2016 Tacoma spooky electrical system

This just started last week. I have almost 120K on my SR5, and for the most part it's been trouble free.

The first sign something was off was that the key fob didn't unlock. I had to use the key to open the door. Turn the key in the ignition and nothing. No accessories or anything. I touch the brake and everything comes on.

This has happened more than a few times in the past few days. I haven't been stranded yet, but I'm feeling that it's a matter of time.

Tonight was something new. I flip on high beams and my radio reboots! And it's easy to replicate over and over.

But once it starts it stays running. But if I stop it's a crap shoot if the key fob will lock it. All I have to do is go in and touch the brake, and everything's up again.

The only thing that's happened to the vehicle is a crack in the windshield. It started in the lower left and is crawling across the lower third. I can't find a correlation, but you never know.

I've Googled the symptoms, but everything goes to the head unit, but I just don't have a problem with it other than the random reboot, which frankly has become more rare as time goes on.

Not sure what to pinpoint.

Any ideas?

 

If this was happening to me I’d plug in my ThinkDriver OBD2 module reader and it would find what’s going wrong, detail it and even clear the codes you don’t see on your dash.

 

I’d guess a corroded battery terminal or failing battery. The sudden inrush of power to the high beams is causing a voltage drop beyond what your radio can handle.

 

Start checking your grounds

 

Scanner showed nothing. I'm using ODB Fusion on my iPhone, and all systems are nominal.

I'm suspecting battery, but it's less than a year old. I know that means nothing, but it's not the first thing I suspected. I'll disconnect and reset everything. I'll keep you posted.

 

Try this. I’ve seen this work for many things that didn’t make sense. If electrical things are going weird, try this.
https://youtu.be/F6pMlbNW7-E

 

Interesting. My thought is in the battery/ connections as well. @caribe makaira might have something for ya.

 

Battery.

 

Or ghost? You be the judge

 

Your battery terminals are loose. If it's not that it's a poor ground or dying/weak battery. Radio reboot is a known symptom.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/braking-causes-electrical-issues-radio-shuts-off-solved.684475/

 

Definitely give the terminals etc a good brushing. I had a year old battery refuse to start for that reason

 

Alex I change my answer to "What is Ghost" for 400 please.

 

Don't forget to use Dapper Dan after brushing . . .

 

define "Ghost"

 

Could be a bunch of things. Most people check their battery and know if it’s corroded or not. If not could be a ground to the Body ECU . Or the Body ECU might have some internal issues (corrosion, bad solder, etc). The issues you are having to me point somewhere to the Body ECU/fuse box. If no codes I wouldn’t think of an CAN issues but still could be a problem.

 

Well aint this place a geological oddity!

 

Ghost is always my go to answer first.

 

In 2020, it probably is ghosts tbh

 

Two weeks from everywhere!