Engine immobilizer removal

Hello TW,

I recently bought a 2009 tacoma v6 hoping to have a vehicle that I can put many many miles on and keep a little value. I'm very happy with this truck so far.

The only thing I don't like about it is the engine immobilizer anti-theft system. I have been stranded in the past with vehicles that had similar systems. Has anyone done/know how to remove or disable the engine immobilizer feature? I don't want a remote start, I just want to use cheap keys and ensure I don't get stranded somewhere.

Thanks!

 

Sounds like something a thief would ask.

 

Nah, I've never lived anywhere that I've know anyone to have a vehicle stolen. I have no real use for any anti-theft feature besides door locks.

 

To answer your original question, I have no clue. I’ve never heard of anyone on here disabling theirs, and I’ve never heard of it leaving someone stranded. I would think you’d run into more issues if you were to monkey with the system.

 

I've read a few posts on problems with it, but again, it was only a few. I am far from monkeying with it because I'm paranoid about locking my truck out or something. I can't find the post again but someone had an aftermarket tunable ecu (in conjunction with the factory one) that would feed the factory ecu the correct signal no matter what.

 

I don’t recall ever seeing any one post on here about having an issue.

 

If you’re worried about locking yourself out, this may interest you

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...rnal-buttons-to-lock-and-unlock-doors.427455/

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ocked-out-with-no-start.445272/#post-12996177

upon finding this thread I found the ecu option again

 

I still wouldn’t worry about it. That’s only two people out of the thousands

 

What exactly is your specific worry with the transponder system? Worried the ecu will conk out and truck won't start or worried you will lose a key and not be able to start the truck?

EDIT: given the ECU you are talking about costs $1500 and that you already stated you don't really care about the transponder security, why not just get an extra chipped key to stow somewhere safe in the truck? and take a cheapo non-chipped key with you to just come back and unlock the door.

 

That's it!
It's obviously not THAT big a deal to me or I wouldn't have bought the truck. I'm just trying to find out if anyone has been able to completely bypass the system. As I understand it the ignition reads the chipped key and send the signal to the ecu. I'd hate for the ignition conk out, rendering all of my chipped keys useless. I'm thinking VERY far ahead and as you all say, it may never be a problem. Even still, if there was a simpler option to bypass it I would go for it. There are immobilizer bypasses for remote start but I think they are only activated by the remote start fob. I've been calling around to local shops but to no avail.

Nice color btw, I love some pyrite mica and I was stoked that mine (one of the few MT trucks I found for sale) had it.

 

Interesting. Good luck with finding a solution. I don't think you need to be too worried about it failing, percentage chance-wise, unless you like water-crossings. My understanding of remote start systems is the same....on the basic end they just bypass the transponder at the ignition ring, not changing ECU operation.

Lol I wonder if you went through the trouble of swapping in base model electronic systems if it would work how you intend. From my understanding its either base model tacos from certain years or 5 lugs or something that don't even have transponder systems. Not sure on specifics.

Thanks, pyrite mica has been the best decision I made in selecting truck color. IT just so happened to be on my local lot at the time in 4x4 TRD OR, like destiny!

 

its all ecu based, if that takes a crap you have bigger problems.

If you loose your keys do what i do. Get a standard metal key cut so you can open the door but not start the truck and hide that outside under the truck, then bury a second chipped key somewhere hidden within the cab. All bases covered

 

This!!!

 

Is the engine immobilizer light suppost to flash when you take the key out? I thought mine flashed at one time but it doesn't anymore. Its an 05 regular cab base model.

 

JSB10, I think it is supposed to flash when the key is removed. Does it ever light up when the truck is running? I'd say if you are still able to drive the truck around the immobilizer system is working fine. Who knows maybe the light burned out, even if it's an led, those eventually go out too.

 

Sorry to keep beating a dead horse. As the former owner of 3 GM cars that suffered from the theft lock going haywire, this doesn’t seem to be a recurrent Toyota problem. I understand the fear though. My ‘09 still trucking away.

 

Thanks for the reply. I bet your right the light probably is just burned out but the system is still working

 

Dislodge the immobilizer antenna and zip tie a spare key to the antenna, the light will be disabled forever.

I usually do this to my beaters that I want to install a remote starter on but don't want to spend extra on the bypass.

 

you have a picture of said process?