3rd Gen alarm goes off randomly

My 18’ trd sport alarm keeps going off at random times. It started two days ago, I replaced the battery thinking it might be that. None of the interior lights are on. Is this a dealership only thing or do we think a reputable local mechanic can fix it? TIA.

 

I wouldn't take it to a dealer because

A) This sounds like a wiring issue.
B) Dealerships always rip you off.

Is this a factory alarm or aftermarket?
Does it go off randomly even if you park in the garage over night? Or it is random like...once at work, once at home, once at the gas station? The more details the better.

 

Factory alarm and it has only been going off while in front of my house. Went to work yesterday and had no issues. 2 nights ago it went off at 11pm then 5 minutes later then 1 am so I disconnected the battery. Reconnected it in the morning and it went off when I shut the hood. Replaced the battery around lunch time and the factory alarm went off again at 10ish pm and then 5am this morning.

 

Hmm, since it ONLY goes off while in front of your house have you entertained the idea that maybe...just maybe...someone has been trying to break into your truck? A neighbor, your kid, or a random stranger?

If you don't have one up already, put a security camera up and point it at the truck. I bet you'll find a two-legged animal trying to break into your vehicle.

 

Out of curiosity, where do you park your truck?

Reason I ask is my wife's 2018 Tahoe's security system was crazy sensitive. It had interior motion sensors. IDK if the 3rd Gens have interior sensors. If you locked her Tahoe though, and anything moved inside (within range of the sensor of course), it would set the alarm off. Like your Taco, it would go off at seemingly random times. Come to find out, when it was windy out, the wind would sometimes rock the vehicle just enough to move the trinkets she had hanging from the rearview mirror and trip the alarm. She started wrapping the trinkets around the mirror once before she'd get out and that stopped it. Just thought I'd throw this out there; are you sure it's not some unusual circumstance that is actually setting off the alarm? High winds rocking it around, neighborhood cats thumping around on it or something wacky like that.

Edit: Just saw your post about parking in front of your house. Could be something actually setting it off. Don't know if I'd be trying to "fix" anything just yet it may very well be functioning properly.

 

I thought of that but the one time I was looking right at it and there was no one there and I have it in front of my doorbell cam and no one was near it.

 

Here's some documentation. Says you'd need Techstream but basically it wants you to check the courtesy switches for each door.

 

If you have a warranty, take advantage of it. Bring it in, probably a faulty hood, door switch, or motion sensor.

What happens when it's running? Ever get a door open alert?

 

If it is the hood sensor is there a way to disconnect just that?

 

I don’t understand the dealer hate I hear on here repeatedly. They are the only shop with an obvious incentive to make your truck work well. They want to sell you another. I don’t hate on independent shops without a reason either. YMMV.

 

do you park under a tree in the spot at your house? We have palm trees lining our street and if you park directly under them, they drop seeds that will set off sensitive alarms. Its annoying as all hell.

 

It's not the hood switch. Only door switches affect the alarm.

 

Here are my thoughts:-
1. someone is pranking you. Playing with your spare key.
2. Someone is messing with the truck's computer system to get your key signal. Something may have gone wrong.

 

Well that’s comforting

 

I've set my alarm off before opening the hood when the truck was locked. Popped it, locked and forgot about it, then opened a short while later to a blaring alarm.

 

People always assume the dealer is out to rip them off. My Toyota dealer has been phenomenal to deal with. I had my truck in earlier this week as my alignment check earlier this year said everything was in spec. I noticed some slight odd wearing on the front left tire so brought it back in. They said everything was technically in spec but could use some adjusting due to m lift. I declined the alignment as I am installing 5100's this weekend. I went to pick up the truck and they informed me it would be $150 for the alignment. I told him that I instructed him to wait and he quickly apologized and informed me the alignment was on the house. I could only imagine the nightmare that would ensue if it was a GM or FCA dealership lol.

 

I had a recent experience at the dealership where I bought my truck. I brought it in for the final Toyota care appointment. The service rep told me my uca ball joints were blown out and asked if I wanted to make an appointment.

I have aftermarket SPC UCAs with less that 5k miles on them, so I was like immediately skeptical. He looked to be about 20yo and I suspect lacking any sort of education about the subject, so I questioned him. He was polite and eventually suggested that I talk to the tech.



5m later the the tech arrived and he explained things in terms I could understand. I think he honestly thought my ballpoints were blown. I think he just didn’t have experience with old school joints with zerks.

Conclusion: they were not trying to rip me off.

All good.

 

Interesting enough, it is mentioned in the description of how the theft deterrent works. Wonder why Toyota doesn't have you check that during troubleshooting.

 

Mine started doing the same thing and after hours of trying to figure it out, I did!

THE SECOND KEY! I washed it. It was blinking red. Took the battery out and the horn stopped going off. For a second I thought my truck was possessed.