Intro, electrical issue and trailer plug socket removal
Hello all,
Been roaming around this forum for a few months now. Its been a great source of knowledge, thank you. Purchased my LC a few months ago in CO and had the boys at Slee do a once over as well as a suspension and loadbar install. Had an 01 Tacoma for a few years before this.
The LC has been on many mountain biking and camping adventures around BC, WA and OR with me already and am looking forward to driving it around in the snow this winter.
Trying to bridge the gap between off-road ability and road-trip worthiness. Keeping the weight low is important to me, as well as making sure that all mods are made for a purpose. Its hard to stay focused on what I really need when seeing all the beautifully modded trucks on here!
Now for the problem:
I removed the stock trailer hitch to install the toyota cross member integrated bumper hitch assembly. Was lucky that my 03 with tow package came with cross member insert already. Allows for much better rack clearance back there.
In the process I removed the 7 pin trailer plug socket from the truck by just un-plugging it at the first connector up from the plug itself. I did not think this would be a problem, and was planning on finding a nice rubber sealing plug for the open end down there.
About 24hrs later, as I was driving home, a very loud intermittent "incoming fax" sound came from below/behind the dash. Limped home (under a 1 km) and minutes before pulling into the parking the ABS, VSC, TRAC and handbrake light went on accompanied by a loud steady alarm beeeeeeep.
Restarted the truck a couple of hours later and the "fax sound" was gone, but the alarm and dash lights were still on.
Symptoms sound very much like the ones described in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/150705-urgent-help.html#post2088441 of the FAQ.
I did not think removing the trailer harness would cause an issue? Did lots of reading on here and found info on how to install a trailer plug, but not on the procedure to remove it. I do not see how this would cause a short?
According to the past link the problem could be that: " The buzzy sound was the main junction box for the main wiring harness, and that the Juction box shorted out and is tripping the warning system buzzer." Could this have simply been caused by removing the plug?
Now, silly question, could I plug the trailer socket plug back into its connector and reset the ECU (pull battery terminal for a few mins) and solve the problem? Or did I do permanent damage to the main junction box and have to replace the whole thing?
Going to take the truck to the dealership on Monday but want to try and understand the problem with you guy's help here first. I have not had good luck communicating with the local toyota dealership in the past.
Thank you for insights or comments!
Hello all,
Been roaming around this forum for a few months now. Its been a great source of knowledge, thank you. Purchased my LC a few months ago in CO and had the boys at Slee do a once over as well as a suspension and loadbar install. Had an 01 Tacoma for a few years before this.
The LC has been on many mountain biking and camping adventures around BC, WA and OR with me already and am looking forward to driving it around in the snow this winter.
Trying to bridge the gap between off-road ability and road-trip worthiness. Keeping the weight low is important to me, as well as making sure that all mods are made for a purpose. Its hard to stay focused on what I really need when seeing all the beautifully modded trucks on here!
Now for the problem:
I removed the stock trailer hitch to install the toyota cross member integrated bumper hitch assembly. Was lucky that my 03 with tow package came with cross member insert already. Allows for much better rack clearance back there.
In the process I removed the 7 pin trailer plug socket from the truck by just un-plugging it at the first connector up from the plug itself. I did not think this would be a problem, and was planning on finding a nice rubber sealing plug for the open end down there.
About 24hrs later, as I was driving home, a very loud intermittent "incoming fax" sound came from below/behind the dash. Limped home (under a 1 km) and minutes before pulling into the parking the ABS, VSC, TRAC and handbrake light went on accompanied by a loud steady alarm beeeeeeep.
Restarted the truck a couple of hours later and the "fax sound" was gone, but the alarm and dash lights were still on.
Symptoms sound very much like the ones described in this thread: https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/150705-urgent-help.html#post2088441 of the FAQ.
I did not think removing the trailer harness would cause an issue? Did lots of reading on here and found info on how to install a trailer plug, but not on the procedure to remove it. I do not see how this would cause a short?
According to the past link the problem could be that: " The buzzy sound was the main junction box for the main wiring harness, and that the Juction box shorted out and is tripping the warning system buzzer." Could this have simply been caused by removing the plug?
Now, silly question, could I plug the trailer socket plug back into its connector and reset the ECU (pull battery terminal for a few mins) and solve the problem? Or did I do permanent damage to the main junction box and have to replace the whole thing?
Going to take the truck to the dealership on Monday but want to try and understand the problem with you guy's help here first. I have not had good luck communicating with the local toyota dealership in the past.
Thank you for insights or comments!
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