The Toyota Landcruiser Owners Club

[Garfield]

I have a 1998 Landcruiser Colorado VX, my keyfobs are playing up - sometimes getting the car to unlock with them is a pain, the range on them has always been 'disappointing'.

I have read the horror stories related to TVSS and how the system components are 'obslete and unavailable' so I now plan to fit an aftermarket system and in order to do this the TVSS has to go.

Does anyone have

a) Experience of and instructions for removing the TVSS.

b) Best Thatcham Cat 1 to fit ...
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Mistakes are lifes lessons that only the stupid ignore. People make mistakes, idiots repeat them.

[Google]

[Garfield]

This is a bit of a double post but just in case somebody reads here but not the Alarm / Immobiliser forum.

I have a 1998 3.4L Colorado (and have had for 3 years now) so far it has been bullet proof (if somewhat expensive) in use.

However my keyfobs are becoming unreliable and unlocking the car is becoming a problem more and more often (regardless of battery age) so I need to know how to remove the TVSS system. Having read the horror stories about the TVSS system locking peoples cars and then failing to unlock, added to obsolete unavailable parts I want to replace the TVSS system before it is too late, I can not afford for this 'lockout' to happen.

I will be fitting an aftermarket system as soon as the TVSS is removed.

Anyone here know how to remove it?
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Mistakes are lifes lessons that only the stupid ignore. People make mistakes, idiots repeat them.

[potshot]

See viewtopic.php?t=8672

[Garfield]

Thanks, I had seen it, yours is the situation that I don't want to be in.

I went to the techdocs site but found nothing useful.

Did you get anywhere with the removal? because I really don't want to retain the TVSS system period - it sucks in spades (the remote range has always been poor).  I will be asking my Toyota dealer what he can do (since the car is already in there for other work).

I have managed to obtain copies of what look like the ones supplied to toyota dealers who fitted the TVSS system in this country titled RS3000 Installation manual, it looks like it is all plugs and connectors, since I don't currently have my car here I can't verify the manuals details, if it is all plugs and sockets the removal should be reasonably straightforward.
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Mistakes are lifes lessons that only the stupid ignore. People make mistakes, idiots repeat them.

[potshot]

The information to completely uninstall the system isn't actually in the Tech Docs but HO said if we took it to a dealer they would tell them how to do it or if we still wanted to use an independent then they would have to be ripped off by getting the information via their premium rate hotline. Our indepenedent wasn't prepared to play their games and we were all saet to go the dealer in Barnstaple when our garage solved the problem!!

[Garfield]

I spoke to my dealer and one of the techs (25 years a Toyota tech) checked and the TVSS ECU is, as has been indicated now obsolete and no longer available, but he says he knows how to remove it (has done it before), I have been quoted £100 to do the job so I will be getting it done, for £100 it isn't worth my messing around and screwing something up.

He also said that fixing the issue on a locked out vehicle is simple if you can get it recovered and that any Toyota dealer who couldn't fix it is yanking your crank, it is an old system and isn't that clever all it does is intercept/break the starter circuit - the immobiliser is nothing to do with the TVSS.
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Mistakes are lifes lessons that only the stupid ignore. People make mistakes, idiots repeat them.

[Erestor]

Isn't the  TVSS ECU sat behind the stereo in the dashboard? Think it can just be unplugged...
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Chris

'96 LWB Colorado GX 3.0 TD
 - CB Radio; VX Accessory Meter pod; Battery Isolating & Split Charge System; 2x Optima YT S 4.2 Batteries; 265/75/16 BFG A/Ts; 30mm Wheel Spacers; Impreza WRX front seats; reconditioned engine