Help 2008 immobilizer, Truck keeps getting locked out with no start,

Need some help from someone I hope.
I have 1997 Tacoma with 500,000 miles and my brother has a 2008 Tacoma with 75,000 miles.
Last week on a long trip 500 miles away from home in the middle of no where,
he was filling up the truck and it wouldn't start.
Long story short he got the truck to the Toyota dealer and they said it was an immoblizer issue. So they replaced the
ECU,
replaced the immobilizer,
new key, and
rewired the bypassing wiring harness all for 2500.00
So the truck was running great and started just fine.
Now 2 weeks later the truck wount start again.
It starts sometimes and then other times will not start.

What in the world to do now??? Is there a way to bypass the whole immoblizer system,
Any advice please

 

I doubt you could bypass it, but since he just had all that work done, take it back and have them fix it.

 

The dealership that did the first attempt was on his vaction route 500 miles away and had it for 5 days trying to figure out the problem.
Its now at another Toyota dealership by his house and they are looking at it starting with 175.00
diagnostic test on top of the 2500 already paid to the other Toyota dealership.
What a disaster Toyota has created in these Tacoma's with the immobilizer's and has only 75,000 miles. They take no responsibility and are happy to charge 2500
for the repair that still did not fix the problem

 

I had the same problem in my 08. It does not sound like the immobilizer. If it is the immobilizer, the truck will start, run for about 2 seconds and then shuts down. This happens when the code that is sent to the immobilizer is not correct. If the truck starts sometime then the keys, and the immobilizer is not the problem. In my case it was the transponder amplifier that sends the code to the immobilizer. Sometimes it would send the code to the immobilizer and the truck would start, sometimes it would not send the code and the truck failed to start. All the truck would do is crank, like if you were trying to start it with the valet key. The transponder amplifier was $384.42. Toyota told me the same thing, no guarantees this would fix the problem, just their best guest. So far it has been about 3 weeks and almost 200 starts. So far so good. Let me know if you have any questions, I will be glad to give you any help I can. I went through this and it is a very helpless situation. One thing with me is, until the part was replaced the truck not starting was happening move often than not.

 

Ok excellent, I will try that route now with the dealership, thanks

 

Are you referring to the black ring electronic piece that fits around the ignition? If that was the case I hope that $384 was not just for that part, it's only like a $110 piece.

And @1997tacomav6 IF you do go the route to replace the transponder amplifier piece that goes around the ignition it is super easy to do yourself. Just order the part for the $100 or so and its simple remove steering column plastic cover and then plug n play. This should be the correct part number but you should double check: 8978304010

 

No that's the antenna for 110.00, immobilizer CPU is 380.00. It could be either part that's no good

 

I was referring to Larry calling it a "transponder amplifier" which is the "antenna" piece around the ignition.

Hopefully it's the cheaper part that is the problem

 

You can completely bypass the immobilizer with a standalone ecu. The added benefit is that you then have full control over tuning and can make a lot more power, however it is not plug and play and requires some work on your part. https://urdusa.com/store/p126051905...t-for-Toyota-1GR-FE-4.0L-V6/product_info.html

 

The transponder amplifier part number is 89780-04011. This is a square computer assy. module that plugs in behind the gauge cluster on my truck. The gauge cluster has to come out to get to the module. Then it is a simple unplug the old module and plug in the new one. Toyota says it is very rare that this module goes bad but they have seen it happen. The dealer had to order the part, there were 5 or 6 available and they were all on the west coast. This was right before July 4th so with the Holiday it took 7 or 8 days for the dealer to get it. Replacing this module was a suggestion made by the Toyota Tech helpline the dealers use when they are stumped.

 

John, would like to know how you made out on your problem.

 

Hello, is my brothers truck and Corporate Toyota has stepped in to try and figure out the problem
as evey part has been replaced and the truck still will not start, has been thru 2 Toyota dealers
and neither dealer can find the problem

 

Have you been without the truck all this time? I would think if they cannot find the problem they would be replacing the truck. Usually the harder the problem to identify the easier it its to fix. Good luck.

 

Appreciate the update. Thanks

 

Thanks, nope, there are no warranties, and neither of the 2 Toyota dealer wants anything to do with this problem, this truck,
as they both have spent hours and hours with no results, So files a claim with CORPERATE TOYOTA
and still waiting for a Toyota engineer to come inspect the truck while the truck just sits.
I'm glad my 1997 Tacoma is before the imbolizer,

 

Ran into the same problem with the 2 Toyota dealers I had to deal with. They are not very good at figuring out the problem. In the end they made a lucky guess and it fixed the problem. Have close to 1000 starts since I got it back.

 

It would be helpful if you posted what it was that they fixed.

 

The transponder amplifier part number is 89780-04011. This is a square computer assy. module that plugs in behind the gauge cluster on my truck. The gauge cluster has to come out to get to the module. Then it is a simple unplug the old module and plug in the new one. Toyota says it is very rare that this module goes bad but they have seen it happen. The dealer had to order the part, there were 5 or 6 available and they were all on the west coast. This was right before July 4th so with the Holiday it took 7 or 8 days for the dealer to get it. Replacing this module was a suggestion made by the Toyota Tech helpline the dealers use when they are stumped.

TRD Larry, Aug 12, 2016 Edit Delete Report

 

Evey part that has to deal with the immoblizer was replaced and still the imbolizer system is not working
At 2500 for parts and labor It's a good piece of lawn art right now, 3 months later just sits waiting for
corporate Toyota to find the problem

 

This.

Had the same issue on a piece of shit 2015 Chevy Camaro. Try this. Yeah...I know..