Simpler solution for disabling the DCM telematics - Silencing Antennas

Oh, I will, but this is not on my immediate agenda.

 

2017 owner's say... Whatchu Talking about?

 

2012 owners: *laughs in analog*

Now that I see the title, I recall reading the first page or two of that thread linked just above. Totally forgot they mentioned the antena might actually be inside the module

 

"Laughs in analog". Hilarious!

 

Way ahead of you.

I was only half joking about wrapping the DCM module in foil. Get your tinfoil hats ready boys. I pulled out the DCM module, wrapped it in aluminum foil with the internal battery still installed, cut holes for the electrical connections with a razorblade, and reinstalled the DCM module with the short ungrounded adapters and termination resistors. Then I drove the truck around and made sure to drive right by two different cell phone towers. Parked the truck and so far no updates on the Toyota website for 2 hours. Previously the website updated somewhere between instantly and 30 minutes. I will continue to check the Toyota website over the next few days but this is good so far.

Removing and reinstalling the module wasn't difficult. Two bolts hold the DCM module to the module next to it. I would recommend loosening the bolts attaching the adjacent module to the truck so that you can shift it out of the way slightly to reinstall the DCM module without tearing your new faraday cage. I was able to do everything in a little over an hour but I have also gotten very good at removing the glovebox troubleshooting this mod.

You can stop procrastinating now.


DCM/Telematics Module


Internal battery of DCM module


Wrapped in foil


Electrical connection cutouts


DCM module reinstalled

 

You have been persistent.

Edit: Next try putting back the three antenna leads and see what happens.

 

I ordered some "EMP tape" (

$16 Double Conductive Tape 2" x 50Feet Faraday Fabric High Temp Tape for Electrical Repair, RFI/EMI Shielding, Car Wire Harness, ESD Grounding, Seal Precision Components, Guitar Interference Blocking

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097HC9HR7?smid=A3E3M0W7EF6TKV&th=1) to replace the aluminum foil and make it a bit cleaner. If all goes well I will try reconnecting the antenna leads when I have everything taken apart.

 

I wonder how the adhesive affects the continuity from one layer of the tape to the next?

Go ahead and open the DCM. Give us a peak. Usually just some plastic clips on the box separating the halfs; or at least it was on my BCM ECM.

 

This thread is incredible. Thanks for your perseverance @Disgruntled Scientist

 

Well there ya go. Folks must have missed that before. Id say that in conjunction with your tinfoil test prove it

 

And it hasn't gone completely off the rails either! 10/10, will read again.

 

Well curiosity got the better of me and I got into the Module. Could find no obvious antenna on the PCB or case. If others wish to investigate opening the module was simple simple. Remove the metal shield from one side and pry off the ends where the connectors are and slide the card out the connector end - no need to remove the bracket, or the module from the bracket.

Edit: Also open battery compartment and remove battery first before removing the metal plate and plastic around the connectors.

 

Maybe under that Kyocera tagged shield with the IMEI number? Kind of looks like a laptop wifi module.

 

I had the same thought.

 

An antenna under a metal shield I believe would shield the signal from getting out, just like the aluminum foil used above. Laptops have cabled antennas away from the electronics, at least the ones I have had the misfortune of opening up. I am thinking it may be more like the iPhone that has the antenna embedded in the case (those lines a few MM wide) with just some little traces on the PCB that are the antenna. I did notice some strange traces I could not make sense of, but this is a multilayer board and the antenna could be in any layer.

 

The fact it’s sandwiched in between two metal plates didn’t escape me but having the antenna inside the pcb I didn’t think of.

There are those 5 solder points on the back side that caught my eye. Maybe a little desoldering action would neutralize it. I can’t imagine these are in demand enough on the 2nd hand market to cost an arm and a leg to get a unit to mess around with?

 

Those 5 solder points also caught my eye so I looked at the traces a bit and I think that is for an onboard soldered battery. I'm sure you could pick one up at a dismantler.

Edit: Hold on what five solder points on the back side? I was thinking the six on the component side of the board when I mentioned the battery.

 

That’s starting to get pretty far beyond my comfort zone. But, I would be all for pooling some resources to get something in the hands of someone competent to experiment with.

 

A search of the Model: "AL-T52V1" brought up a lot of information. Some you have to pay for.
Beyond my capacity at this point too.

 

a bit of searching yielded this thread from a Lexus forum, which has some interesting, albeit disheartening, info about the AL-T52V1 https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx...lexus-gx460-2022-and-earlier-model-years.html