I wonder if there is an equally in-depth info for the ~~2004~~ 2014 4Runner. Have someone else who’s totally nontechnical who wants this done.
this post was submitted on 16 May 2026
382 points (99.7% liked)
Privacy
5670 readers
70 users here now
Welcome! This is a community for all those who are interested in protecting their privacy.
Rules
PS: Don't be a smartass and try to game the system, we'll know if you're breaking the rules when we see it!
- Be civil and no prejudice
- Don't promote big-tech software
- No apathy and defeatism for privacy (i.e. "They already have my data, why bother?")
- No reposting of news that was already posted
- No crypto, blockchain, NFTs
- No Xitter links (if absolutely necessary, use xcancel)
Related communities:
Some of these are only vaguely related, but great communities.
- !opensource@programming.dev
- !selfhosting@slrpnk.net / !selfhosted@lemmy.world
- !piracy@lemmy.dbzer0.com
- !drm@lemmy.dbzer0.com
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
The 2004 4Runner never had any sort of modem, and only the Limited models had GPS - but that's purely a receiver for navigation and doesn't actually transmit anything.
This level of connectivity is a relatively recent thing.
Sorry, slip of the finger while distracted. I meant the 2024 4Runner.
Edit: jeez, my fingers are potatoes today.
I'd imagine the system in a '24 4Runner is very similar to that of the '24 RAV4.
If we start at the shift selector as per the article, it is radically different. It’s a solid stick, it has no boot.
Important: Even after the modem is removed, if you connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth then the car will use your phone as an internet connection and send all the same telemetry data back to Toyota.
that is so fucking insidious
But one can also disable bluetooth tethering?
Can you use the phone to only allow Bluetooth media but nothing else?
At least on my pixel, I've got a setting to enable or disable sharing phones internet to bluetooth connections.
I don't seem to have this on my S23
Does iOS still not ask fully what the user wants to use the Bluetooth connection for? As bad as Android is I can't imagine it doing something like that without asking.
Data will find a way.
I did something similar to a 5th gen camaro. It was much easier. Take out the cell modem unit, open the case, pull out a physical hardware pin bridge that connected it to the OnStar unit. Done.
The only thing I lost was an in-dash compass heading.
The modem was 2g so its dead now anyway, I suppose I could put the bridge back and get the compass. I won't though, that takes effort and road signs have directions on them. There is always the sun too.
Thank you for posting this. These devices are getting out of control. They are marketed as a convenience to the driver, when in actuality they are capturing and selling your location and driving habit information to data brokers and insurance companies. Sometimes dealerships will even add an aftermarket tracking device to their vehicles without telling you. I removed one that I found in a Crosstrek I bought last year. The device I removed was made by iKON Technologies, and is 'intended' to be used for lot management at the dealership. The dealership tried to sell me an overpriced security plan associated with the GPS tracker. I declined. They left it on anyway. What they don't tell you is that iKON Technologies installs them at no cost to the dealership, and that the tracker is used for repossessions and capturing data to be used for targeted marketing or sell to data brokers. Some devices have the ability to inhibit your starter and ignition system like the one in this manual.
and that the tracker is used for repossessions
The only dealers that use those kinds of trackers are BHPH lots, or dealers who handle a lot of high-risk customers.
It's still shitty, but the contract you sign when you buy one of these cars absolutely does state their usage.
This YouTube video includes footage from a video call with company representatives for iKON Technologies. Their products are definitely being used for more than theft recovery. There is also a Google spreadsheet in the video description with participating dealerships. Thankfully their products are easy to remove. The device in my car was connected to the battery and ziptied to one of the leads to the battery.
They wish they hadn't
Slap that tracker on a car belonging to an employee of the dealership.
load more comments
(3 replies)
If this is a more complicated version for you and you want a quick and dirty one, just disconnect the fuse marked DCM in the fuse box under the steering wheel. This will kill it's power, however there is a built in battery in the DCM module that will take a few days to die. This does cause the microphone to not work as well, but its an option. I did it when I bought my '21 RAV4 Hybrid over 2 years ago and it hasn't caused more issues than the microphone not working.
Why does a car need a microphone?
For hands free phone calls
but my phone has a microphone
Yes, and many regions currently ban any phone usage while driving, including taking phone calls. A hands-free system makes this task much easier.
but my phone microphone can be used during a call with car audio
Why don't you stick your phone in your pocket or a cupholder and then make that phone call.
it's mounted on the dash
you're really not getting the whole "car speakers, phone microphone" setup, are you
Not legal in several areas.
in which places is a dash-mounted phone illegal?
For voice calls with your phone, some cars have voice activated features, etc.
It's all crap I don't need.
load more comments
(3 replies)
load more comments
(15 replies)
load more comments
(7 replies)
Fucking brilliant. We need much more of this--more public awareness of this type of hack.
Congratulations - your car no longer has the capability to transmit telemetry data. Of course it may still be captured to local storage and can be physically collected later, but for me that was fine.
Yeah, and it’s unknown how much telemetry the car keeps. Hopefully, the removal of GPS means the car no longer logs every location the car travels, but without that there are some reports that modern vehicles keep years of GPS data locally, so it’s possible for an intruder like law enforcement to see everywhere you’ve ever taken your vehicle.
Very cool. Passing this on to friends and family with the RAV4.
This makes me feel better of buying a new Toyota in the near future.
Dumb question if the modem is removed, why need to remove the GPS?
Dumb question if the modem is removed, why need to remove the GPS?
The article says that while not needed, it helped with some bugs when using a phone as the navigation device.
load more comments
(7 replies)
My wife is worried (and so am I) about getting anything newer than like a 2016 for this reason. I'm glad we're able to rip that shit out of newer cars
view more: next ›