"Off-grid" with a gen3: disconnecting/disabling antennas and DCM

Brand new to the club, this forum, and working on / modding my own vehicle - please be gentle.

Coming from an '07 FJ for the past 14 years to a '22 Taco is jarring with tech. I don't want half of this stuff, I just want it completely disconnected, not just "unsubscribed". I humbly ask if we can spare this thread the "tin foil hat" and "you already have a cell phone" comments that fill pages on similar posts. (This is by far the best post explaining about why DCM may not be great, thank you @philth.) Just trying to get help on how I can do this.

I want to disconnect/disable...

1. DCM
   
2. SOS button
   
3. SiriusXM
   
4. WiFi
5. Bluetooth

Note: I am OK if this causes other features to disable (I'm not equipped with GPS)

Related posts I've found and read:

• How can I permanently disable Toyota GPS tracking?
• 2020 data transmittal
  
• Does anyone know where I can find the truck's 3G/LTE module?

What I've been able to do so far...

• Called Toyota Connected Services and opted out of everything
• Tried to get SiriusXM to leave me alone but they are buttholes and say it takes 30 days to cancel my trial and 3 years to delete my data since I'm not a CA resident. (They also point blank say on their privacy statement that they sell your data and you can't stop them - including your vehicle location.)
  
• Did not sign up for anything as far as WiFi
• Removed the DCM fuse, still seeing the (DCM) icon light up on the HU so still waiting for it to drain its backup battery -- great guide on how to do this, very easy -- unable to confirm yet that this has also disabled the mic, but I'm OK with that
  
• Called the service center and think I can talk them into just removing the actual physical SOS button, but don't think that will include truly disconnecting anything
• Considered buying an aftermarket HU to handle the XM/WiFi/Bluetooth, but trying to see if there's an easier option first

I haven't been able to find the service manual for a '21, assuming there isn't a great circulation for the '22 manual yet. But I did find and download the 2016 service manual, but that didn't seem to have the information I wanted either.

What I have questions about...

• Does the XM, Wifi, or Bluetooth happen to be powered separately from the HU?
  
• If so, does it magically happen to to be one of these easy cord groupings I can unplug from the fuse box? (2 at the top, 3 on the side) Pictures: https://imgur.com/a/Anvfhw7
  
• If not, were I to remove the HU from the dash is there something clear/easy I can unplug from there that would kill the power to the XM antenna, Wifi, and/or Bluetooth?
  
• Can I disconnect any antennas from the sharkfin? (Want to take it off anyway) It's my understanding though that they are all behind the HU in the dash.

Thank you!

 

Get a subscription to TIS. It shows the loaction of the DCM module and various antennas. In the other toyotas I have worked on, it usually is right behind the head unit, no idea on a 22 Taco though.

 

Searched "TIS" and found this site that had just all the manuals the dealer gave me, which doesn't have what I need (free): https://techinfo.toyota.com/techInfoPortal/appmanager/t3/ti?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=ti_home_search_docs_page
But then found this site where you can buy the wiring manual, which seems like is what I want... but I'm unsure if its legit ($): https://techinfo.snapon.com/TIS/Register.aspx
Is that the correct site?

 

Hello friend,

I'm sorry I can't help with the specifics of your question (I would recommend deleting the factory head unit and leaving the antenna ports on the replacement unplugged), but something else to consider if you are focused on electronic emissions is TPMS - they can be read passively from a surprising distance with existing surveillance tech. Not from such a distance that you wouldn't also be tracked by OCR of your plates, but it is a thing.

 

Sounds like someone's been watching episode 1768 of the Joe Rogan Podcast 0_o