3rd Party Tech Assistance Toronto Area

[17KT4R]

Desperate situation has occurred with our 2017 TRD OR. Looking for advice from any Toronto Area owners who are aware of a technician / shop willing to repair a main harness connection (Interior, male and female ends by the driver side kick cover). Couple pins broken, there is some obvious corrosion but not heavy duty. Now vehicle is in limp mode with codes obviously.

This has been dealer diagnosed, discovered. They will not repair, they will only replace engine room main harness 8211-35R50 $7208 plus tax, instrument panel wire harness 82141-3D642 $5835 plus tax, 45hrs labour $6975. $22K plus taxes in.

I've been battling mice for years in the engine bay, constantly removing food sources, taping over where I might have found a nibble (even bought a scope to check tough areas). Found droppings inside couple times too and they ate my cabin filter before until I closed that intake area. I believe one took a nibble somewhere and now that caused a moisture creep into that harness and got to it down there. Toronto area suffers from brutal brine dust that occurs in the middle of winter, it dries where you see cornflakes on your matts. Combine that with fans on high, its just circulating everywhere so I'm not surprised to see this I guess after so many years.

Yes I have a call into the insurance people but I also know they will do everything in their power to walk away from this kind of thing. The vehicle is otherwise pristine with about 115000 kilometers on it. No idea what may occur here but I want to know now if there be other options if I have to tow it home again. I get the fact the dealer won't attempt to repair things like this cause of liability but you can't have this done by someone with a basic soldering gun either. Has to be an experienced shop who's handled way worse.

Anyone out my way have a serious recommendation? Greatly appreciated friends...

 

[osugsxr]

Desperate situation has occurred with our 2017 TRD OR. Looking for advice from any Toronto Area owners who are aware of a technician / shop willing to repair a main harness connection (Interior, male and female ends by the driver side kick cover). Couple pins broken, there is some obvious corrosion but not heavy duty. Now vehicle is in limp mode with codes obviously.

This has been dealer diagnosed, discovered. They will not repair, they will only replace engine room main harness 8211-35R50 $7208 plus tax, instrument panel wire harness 82141-3D642 $5835 plus tax, 45hrs labour $6975. $22K plus taxes in.

I've been battling mice for years in the engine bay, constantly removing food sources, taping over where I might have found a nibble (even bought a scope to check tough areas). Found droppings inside couple times too and they ate my cabin filter before until I closed that intake area. I believe one took a nibble somewhere and now that caused a moisture creep into that harness and got to it down there. Toronto area suffers from brutal brine dust that occurs in the middle of winter, it dries where you see cornflakes on your matts. Combine that with fans on high, its just circulating everywhere so I'm not surprised to see this I guess after so many years.

Yes I have a call into the insurance people but I also know they will do everything in their power to walk away from this kind of thing. The vehicle is otherwise pristine with about 115000 kilometers on it. No idea what may occur here but I want to know now if there be other options if I have to tow it home again. I get the fact the dealer won't attempt to repair things like this cause of liability but you can't have this done by someone with a basic soldering gun either. Has to be an experienced shop who's handled way worse.

Anyone out my way have a serious recommendation? Greatly appreciated friends...

Did the dealer point out where the damage is? multiple locations?

"but you can't have this done by someone with a basic soldering gun either. Has to be an experienced shop who's handled way worse. "

How do you know? Wiring , soldering and pins are fairly simple.

I had similar issue with wiring harness on right side engine bay years ago. There was a few wires chewed and suv was driveable but lit up. We filed a claim via insurance and had options to pick a shop. Dealer was tad high and I had a local shop that I've used before. We went that route since my wife didnt want me doing the work. :wow: Pocketed the difference and no issue since then. It was a simple solder and pinning.

If insurance declares it total , shop around and get comps and get the most out of it!!! Value will be strong , use that and move on.

 

[Humble Leader]

if the dealer won't repair it's likely there is too much damage? I had rodent damage to ignition wiring and the dealer repaired at a cost of $1K which insurance paid for. haven't had a problem since and it's been over 2 years. those part prices you were quoted are the MSRP. you could save $4K ordering over the counter or sometimes even online from some dealers. first part I am seeing at $5K and the second at $4K. still, expensive

for a $22K quote which is half the value of the vehicle this is why we have insurance. if you have comprehensive non collision coverage you will be covered here. if you chose to waive or not pay for this, then you're out of luck

some people just buy liability coverage because it's cheaper but don't really understand what that covers, it doesn't cover damage from theft, fire, rodents, etc

 

[17KT4R]

if the dealer won't repair it's likely there is too much damage? I had rodent damage to ignition wiring and the dealer repaired at a cost of $1K which insurance paid for. haven't had a problem since and it's been over 2 years. those part prices you were quoted are the MSRP. you could save $4K ordering over the counter or sometimes even online from some dealers. first part I am seeing at $5K and the second at $4K. still, expensive

for a $22K quote which is half the value of the vehicle this is why we have insurance. if you have comprehensive non collision coverage you will be covered here. if you chose to waive or not pay for this, then you're out of luck

some people just buy liability coverage because it's cheaper but don't really understand what that covers, it doesn't cover damage from theft, fire, rodents, etc

No they seemed to have traced the issue to the harness connection at the drivers footwell because TBM voltage in the engine bay is non existent so its being fed off that broken pin or possibly whatever else is corroded in there, I saw the connectors they didn't look really bad but the technician says a couple pins are toast for sure. There may be excess resistance on the others. Put it back together - it didn't get worse LoL

Appreciate the advice on ordering the parts but its something I'd rather have addressed there if possible. I have full insurance but they always have specified perils such as corrosion and wear and tear wording, I'm not feeling the adjuster is going to look at this like they look at mouse damage where things are chaos. This moisture came in from somewhere but it could very well be nibbles unseen. I have to have hope they'll consider the repair. In terms of the dealer I have to have hope they can give me a Plan B. No way I can asbsorb such a cost who could. In limbo at the moment. Thx again.

 

[17KT4R]

Did the dealer point out where the damage is? multiple locations?

"but you can't have this done by someone with a basic soldering gun either. Has to be an experienced shop who's handled way worse. "

How do you know? Wiring , soldering and pins are fairly simple.

I had similar issue with wiring harness on right side engine bay years ago. There was a few wires chewed and suv was driveable but lit up. We filed a claim via insurance and had options to pick a shop. Dealer was tad high and I had a local shop that I've used before. We went that route since my wife didnt want me doing the work. :wow: Pocketed the difference and no issue since then. It was a simple solder and pinning.

If insurance declares it total , shop around and get comps and get the most out of it!!! Value will be strong , use that and move on.

I hear you thank you. I know what you mean - replacing pins, wire looms / pig tails are regular in my industry ( large scale generating equipment outdoors that suffer the same type of rodent risk ). But I think they have liability concerns in terms of what success rate they may have either bypassing the bad pins and cleaning up the harness connection regardless if I were to assume that risk to have a useable vehicle again. They would rather replace harness assemblies and disassemble the entire dash. Anyway - I have had further discussions with them and they are receptive to formulating a Plan B approach if insurance walks away on this. Hence - my ask if anyone had recommendations in my parts already from past successful repairs like this ... I certainly think the vehicle isn't scrap it still looks new and has been maintained far beyond expectation but none of that matters to insurance. Anyway - waiting game at the moment. Thx again for the reply.