Tailgate steal attempt

Yeah true that

 

Understood. Well the good news is that like others have said it's totally repairable for under $100. Fuck the dealership and the insurance company fix it yourself and be done.

 

Looks like rodent

 

I was thinkin' they could learn what the wires were for, maybe some folks don't want to know or don't have the tools for it

 

To bad you didn't catch the douche and twist his dick. The ol' dick twist is where it's at to decrease recidivism.

This is definitely a DIY fix but you want to do it right!

Car audio could do it but I'd be concerned about the quality of connectors. Regular butt connectors that are used in inside is not the way to go. Go with environmental connectors like I post below on Amazon. They are marine grade and shrink but also have a protective goop inside that assure they seal.

I'm linking a great kit they have that I bought but you'll want more connectors so go to their store on Amazon. I can vouch for their quality as I have gone through a kit and a bunch of their heat shrink which has the same adhesive features. Get yourself some loom for external protection like OEM.

Fun little project for a weekend day or weeknight evening.

$35 Wirefy Heat Shrink Wire Connectors Kit - Marine Grade Electrical Connectors - Automotive Butt Connectors - Insulated Ring, Spade, Fork, Hook Crimp Terminals - 22-10 Gauge - 270 PCS

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GXQMP66?ie=UTF8

 

Well...you wouldn't be wrong. Fuckin' tweekers be like a Rat but I bet a Rat has more teeth.

 

Did they take the whole connector or just cut it on one side? I would be happy to give you a new connector with a few feet of wire terminated in it to fix it. I am 99% sure I can even match the OEM color. You'd still have to splice it in, but it will get you the length back and keep the connector. Shoot me a PM with a shipping address.

Crap, just saw your post that yours doesn't have that connector behind the bumper. Not sure if I would be much help here.

 

Isn't there some coax in there for the camera?

 

I thought the same. Irrelevant I suppose, but unfortunate either way.

 

Good point but not really coax per se. Likely the same wiring used with an RCA cable, not a shielded coax.

 

+1
The OOOOOLLLL’ DICK TWIST!

 

Turn it in to your Insurance company, should be covered under "Comprehensive Coverage", check your deductible. That's what you pay insurance for. They will probably want you to at least try and file a police report. (Retired Insurance Agent-10 years)

 

For warranty, and liability reasons, a dealer wouldn't bother fixing it which is why you were given a full replacement solution.

The obvious thing here is to go through insurance.

If you're handy with a soldering iron though, you can reconnect all the same wires cut, and run new loom and wrap to minimize exposure.

Personally, I'd repair it myself. The thought of having the entire wiring harness pulled, including any and all dismantling of the interior needed, is unsettling. Nothing ever goes back the same way it was when first installed.

 

That's a viable point.

There must be point they can trace back to that has a connector where they can break and replace as 3 grand would get you no where close to a full harness replacement. That would be a rather brutal task!

 

I'm not familiar with Toyota's myself, but FCA and Chevy vehicles have a main harness that T's off to every other sensor IE backup sensors, front radar, front and rear (and side, where applicable) cameras, HVAC, heated/cooled seats and more.

I've seen full interiors removed for the removal and replacement of a main harness and it's not pretty. And all because everything is completely wrapped together as 1 main harness.

Would make more sense if the main harness had "connectors" that T off to main components, but they don't.

Manufacturers don't care though.

They make these things without the concern that one would require replacing said harness. Really, unless rodents got to it, or it was cut by accident (unlikely), or in this case on purpose, it'd never require replacing.

 

Since a camera isn't a critical item, you have time to figure it out.

It appears this project is above your current skill set, which is fine. But I'd suggest finding a buddy with solder experience to give you a hand, even if what he does is teach you how by practicing on scraps. Or get him to help you with the work and buy him a nice dinner.

As others have said, replacement of the whole harness is ludicrous, and you can avoid a tick mark on your insurance carriers list.

 

I would not expect a connector and that's why $3k seems way off, IMO.

I went to see my old Ford Electronics Guru buddy in his work bay back in my Ford Truck days. He had a brand new F350 Dually King Ranch in his bay. So new, it had no plates. Owners got it home to their outlying ranch and it was overrun with mice. He said it was right up close to an insurance total and it was his job to replace the entire harness. This was long before Covid prices and the truck was about $75k new. It was insane to see how extensive the work was and the time he had to put into it. I'll never forget that. If it were mine, I would have traded it in the minute they said it was ready to pick up!

 

why would you go through your insurance? anyone telling you that is crazy. Any shop can repair that for you.

 

So that the manufacturer can pocket some nice profit.

Key fobs for instance, shouldn't be over $300.

You'd think a dealership would be able to sell said key fob for much less...but really the cost to them could be say, $250.

Manufacturer makes money off a dealership too cause it takes a lot less than $250 to make that same fob, but a dealer still has to pay up.

 

Because normally a situation like this, falls under comprehensive coverage.

Being non-collision, rates would not be affected to the insured. And most times, a lot of people carry a $0 deductible.

Sure, a shop could fix it. Or really, anyone with basic soldering skills as suggested. But some shops won't bother for liability reasons.

I'm on the wagon to say avoid insurance in this particular case though.