Fried ECU and wire harness. 2 months later.....

[CookieRoe]

Hey All,

Some of you may remember that I got a HID bixenon retro for my runner. When installing it, I kept blowing fuses. Upon about the third fuse, I mistakenly put in a 30 amp fuse frying the solenoids for the high beams AND the ECU. The headlight fuse is only a 10 amp fuse. HUGE MISTAKE! Anyway, this was about August 23 (the day of the earthquake here in the Northeast and about 4 days before Hurricane Irene hit here near Philadelphia). The ECU being fried was diagnosed a few days later but the computer was still firing a code. After a couple of weeks, they had a regional tech (I can't remember the official name) come in to check my truck out. Turns out, I also fried 2 of my wire harnesses (engine wire harness and one in the dashboard). Both of which had to be ordered from Japan. I was told AROUND Sept 10 that it was going to take about 15 days for the harnesses to come in. One apparently came in and we are now waiting for another. I was told it was to come in Sept. 25. Then it was delayed until the Oct. 6. I called once again the day of part delivery and was DELAYED AGAIN till today (Oct 10). Low and behold, it is delayed again apparently till the 20 of October. The boys who have my truck are Conicelli Toyota here in Conshohoken, PA. I don't blame them for the longevity of the parts getting in, but this is ridiculous! I called Toyota of North American with the part number to see WTF is going on. Obviously it's no one's fault except the supplier of the harness. So my truck could be at the dealer for a total of a little more than 2 months. When the part does come in, it will be about 2 days to install everything. It makes me wonder if by replacing the ECU and these harnesses that electrical gremlins won't peer their ugly heads. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Anyway, I can't afford to unload my runner and will have to keep it for the long run (which is what I was going to do anyway). Financially I don't have a choice.

Just thought I would share my frustration. Is there anything else I can do? The part is on a "critical" state of delivery (vehicle is down), but apparently that isn't helping.

In the beginning, they were blaming the aftermarket lights, but I told them of the 30amp fuse mistake. They think that (so do I) did all the damage.

:sobbing:

 

[toyotatech84]

When we had the recalls for older Prius steering rack recalls, if the rack was so messed up that had to be replaced the longest I saw a rack to get here from japan was 2.5 months. We had a wire harness that a rat chewed through for a tacoma and it took us about 3 months to get it from japan. Its crazy but there is honestly nothing we can do.

 

[ClockWork]

That sucks, hopefully everything works out soon.

 

[CookieRoe]

When we had the recalls for older Prius steering rack recalls, if the rack was so messed up that had to be replaced the longest I saw a rack to get here from japan was 2.5 months. We had a wire harness that a rat chewed through for a tacoma and it took us about 3 months to get it from japan. Its crazy but there is honestly nothing we can do.

That's actually comforting to know it's happened. But I'm dying without my truck. I'm driving my 07 Civic now. I really hope all this wait for the harnesses FIXES the problem.

That sucks, hopefully everything works out soon.

Thanks!

I'll report back with any significant updates.

 

[jimithing]

That definitely sucks. Maybe not something you want to do but how about trying to get the harnesses from a junkyard from a totaled vehicle. Wiring harnesses probably aren't in real high demand so maybe you could get one easily. Of course the Toyota place might not want to put it on because they can't warranty a part that's not theirs but it's a thought if the harness is delayed much longer.

 

[CookieRoe]

That definitely sucks. Maybe not something you want to do but how about trying to get the harnesses from a junkyard from a totaled vehicle. Wiring harnesses probably aren't in real high demand so maybe you could get one easily. Of course the Toyota place might not want to put it on because they can't warranty a part that's not theirs but it's a thought if the harness is delayed much longer.

I thought the same thing, but these harnesses don't look easy to do. It would have to be from a 2005 limited with the V6. Not too many (if at all) of them here in junkyards (i have a friend who does keep an eye out). My warranty is probably voided which is fine by me b/c she is nearing 100K.

 

[CookieRoe]

so someone from Toyota of North America called telling me of the part shortage and the like. He told me that he can confirm that my harness will come in the 20 of Oct. He even offered a free rental (Matrix/Corolla) till it arrives. So I can stop driving the crap out of my Civic. Not bad (for something that is my fault).

Go Toyota!! :bigok:

 

[Eastcoastrunner]

so someone from Toyota of North America called telling me of the part shortage and the like. He told me that he can confirm that my harness will come in the 20 of Oct. He even offered a free rental (Matrix/Corolla) till it arrives. So I can stop driving the crap out of my Civic. Not bad (for something that is my fault).

Go Toyota!! :bigok:

sorry to hear about your problem, but on a side note, is this common with HID retrofits? i'm thinking of completing mine, but the last thing I want to do is eff up this vehicle. It's been nothing but a money pit thus far, so. Any idea on why yours went pooopy?

 

[CookieRoe]

sorry to hear about your problem, but on a side note, is this common with HID retrofits? i'm thinking of completing mine, but the last thing I want to do is eff up this vehicle. It's been nothing but a money pit thus far, so. Any idea on why yours went pooopy?

My installation went to h*ll b/c I had the polarity reversed. In some cases, it blows fuses and in others it doesn't. But this DID NOT cause the ECU and other harnesses to melt. It was my putting in a 30amp fuse in to slot that only handles 10amps. HID had nothing to do with it.

As to your HID retro, go ahead! If you blow a fuse, no worries! Pretty much everything is shielded so nothing explodes. And on a side note, thanks for choosing retros (the correct way to go HID)!!

 

[CookieRoe]

Last week I called Toyota of North America to see if I could SOMEHOW speed up the delivery of a wire harness from Japan. The gentleman told me that special order items from Japan do take a long time. I informed him that the part coming in had been delayed a number of times and that I've been without a car since the end of August (2011). He told me that I was entitled to a free rental. I was to pay for it, however upon faxing him the receipt, Toyota of North America would reimburse my credit card. I then headed to the rental office of the dealer where I had called a few hours previously to set aside a Corolla. When I got there, the smallest they had was a Prius. They subsidized the Prius (same price of a Corolla) and I was on my way.

Neat little car. I'm getting 52mpg AVERAGE and it's a blast to drive. Anyway, I get a call from Toyota of N.A. to inform me that the part came in and to expect a call from my dealer. Of course, they never called. I called them and told me that they would start first thing (today) and they might be ready for Friday. Here's hoping..............

On a side note: Now that my truck will be fixed (I hope), I'm very gun-shy of continuing on with my planned mods. This bill will be epic, but I can't afford NOT TO repair my 4Runner. My mods include:

1) installing BT to the NAV (OEM or aftermarket).
2) Rear camera
3) debating whether or not to start all new with another retro.

Any words of encouragement??

I figure with a new ECU/engine control harness/some dash harness, the truck should be good as new. A mechanic friend of mine told me that at least some shop isn't repairing it half a$$ed. The replacement of major wire harnesses and a new ECU should completely eliminate any possibility of damaged wires (electrical gremlins) in your truck!! Comforting, but..................

 

[empty403]

In the beginning, they were blaming the aftermarket lights, but I told them of the 30amp fuse mistake. They think that (so do I) did all the damage.

:sobbing:

If you install an HID (relay) wiring harness it would have prevented your issue, as it has its own fuse (to the battery) and uses the battery to power the HIDs. The harness only uses the headlight power to signal the relay to turn on. $15 at DDM Tuning.

 

[CookieRoe]

If you install an HID (relay) wiring harness it would have prevented your issue, as it has its own fuse (to the battery) and uses the battery to power the HIDs. The harness only uses the headlight power to signal the relay to turn on. $15 at DDM Tuning.

NOPE. The HID kit (from Lightwerkz) came with a wire harness AND a relay. As I mentioned before, the HIDs didn't cause the electrical system to implode.

 

[empty403]

NOPE. The HID kit (from Lightwerkz) came with a wire harness AND a relay. As I mentioned before, the HIDs didn't cause the electrical system to implode.

That is very strange, CookieRoe. Was it raining every time your fuse blew. I had a similar issue, when water got into the igniter connection. But I ended up blowing fuses on the harness to the battery and the light never came back on. The igniter was shorted out, but DDM is warrantied for life. I mounted the Igniter and Ballast in another area.

 

[riceandpho]

his retrofit didnt cause the problem, it was just his mistake for changing a fuse to a higher amp rating, than to use the same or smaller rating. this shows that in emergency, use the same or lower only, never higher, 5amp over is ok for temp.

 

[CookieRoe]

That is very strange, CookieRoe. Was it raining every time your fuse blew. I had a similar issue, when water got into the igniter connection. But I ended up blowing fuses on the harness to the battery and the light never came back on. The igniter was shorted out, but DDM is warrantied for life. I mounted the Igniter and Ballast in another area.

No rain, but when I did take it to the lightwerkz crew (2 hr drive), they found the harness it came with had the polarity reversed. Something else was misconnected b/c a reverse in polarity, I don't think, is going to cause a fuse to blow. Anyway, something was not connected correctly and I became impatient. This is when I started screwing with all the connections (plugging them in backwards to see if it remedied anything, when what I SHOULD have done was call them up and have them walk me through (with a voltmeter) the process. I think I mentioned before I'm no good at electrical stuff. Lesson Learned............. the hard way.

his retrofit didnt cause the problem, it was just his mistake for changing a fuse to a higher amp rating, than to use the same or smaller rating. this shows that in emergency, use the same or lower only, never higher, 5amp over is ok for temp.

Amen............. although I'm still not out of the woods. Some say I may encounter electrical gremlins b/c you really can't tell to what extent and what wires were fried. Maybe some are fried and the techs didn't detect it? In any event, I give myself a good chance being that they (Toyota) are changing major harnesses and an ECU. Instead of delicate, precision surgery, they are approaching it with a big blunt mallet to fix the problem. Definitely one for the books (not that I'm proud of it)

 

[ClockWork]

How is the prius a blast to drive?

 

[DC runner]

My Fiance had a Prius.. boring.

Anyone seen Horrible Bosses? There is a bit in there, where they are speeding away from a scene in a prius. Cops find them with the Red Light camera footage.

As they are questioning them, on Cop asks something to the effect of "Why were you running a red light at that hour?"

Response "I was drag racing..."

"In a Prius?"..

"Well, I don't win often..."


I laughed my butt off. It is so true. I mean. If you like electronics and watching the battery charge indicator, sure it can be geeky fun for a bit. But, it is boring. Slow, quiet and boring..

 

[CookieRoe]

How is the prius a blast to drive?

"Blast" being a relative term.

My Fiance had a Prius.. boring.
If you like electronics and watching the battery charge indicator, sure it can be geeky fun for a bit. But, it is boring. Slow, quiet and boring..

That's what I was trying to say. I'm an auto enthusiast so I find the "love" in every car. It is fun for me b/c it's a different driving experience. The mission of a Prius is economy and it does it very well. Some people hate the Prius no matter what, ..............well, that's too bad for them. When I drive my 4Runner, it's a BLAST. A different kind of BLAST. (loved 4Runners since I was 16.........so, what, that makes 20 years now?), just like driving a 1964 1/2 Mustang is a BLAST. (it is fun if you can get over the crappy handling and laughable brakes)

ANYWHO, I should get my 4Runner back from the dealer early next week. Until then, I soldier on with "my" blue Prius (looking sadly at the 4th gen 4Rs passing me..LOL)............

 

[CookieRoe]

Hits keep on coming............

Called Conicelli, now they tell me that I have a dead injector......................

fun times. I was quoted $300 for it.

Please kill me

 

[ClockWork]

Lovely. Especially since you had to call them to get bent over more.