2021 4 Runner /Turning off the rear gate alarm?

Hey all, thanks for the ad!
I have a 2021 4Runner and I want to haul kayaks in the back using a T bar extension. BUT , the alarm sounds constantly when the rear gate is open.
Is there a way to turn this alarm off?
Yes, I do have a rear window that rolls down, but that will be too high for the T bar, and in addition to that I worry that the boats will damage the rubber seal . Though this would eliminate the need for a T bar....
I am short so a roof assembly isn't my first choice
Ideas? Thank you !!!

 

Instead of trying to disable the door alarms, try fooling the ECU by flipping the latch in the hatch door to the closed position with a stick or screwdriver. Just remember to push the hatch release button to open it again before slamming the hatch closed so you don’t damage the mechanism.

 

THANK YOU ! Stellar Idea !

 

Funny, I was just wondering about this. I hauled some plywood in the rain so I didn't want to leave it on the roof. I'll check out the link posted by @ElectroBoy .

But, it seems like there should be a way to disable it without trying to trick it. You'd think this would be a pretty common situation.

 

YES! I agree. Disabling it would be optimal. Please let me know if you find a way .

 

I looked at the manual, and all it said about shutting off the liftgate alarm was to close the liftgate.

Coincidentally, I decided to buy more plywood today. So, I tried the method from the link in post #2.

It was easy to manipulate the latch into the closed position with a flathead screwdriver. I put a small bungee in the latch before I closed it to remind me to open it before shutting the liftgate.

It worked perfectly. No alarm, and I remembered to open the latch.

 

You could get into the hatch, find the wiring for the hatch closure switch, and wire it to a SPDT switch mounted in the hatch plastic that would select connecting it to chassis gnd (disable) or it’s normal path (enable). May not be worth the trouble unless you transport stuff like this frequently.

 

Definitely not worth the trouble.

I just wondered if Toyota had made it possible to disable the alarm since so many people probably transport long objects occasionally.

Driving 20 minutes with the alarm going off wasn't horrible, but I'd much rather not hear it. The method of closing the latch manually is fine for the 2 times a year I might haul something oversized.

 

awesome! Thanks for the great ideas ya'll !

 

Welcome to the group!

 

I found this site due to the same issue with needing to haul kayak!

My husband got me a 2022 4runner SR5 Premium just so I could get my kayak around on my own...too short to use roof mount!

He has been trying to figure it out and we hoped closing the latch would be sufficient but he did that and even left bungee in to remember to open again (good idea!) but alarm still blaring...anyone found anymore information about where other sensors might be?

Thanks for whatever help you are able to provide! Liz

 

Still having problem. I was able to close latch in 2022 4runner to try and trick it into thinking it was closed. This did not work and the alarm still sounds...has anyone found a better option?