[akili]

Has anyone managed to turn off or have this turned off (see pic for reference) on their Hi? Concern here is retaining privacy, even at the expense of turning off anything that uses DCM (my understanding is all items that use connected services including remote start). In the past, I've heard there's a DCM fuse (and removing it does nothing) as there's also a backup battery behind radio for supplying power to DCM.

 

[toto]

Pressing the SOS button calls Toyota Customer Support, so maybe you can "opt out" to some degree. I doubt all data transmission totally stops, though.

If you have a smartphone and it's on, then you're already being tracked constantly. Toyota would probably collect less personal information than your phone does.

The world we live in has sacrificed privacy for convenience.

 

[steve108]

I'd track down the antenna(s?) for the DCM and remove them. If it's smart enough to know the antenna is disconnected and throws an error, replace with a dummy load.

 

[toto]

The DCM shares the "shark fin" on the roof with Sirius XM, AM radio, and part of the FM radio diversity antenna.

 

[akili]

Pressing the SOS button calls Toyota Customer Support, so maybe you can "opt out" to some degree. I doubt all data transmission totally stops, though.

If you have a smartphone and it's on, then you're already being tracked constantly. Toyota would probably collect less personal information than your phone does.

The world we live in has sacrificed privacy for convenience.

will give it a try and see where it leads

 

[akili]

I'd track down the antenna(s?) for the DCM and remove them. If it's smart enough to know the antenna is disconnected and throws an error, replace with a dummy load.

makes sense

 

[akili]

The DCM shares the "shark fin" on the roof with Sirius XM, AM radio, and part of the FM radio diversity antenna.

and i couldn't find any DIY videos on how to remove it for Highlander, but I reckon the process would be similar to "shark fin" removal videos of say Tacoma that I came across on youtube. All this, of course, assuming it would address (either partially or wholly) the primary issue at hand in the first place.

 

[steve108]

The DCM shares the "shark fin" on the roof with Sirius XM, AM radio, and part of the FM radio diversity antenna.

Are you sure about that? They might be in the same location (under the shark fin) but those are all on very different frequencies and probably each have their own.

Regardless, they certainly do not share a receiver, so if there is only one antenna find a way to disconnect it from the DCM receiver only.

 

[toto]

Yes, I am sure about that. There are probably four different wires coming out of that antenna, one for each band.

If you have factory nav, that antenna is separate and located in the dash. The other portion of the FM diversity antenna is on the driver's side rear glass.

 

[steve108]

Oh that makes it easy then, just have to figure out which one is for the cellular band.

 

[ksammy5]

If your vehicle gets stolen, you would welcome the possibility of Toyota being able to locate it. If you are a car thief, information on disabling this feature would be helpful.