Toyota says wiring harness needs replacing

Desperate newbie here needing help.

2013 Tacoma with 87K miles. Pulled into driveway after running a few errands. Truck was running fine. Made a sandwich and a phone call went back out to run a few more errands and truck started very rough and all dash lights came on. This lasted less than five seconds and then it died and would not start thereafter. It was acting like it wasn’t getting fuel with half a tank. I’m thinking fuel pump. I have a scanner and ran codes P1603, P1604, P1605.

I had it towed to a reputable shop with good ratings the owner/tech scratched his head for 3 days and replaced the fuel pump with no success. Owner/tech advised it needed to go to Toyota dealership and being a super nice guy didn’t charge me a dime.

After several days at Loving Toyota in Lufkin TX, service Dept called and told me the “wiring harness” was “very corroded” and bad and would cost $3400 to replace (with labor), BUT they could do a bypass to the fuel pump to make it run for $500, but wiring harness would eventually have to be replaced. He actually accused me of running through high water, which I have not been over axles.

I agreed to the temporary fix, paid $500 and truck ran fine.....for 5 days then crapped out again.....this time while driving. This time it felt exactly like I ran out of gas. Coasted in parking lot and had it towed back to Toyota in Lufkin.

I am having a hard time understanding how a “wiring harness” can fail like this with 87K miles and just feel like this truck is in no mans land with no real answers. Wondering if anyone else has experience with this?

Thanks in advance as always!!!

 

Welcome to TW!

It’s a shame you aren’t here under happier circumstances.

It is amazing to me that a 2013 vehicle (especially one as mechanically and electronically simple as a 2nd Gen Tacoma) would be need the entire wiring harness replaced!

My 2010 Tacoma 2.7L/auto has over 108K miles and has never had electrical problems!

I was forced to drop almost $1,600 at the stealership back in 2018 when my mechanic couldn’t find a leak in my truck’s A/C system, and the dealer traced the leak to the evaporator core...

It still boggles my mind as to how the hardest-to-access part of my truck’s A/C system developed a leak seemingly at random and for no reason when the truck was less than 8 years old and had barely 75K miles on it! It took over a year before the leak was finally found!

 

Seriously though, find an honest independent mechanic to replace the wiring harness, and if you must go to the dealer avoid one in a wealthy zip code because they are used to dealing with people who have more dollars than sense, and their business practices are aimed at separating every customer from as much of their money as possible!

 

lets see pics of this corroded harness before passing judgement

 

What part of the wiring harness? Maybe they need to specify the next time you come in. It could be as easy as just the ground strap to chassis/motor or the entire engine harness or even interior harness.

If I were in your shoes, I would like to know exactly what segment of wiring harness would be required to be replaced.

I would take that information, purchase the required part and save some $ and install myself.

 

I'd ask very specific questions, and have them take photos for you. Then you can go talk to somebody else and know exactly what you need to do.

 

Sounds pretty shaky to me. I'd seek out an independent shop that specializes in Toyota. I just cant see the need to replace a whole harness on a vehicle that will easily go 250K with regular maintenance. Maybe a rodent chewed on it somewhere or there is some other fluke problem outside of the harness. $3400.00 is a little insane. This is why I steer clear of dealers except for recall work that must be done by them.

 

Was the truck purchased new? If not was it a flooded vehicle. Might even be possible if it was purchased new. If the wire harness is corroded I would also look for signs of surface rust under the dash, kick panels and under the carpet. If signs of it possibly being a vehicle that was flooded I would be contacting your Insurance provider.

 

After working in quality for about 30 years and without knowing anything else about the issue, I'd say a one off assembly defect by the manufacture. How to prove it, is another question. Absolutely nothing surprise me with this type of defect. To convince a service writer, tech, or corporate quality desk jockey of this is impossible. Notice, I said Quality Desk Jockey. Chances are the person you need to call has had no experience in shop quality assembly line personnel at Toyota. The quality at the assembly line is only as good as the attitude of the person doing the assembly. Subpar assembly issues will get by test and final inspection if it's done. Think BIS, (before in service) claims.
Once a harness has been passed in test either at the sub-contractor, harness manufacture or in final assembly test, Toyota), the harness should last the life of the vehicle unless it had sustained some type of damage along the way. Water damaged, harness rubbing on something or was pinched somewhere along it's history. And this is what the corporate quality desk jockey will argue.

 

lol no. this is not a mfg defect. a japanese wiring harness doesn't fail after 7 years. sounds like rodents chewed through your harness my dude...

 

Was some acorns on the engine. Now it's rodent damage. Insurance pays to fix that.

 

Had a rodent chew a set of brake lines once, that was fun.

 

I work at Lexus as a tech, usually this is rode t damage. I have only seen specific pins in single connectors go bad, and those can use be replaced or repaired. As far as trying to do it yourself, replacing wiring harnesses is not an easy task. I admittedly have not replaced one on a Tacoma but, several vehicles require you to drop the motor to access all the harness

 

Little beast chewed thru my injector wires once so pull the plastic engine cover off like 4 nuts or 10mm bolts and look. Mine was also leaking at the bypass hoses another chew spot. Dealer said harness same as yours over $3000 but could try a few splices and heat connections and that worked. Plus hoses and as I called it in to insurance as comp claim was covered and dealer said should do thermostat and coolant for contamination and I said do whatever insurance will allow as why not after $50 deductible. That was like 8 years ago.

Hope its that simple for you and not water damage before you bought it. If it was whoever sold you the vehicle can be liable and taken to court - if a dealer they should do a full refund if you tell them you are calling the state attorney general as a fraud case.

Comment above about a bad ground to the fuel pump was another good idea but again why did it happen.

 

With a last seen time the same as his 1 and only post, I will be surprised if he ever comes back. Oh yeah, “Thanks in advance” translates to “I’ve already thanked you. No further interaction is necessary on my part”

@Captainkbt I double dog dare you to prove me wrong.

Just sayin, people giving out lots of helpful advice, and the OP doesn’t seem “desperate” enough to stick around.

 

I hear ya. The one and done dudes are the worst.

 

Shenolike...

 

is this some kind of a warranty issue?
my relative has a 2o11 4cyl and i was cleaning/detailing out the engine compartment for them and was amazed at how many little things were corroded in there at only 42k miles

 

Wham bam thank you ma'am lol

 

Does Toyota not use waterproof connectors any more on the underside of the vehicle? My old FJ40 spent about as much time up to its headlights in water as it did on dry land; I never had so much as a taillight fail. You'd think a pickup truck made for off-road use would be a bit more water resistant. If it's truly a corroded harness, I think it's something other than an immersion problem.