Your dealer does not trust you.

 

While I do believe it is an alarm system, I don’t believe it’s liked to the dealer. Furthermore I highly doubt with my credit score and income that the dealership “doesn’t trust me”

 

The black box under the dash should have an FCC ID that will help you track down more info. Looks similar to this one... https://www.civicx.com/forum/threads/any-help-identifying-a-car-alarm-and-how-to-remove-it.35743/

 

Some dealers have been known to install these alarms on all their cars as part of the delivery inspection. There is even someone on here that "ordered" one new that had it installed unbeknownst to them.