Tapping my Brake Controller for Tailgaiters Causes Power Loss

Ryan1975

Ryan1975

New member
Hi -

Stupid inane thoughts of the morning: I hate when vehicles drive for me.

I like tapping my brake controller to get people off my ass...but with the 4Runner it yields power loss. I've replicated the effect by holding speed and lightly covering the brake pedal.

Apparently Toyota has designed their trucks thus that any brake input immediately results in a power loss to drivetrain.

I don't have any questions (unless you know how to reprogram the ECU)

So here's a rabbit with a pancake on its head.
 
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I guess we kind of have to expect that after all the Toyota vehicles that could not be stopped a few years back.
 
Titan's had the same thing. No go when the brake pedal was pressed down. Enter the "Burnout Mod". Basically you put a switch inline with a wire on the brake pedal switch so the truck doesn't "know" the brake is pressed (which subsequently means no brakelights). Anyway- flip the switch, hold firmly on the brakes and floor the accelerator. Once the tires start spinning let up on the brake and hold on! I could leave little mounds of rubber on the ground and stuck all over my mudflaps- SMOKE EVERYWHERE-got expensive!

Back on topic- you could probably do something similar for your dilemma but ultimately it's not very good for the vehicle anyway.
 
Its designed to deter vindictive drivers who slam on the brakes in front other drivers in an attempt to scare them.
 
Among my, oh, one or two *cough* pet peeves, tailgaters are at the very tippy-top.

Brake-checking is a tad dangerous, and as much as I love to see them nose dive in my mirror, I've quit it. I don't want some mascara-applying, texting knucklehead rear ending me .... it's just too much of a potential inconvenience if they hit me, regaqrdless of fault.

So my technique these days is to just let off the gas and coast down until they back off, or pass. I just rinse/repeat for those who don't figure it out.

More time consuming, but still fun. I'm old enough now to laugh at those who roar around me and flip me off. (Hurry off to work sucker, I'm headed for my boat).
 
Antman said:
Titan's had the same thing. No go when the brake pedal was pressed down. Enter the "Burnout Mod". Basically you put a switch inline with a wire on the brake pedal switch so the truck doesn't "know" the brake is pressed (which subsequently means no brakelights). Anyway- flip the switch, hold firmly on the brakes and floor the accelerator. Once the tires start spinning let up on the brake and hold on! I could leave little mounds of rubber on the ground and stuck all over my mudflaps- SMOKE EVERYWHERE-got expensive!

Back on topic- you could probably do something similar for your dilemma but ultimately it's not very good for the vehicle anyway.
Click to expand...

Hmmm...what about constant voltage to the sensor?
 
Ryan1975 said:
Hmmm...what about constant voltage to the sensor?
Click to expand...

If I understand you correctly, you are trying to make the brake lights come on, while you're still pressing on the gas right?

Why not just run some wires back to the brake light bulbs and a momentary switch to turn it on as you please :)

Just make sure to wire in diodes to prevent the power from flowing back down the harness (not sure if it would confuse any of the ECUs to see a 12 volt signal on the brake light circuit out of no where).
 
eddiebx said:
If I understand you correctly, you are trying to make the brake lights come on, while you're still pressing on the gas right?

Why not just run some wires back to the brake light bulbs and a momentary switch to turn it on as you please :)

Just make sure to wire in diodes to prevent the power from flowing back down the harness (not sure if it would confuse any of the ECUs to see a 12 volt signal on the brake light circuit out of no where).
Click to expand...

It works- I have my left brake light wired with a switch so it will illuminate when my fogs are on- like a european rear fog light. Used 2 diodes, one after the switch and one before it feeds the right taillight. In foggy/really rainy situations I feel better knowing people can see me better.
 
eddiebx said:
If I understand you correctly, you are trying to make the brake lights come on, while you're still pressing on the gas right?

Why not just run some wires back to the brake light bulbs and a momentary switch to turn it on as you please :)

Just make sure to wire in diodes to prevent the power from flowing back down the harness (not sure if it would confuse any of the ECUs to see a 12 volt signal on the brake light circuit out of no where).
Click to expand...

You're not - which is ok.

I'm lamenting the fact that Toyota has deemed that if the brakes are engaged that power must be cut to the motor.
 
If youre in the left hand lane how about moving over and letting the driver pass?

Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2
 
Does anyone else think that when someone is tailgating you, it is also a good time to use the windshield washers to get the bugs off the glass?
 
3rd Gen owner here, forgive the momentary intrusion. As another option that also adds some functionality for other situations, what about something like this?
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...-also-how-not-short-out-your-whole-truck.html

Obviously with the 5th Gen you'd have to figure out placement, wiring, etc., but it could be done. If i ever do move up to a 5th, I've actually thought about rerouting the exhaust out to the side (like the 3rd), cutting a matching round hole in the bumper opposite where the original exhaust was, and adding round auxiliary lights in those spaces.

Just a thought. Back to my Y2K party...
 
Lost27 said:
If youre in the left hand lane how about moving over and letting the driver pass?
Click to expand...

No, if I think that doing 60 in the left lane in a 75 mph posted zone is good enough for me, it should be good enough for the conga line of cars and trucks backed up for 1/4 of a mile behind me.

Most of the problems described in this thread would be easily solved if people would

a) drive the speed limit, not 10 under because they're on the phone
b) police would issue citations for violating the "keep right except to pass" and "slower traffic keep right" signs like they do in Germany.
 
Last edited:
vicpick58 said:
Does anyone else think that when someone is tailgating you, it is also a good time to use the windshield washers to get the bugs off the glass?
Click to expand...

Oooh me likey. I'll try this, but my money sez that ppl stupid enough to tailgate won't get it.

Let's see - if I brake check them at the exact moment they're distracted looking for the wiper stalk ......

Where's my trailer hitch ball mount? better get that sucker installed.
 
LandCruiser said:
Most of the problems described in this thread would be easily solved if people would

a) drive the speed limit, not 10 under because they're on the phone
b) police would issue citations for violating the "keep right except to pass" and "slower traffic keep right" signs like they do in Germany.
Click to expand...

But there's a couple flaws with that... A) The speed limit is just that, the maximum limit, not mandatory cruising speed.

B) In many states, 'keep right except to pass' and 'slower traffic keep right' is a courtesy, not a law, therefore not enforceable.
 
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