It's a bizarre case they said... Updated: here we go again.

2021 Tacoma Off Road dcsb, 6 speed manual, tech package. I got it in early October, upgrades included tossing in a full Alpine stereo package and a Compustar remote start/alarm...from a very reputable installer.
Truck has almost 2,800 on it and has run trouble-free, upgrades done back in October.

I was on my way home from the store Friday night and had to stop before leaving the parking lot, I say to my passenger that I have no head lights. I got hit with an array of issues in one shot.

No lights except pulling the switch back to get momentary high beams, push the switch forward for full time highs, only a brief flicker and then nothing, no driving lights.
Dash illumination went out but had idiot lights.
Climate control went blank, window controls stopped working, lane departure malfunction notification was flashing at me, pre-collision system malfunction notification was flashing at me.

Dropped it off Saturday just in front of noon, they wanted the "A" team technician to look at it, so it sat till today. Dealership just called to keep me in the loop, they have never seen this, some manager and their ace Super-Tech will be tearing into a bit later.

I'll update with what they find.

 

Sounds like mice/squirrels.

 

We'll find out soon enough, but a cursory inspection revealed no traces of animal activity, truck is only 3 months old and is used daily.
What round for mice and squirrels?

 

Just got done splicing my left rear wheel speed sensor back together last week.
It's definitely that time of the year.

 

Please take this with a grain of salt...
I have read tens of thousands of posts here at TW. Out of hundreds and hundreds of posts about electrical problems, I can only remember ONE that actually had an electrical problem on a stock truck. This does not include the mice and squirrels.
I can 99.99% say that your problem will be with your electrical mods. Probably because it worked for a few months means something (wiring wore through, ground screw got loose, corrosion,) is grounding. Good luck but look at the mods.

 

Squirrels and mice only need one day/night. There have been a couple guys on the forum who have had rats/mice chew on their wire harness and had very similar problems to what you're saying.

 

My vote is chewed wires as well, if not that then I’d go with a bad ground somewhere.

 

alll the Electrical shit you put on it or "reputable place installed"

this isn't you installed a lift and now my turn signal is out.

 

Spray bottle of cayenne pepper, cumin, mint

Spray around your tires every fill up will keep the mice and other animals away

 

Or get a cat if you have garage pest issues.

 

This does not spark too much confidence. Not 100% sure of that 'Compustar' starter, but other ones used to require cutting head light wire...
Hope your Curious Bizarre Case turns out OK.
Subbed for outcome.

 

Yeah, but don't feed the cat. They get lazy when fed regularly.

 

I agree with this . What we have learned on TW is that the electrical systems on our trucks is touchy .

 

I'd put money on that remote start/alarm. There's a lot of sharp stuff up under the dash, doesn't take much to rub through a poorly routed wire and cause weird problems.

 

Depending on where you live/where the truck is parked, seems reasonable to think about rodent problems and start looking there. I keep some mouse traps active in my garage year round just in case. Dont have issues typically but every few months Ill trap one. One dead mouse in the garage is one less mouse in my motorcycles or cars.

Id also agree with the audio upgrades being a great starting place. Seems like a couple months of no issues and all of a sudden they happen could easily be a short by wires rubbing through or a ground gone bad.

As they say, the most obvious cause is usually the correct one. Those would be the most likely two causes over something like failed OEM issue.

 

In for final answer..........

Critter vandals or human error are definitely on the high end of the options continuum.

 

Keep us updated

 

Having spent a number of years in the industry, my vote goes to the aftermarket alarm/remote start.

 

My friend left his car at airport parking for a weekend travel ..only ground level parking ...Kona is a tiny airport..
The ants chew his wires...
Also I hear the Volkswagen..there is a rumor the wiring is made of bio-(from foods) and the ants enjoy eating the wires...
Aloha,

 

.50 BMG