DCM disconnection maybe the regular enable/ disable is the key here

I am a new 4 Runner owner and of cause would love to disable DCM to contact Toyota no matter what without taking fuse out or removing DCM

But i was thinking theres A regular right by Cell Module I found a compatible spec sheet
theres a pin 1 to enable/disable power its being controled now by a trace. id bet the power is just for modem module.

My next thing is to buy a used dcm and remove cell module and test each pin to find all power
pins to see if the regular is only powering cell module.

 

Welcome to the forum! Best of luck with your experimentation. Please keep us informed of your findings.

 

Hope you’re also planning to get a faraday box to put your phone in every time you drive/ breathe

 

Welcome to the forum.

The below link is for another thread regarding what you are looking at doing.

https://www.4runners.com/threads/my-dcm-disconnection-odyssey.25104/

 

Start by calling in via the SOS button (have your VIN) and having it disconnected there.

It’s good enough for me but either way it should be the first stop before additional tinkering.

 

Welcome!

 

Yes. We get it. Those of us who want to disable our DCMs are paranoid tin-foil-hat wearing incels living in our parents’ basement, and too stupid to know that our cell phones track and report our every move. We acknowledge your superior intellect and common sense. Okay? Now go away.

ETA: I’ve been a part of many DCM discussions on this board, and I’ve been patient with the naysayers, up until now. I mean seriously. Your post is worse than useless. It’s trolling. It doesn’t advance the topic. It doesn’t answer the question. He’ll, it doesn’t even provide an amusing derailment. If you think disconnecting your DCM is stupid, then don’t do it. And when you come across a thread about disabling the DCM, just pass on by.

 

lol, you’re literally arguing implications with yourself that I didn’t even intend or make based off of the words/ comments of others.

I’m all for privacy and my only point was, and it’s a valid point, that if you’re focusing on just DCM and not the phone that with Tim Cook listening in on the other end - or the NSA’s free reign courtesy of cell carriers, the TV that listens to conversations, not using encrypted messaging apps, not using VPN, use an EZ-Pass, google maps, use credit cards, etc, then you’re fixing a tiny leak on a boat that has a giant freaking hole it.

Personally, I thinking disabling DCM is an interesting concept/ all for it, but I also do think if you’re being real about it, addressing the privacy concerns extends way beyond DCM and it’s essentially useless to do unless you are taking those other measures. If that concept makes you defensive/ insecure, then you’re just pulling the wool over your own eyes.

 

VAkdubsHI,
I am well aware of iphone etc but DCM sends millage I am not cool on this or the dealer being about to pull my car info. When we are in a car we dont carry a normal phone. We designed our own cell for cars using Telit Communications module with no tracking not Apple no Google in goes to our server !. It does still have Verizon tracking it between towers but at least thats all and we can detect it.

When we bought this car a few days ago the dealer installed A Karr security system we didnt ask for it. They said oh you didnt pay for it so what.
We said we said once it got here from Japan we do not want any dealer addtions. They only had the car 5 hours and put it on anyway and drilled the dash
and spliced the loom !. We riped it out and the dealer will pay for a new lower dash part the drilled into.
Apple is for sure bad and Google etc but do we trust a dealer too ? And sorry Toyota you will not profit form insurance data. And oh you can call and remove the service it but we need more info first no !.

Also thanks Captain ! Thank you for your support I am here to share our research to help others. I respect others choices this is just our choice.

 

Not to mention there exists the concept of damage control.

Ignoring what data is collected, I expect (as much as you can from a corporation) better cybersecurity from Apple than say, Toyota. Not to mention Apple vs. Google and where they get their income. (if you’re worried about data breaches)

And also differences in data collected and how they’re handled, Apple takes greater pains to anonymize Apple Maps route metrics than Google. (if you’re worried about individual tracking)

Of course, your cell carrier has a good rough idea of location all the time, but it won’t easily know your speed, how hard you’re pressing the throttle, etc. (If you’re worried about insurance)

Saying “oh well” and letting everything go because you own a phone is much worse than changing what you can and acknowledging what you can’t.

(I call out Apple here a lot but they’re an example of what can be different - of course that can change and long-term I trust them about as far as I could throw Tim Apple but for now, I’ll accept the smaller wins.)

Oh, and the bombshell, Toyota isn’t going to try to void my warranty because Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation clocked me at 85 MPH (could be different car, could be navigating for someone else, etc.) so there are direct benefits to minimizing data transmitted.

That’s been called out in a warranty denial. There was more going on but Toyota allegedly calls out data transmitted from the vehicle claiming it hit 85 MPH at a date they would not disclose.

 

Read @Captain Spalding post again. He wasn't unclear in any way. There's no argument there.

This is an interesting and important topic and the implications are far reaching.

 

you must be a mind reader...

I can just leave my cell phone at home and my cell phone is not blue toothed to any of my cars

tin foil hat wearing conspiracy theorists have been right a lot lately, and we don't use aluminum foil in our hats because thats a toxic pervasive heavy metal

and I have faraday bags for my devices, including smart keys

$65 Mission Darkness NeoLok Window Faraday Bag for Phones (+ Secure Magnetic Closure & Transparent Window) // Device Shielding for Law Enforcement & Military, Data Security, Anti-Hacking & Anti-Tracking

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082MRYSRT

 

If disabling DCM is of no interest to you - MOVE ON.

You can see a picture of DCM board here. The cell modem is part of Kyocera AL-T52V1. Someone here opened it up.

Considering that this forum is overrun by assholes shouting down every DCM discussion, your best bet is to talk to taco guys in the forum linked. It is the same DCM.

 

Sysconi= new forum electronics hero for the people.

Vakdubshi= new forum troll, instantly despised by the masses.

@sysconi nice work tracing out the schematics, it will be interesting to see what you come up with.

@VAkdubsHI , don't bother replying and wasting more space on this thread. You can start a new one arguing the merits of my critique, if you care you. But don't bother, I won't open it lol

 

This has not much to do with DCM issues, But I wanted to add it for the members dealing with pouches for their fobs.

Found a link to a device on an insurance website a while ago, Site is in the UK.

https://keyshield.co/

 

Michelle has an interesting story about her 2024 4Runner tracking her...
https://x.com/MichelleMaxwell/status/1822740258850505052

I also learned about https://vehicleprivacyreport.com/ from her
enter your VIN, and find out what info about your vehicle is out there

 

I previously opted out of any data collection with Toyota in March of 2022. Today I went to vehiclprivacyreport.com and entered my VIN. What resulted was a page that showed me what data could be collected by my 4Runner, but it didn’t show any data that was collected. Does that mean the info was not collected, or not reported? I couldn’t tell.

when the opt-out button is pressed, a page comes up asking for name, address, etc.

For those who follow the link and enter their vin, do you see any personal info? Mileage? Places driven? Etc? Anything more than what I was shown (below)?

 

Great post OP. The module has a backup battery. My sister uninstalled the entire module. Removing antenna only reduces precision of coordinates, does not prevent connectivity. (think: cell phone has no external antenna).

Only her FR speaker stopped working, but I fix for her. Blue tooth gone too, but who care. Tracking ass hole

 

In general, any website that ask for data to opt you out is likely collecting data. Even if they already have your data, submitting it again verifies it.

 

And after, I confirmed by taking to remote area on beach with no signals, and scan every band. Only tpms broadcast beyond car.

 

vehicleprivacyreport seems more like a database to look up/confirm a given vehicle’s capabilities.

It confirmed that a couple Honda’s I maintain lack a cellular connection.

The data for my VIN was incorrect but that could be the previous owner.

I’m not giving the lady up there a view but judging from the thumbnail I’m not a fan the made up/less-tangible issue of “gubbermint kill car because I’m a PATRIOT” rather than the actual and present dangers outlined already.

(Read about it in theory years ago but in practice is there anything beyond passing along your location to law enforcement? I don’t want people thinking “oh I’m not politically active so i’m fine” either)

On a semi-related note, now could Sentry mode turn into a liability? https://www.sfchronicle.com/crime/article/tesla-sentry-mode-police-evidence-19731000.php

 

From the article: "Oakland police officials did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the Tesla owner back in Calgary. A source familiar with the investigation said the owner showed up as crews were loading his car onto a tow truck and intervened. When he volunteered the video, police released his vehicle."

This is worse than asset forfeiture. Imagine your car getting confiscated with no way to appeal over something like that.

 

the matrix has you

remove glove box, you will see the path forward ≥

 

The article doesn't mention what happens to the Tesla owners when their cars are confiscated. In the case of the Canadien owner - what would have happened if he had not arrived on the scene to intervene and consented to the release of the video? Would Oakland PD have paid his expenses while his Tesla was impounded? Or would it have been tough titty for him and he's on his own? I mean, we are talking some major inconveniences here. Based on how long it might take to get the second search warrant to get the video, as well as the investigators being available to get into the car - how long does that take? It's not like Oakland PD only has one or two major crimes to deal with every day. Oak PD actually has hundreds every day.

 

Working back to the original intent of the thread, @sysconi , looking forward to seeing your results. The first person to come up with a plug in harness to disconnect the DCM without impacting anything else stands to make some money.

 

Question from a dopey newb...
When did this first start in the 4runner? I see no signs of this in my '19. No SOS button. No indicators on the screen. But perhaps I am looking in the wrong place? I'd love to learn that it is not in my model year and I can go back to worrying about oil change malarkey.

 

If you search Internet you'll see that Jeep Grand Cherokee has already been hacked remotely via Internet. Active DCM module means that your truck connected to the Internet and what you can do with it via Toyota app theoretically can be done by somebody else. Toyota has been hacked too few years ago, but they said it was just customer data. So I wouldn't bet lots of money that Toyota remote access will be never compromised, it's a good thing if we could turn off DCM with flick of a switch just in case.

 

No SOS button means no DCM at all for you! And even if you did, you have the perks of having the older system that depended on a now-decommissioned 3G network. (If I recall correctly) I believe 2020+ models switched to 4G/LTE and that'll be around a while even as 5G exists today.

But the concept has definitely been around a while, not sure when it started in 4Runners.

 

Sweet! Thanks for the confirmation. I assumed it went in with the safety sensing program in 2020 but googling around never really produced a definitive answer. All I've got on screen is a cell phone with a red line through it. Yay!