You're absolutely correct. There is a switch on the back side of the latch that's normally closed. When the latch is released, a lock arm swings and presses a small lever on the switch which opens the circuit. It's a terrible design with a cheap switch that is prone to fail due to outside elements, hence the 3am random alarms. Splicing the circuit, bypassing the switch effectively tells the ECM/PCM that the hood is closed, regardless of its state. The alarm will *never* trigger again, unless the splice fails, which is why I soldered mine.
Thanks Mr Easthood Racing! I've been driving without a horn for a year (I took out horn and s-horn fuses). I finally had the guts to make the chop. ***NOTE FOR RIGHT HAND DRIVE HIGHLANDER/KLUGER DRIVERS (NZ, AUS, UK, JAPAN etc.) - the whole latch assembly is a mirror image of this video and the wire is on the left not the right for us.😀
Its useful for us here in Nigeria. People steal batteries from cars and also the ECU Module, since its harder and more riskier to break into and steal the car itself. Mine is a 2005 highlander and this feature or programming has helped in confidence when parking whenever i travel and even in my neighbourhood...
Hello from Ireland, your video was a great help to me, I have a 2006 toyota hilux that start alarming 5 min after I lock it every time! I spliced the 2 wires together and it hasn't set of the alarm since and its been 2 months now,I asked the local dealership and they said they never heard of it before, thank you for you video 🙂
Thanks for the video. I had same issue we used this technique, the issue is resolved! My alarm was going off 3 x through day & night after driving through an area of road that flooded out.
Great Video! There are several different fixes for this issue. On my 2009 Venza the "S-Horn" fuse was not an option. This fix was easy. Did it without taking off the grill. It had gotten so bad that I was unhooking the battery every night. Thanks Easthood Racing.
Did you splice the wires or just make the cut and leave in place??? It's a maddening issue. Was hoping not to remove grill so wanted to see how you did it. Thanks
Thank you for the helpful video! We were able to fix my son's 2008 Highlander that had the issue. Interesting the switch was failing on the car more in the cold weather.
Most cars with a decent alarm system for the past couple decades have hood latch triggers for the alarm. Some cars have plunger style switches off to the side instead. The idea is to send people running if they think they're going to steal your precious under hood components like batteries, ECUs, engine covers, etc. It's just silly, however, that the hood latch is one of the most exposed items on any car, especially in the snow belt areas where salt is used on roads in winter.
This works on 4th gen Lexus 460LS 20008 base model also, happen to me when trying to boost a discharged battery with NOCo booster. Did ok few days earlier but, then a week later I had the hood open and the boost wont crank the engine at all. Disconnected both battery terminals and tried with the NOCO alone on the car battery connectors but the alarm went off as soon I connected the NOCO and strangely even when connecting a fully charged battery back to the car, without or with NOCO. The doors on the car locked up and I had to use the mechanical key to open the drivers door [because the battery at this point was no longer connected since that would cause alarm to go off. Spent considerable time on line, especially youtube but couldn't find much. I was considering disconecting physicaly the horns, but this still wont allow the engine to start. Dealer is 60Km away, so that is not much of an option aside from (last resort). After a while I retraced my steps: Trying to start the car with dead battery and hood open.... With battery dissconected from circuit would simulate a breakein. 73 Barreornot.png That lead me to the hood latch, once i notice wires going to hood latch for no apparent reason I envision a open/close switch........ And the Lexi is on the road again, I will trow out the alarm all together and have a piece of mind in the future. Sure hope this helps someone else too, eh!
So I pulled the S Horn fuse to put an end to it. I noticed that someone had already taken the grill apart, so I figured the shorting the sensor solution was a fail.
Just pull the S-horn fuse (7.5amp) from the under hood fuse box instead. But I would like trace the wire and find the source of the short. Now the important question...what wheels do you have and what size cause I like them.
This happens nightly to my 2009 Toyota Highlander (same color as shown in your video) and it occurs when I'm not nor is the fob even near the vehicle and no one is near the car. I personally believe someone has a jammer and are somehow pushing the panic button remotely or it's possibly the rear latch instead.
So you just disable the alarm switch for the hood? How about replace the switch from DigiKey for $3+SH? Then you retain the security for your underhood things, like battery, ECU, etc.
You're absolutely correct. There is a switch on the back side of the latch that's normally closed. When the latch is released, a lock arm swings and presses a small lever on the switch which opens the circuit. It's a terrible design with a cheap switch that is prone to fail due to outside elements, hence the 3am random alarms. Splicing the circuit, bypassing the switch effectively tells the ECM/PCM that the hood is closed, regardless of its state. The alarm will *never* trigger again, unless the splice fails, which is why I soldered mine.
Thanks Mr Easthood Racing! I've been driving without a horn for a year (I took out horn and s-horn fuses). I finally had the guts to make the chop.
***NOTE FOR RIGHT HAND DRIVE HIGHLANDER/KLUGER DRIVERS (NZ, AUS, UK, JAPAN etc.) - the whole latch assembly is a mirror image of this video and the wire is on the left not the right for us.😀
Happy to help!
Its useful for us here in Nigeria. People steal batteries from cars and also the ECU Module, since its harder and more riskier to break into and steal the car itself. Mine is a 2005 highlander and this feature or programming has helped in confidence when parking whenever i travel and even in my neighbourhood...
Hello from Ireland, your video was a great help to me, I have a 2006 toyota hilux that start alarming 5 min after I lock it every time! I spliced the 2 wires together and it hasn't set of the alarm since and its been 2 months now,I asked the local dealership and they said they never heard of it before, thank you for you video 🙂
Happy to help!
Thanks for the video. I had same issue we used this technique, the issue is resolved! My alarm was going off 3 x through day & night after driving through an area of road that flooded out.
Great Video! There are several different fixes for this issue. On my 2009 Venza the "S-Horn" fuse was not an option. This fix was easy. Did it without taking off the grill. It had gotten so bad that I was unhooking the battery every night. Thanks Easthood Racing.
Did you splice the wires or just make the cut and leave in place??? It's a maddening issue. Was hoping not to remove grill so wanted to see how you did it. Thanks
Thank you very much for the simple fix here, brother. It has restored sanity to myself and the neighborhood.
Glad to help!
Thank you for this video. I am having the same alarm problem with my 2010 and will try this fix today.
Thank you for the helpful video! We were able to fix my son's 2008 Highlander that had the issue. Interesting the switch was failing on the car more in the cold weather.
You're welcome!
Thanks for being short and to the point with a great fix. So far so good!
Most cars with a decent alarm system for the past couple decades have hood latch triggers for the alarm. Some cars have plunger style switches off to the side instead. The idea is to send people running if they think they're going to steal your precious under hood components like batteries, ECUs, engine covers, etc. It's just silly, however, that the hood latch is one of the most exposed items on any car, especially in the snow belt areas where salt is used on roads in winter.
Thank you for the info, fixed the problem I had on my 08 highlander.
Happy to hear it!
Thank you for this great information 👍🏽 I'm fed up with mine. I'll now fix it. BTW I have to 09 limited, still runs like new✔️✅️
Thank you. I have a Camry with this issue.
Thank you so much. My alarm would go off every 30 mins in the middle of the night and I would get no sleep and it would ONLY happen at night
You're welcome!
Thanks for the good info here, it could possibly also work for any Toyota vehicle. I will do this soon.
This works on 4th gen Lexus 460LS 20008 base model also, happen to me when trying to boost a discharged battery with NOCo booster. Did ok few days earlier but, then a week later I had the hood open and the boost wont crank the engine at all. Disconnected both battery terminals and tried with the NOCO alone on the car battery connectors but the alarm went off as soon I connected the NOCO
and strangely even when connecting a fully charged battery back to the car, without or with NOCO.
The doors on the car locked up and I had to use the mechanical key to open the drivers door [because the battery at this point was no longer connected since that would cause alarm to go off.
Spent considerable time on line, especially youtube but couldn't find much. I was considering disconecting physicaly the horns, but this still wont allow the engine to start.
Dealer is 60Km away, so that is not much of an option aside from (last resort).
After a while I retraced my steps:
Trying to start the car with dead battery and hood open.... With battery dissconected from circuit would simulate a breakein. 73 Barreornot.png
That lead me to the hood latch, once i notice wires going to hood latch for no apparent reason I envision a open/close switch........
And the Lexi is on the road again, I will trow out the alarm all together and have a piece of mind in the future. Sure hope this helps someone else too, eh!
Kindly, what about if i removed the fuse horn and it works ?
Do you thing it affect the electronic system ?
When you say splice do you mean just connect those two wires together?
My neighbors hate me and I’ll be trying this tomorrow! Thanks
Is there a way to replace the part to properly fix it?
Thank you brother. Love your video. Do solve the problems
So I pulled the S Horn fuse to put an end to it. I noticed that someone had already taken the grill apart, so I figured the shorting the sensor solution was a fail.
I pulled it too and it worked for a few months but now it’s ringing again. Thinking about cutting it now.
Just pull the S-horn fuse (7.5amp) from the under hood fuse box instead. But I would like trace the wire and find the source of the short. Now the important question...what wheels do you have and what size cause I like them.
hey there! VMR V721 19x9.5 are the wheels
@@EasthoodRacing Even after pulling this fuse, it still goes off.
its 3 am here and i'm up to keep stop that freaking horn by pressing remote buttons. already removed the s- fuse yesterday but no change.
Thanks for the fix. Just completed it.
So did you connect the 2 wires together essentially (when you say "splice")? If so, THANK YOU!
That is correct!.
If I just unplug it work? Or I have to cut it
@@elmackal wondering the same thing. Why not just unplug it
@@charleshernandez8366 unplugging it would make the system think the hood was open, causing the alarm to go off all the time
Great find, I’m sure they joined it with hood because thieves get to battery first to kill alarm.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO !
This happens nightly to my 2009 Toyota Highlander (same color as shown in your video) and it occurs when I'm not nor is the fob even near the vehicle and no one is near the car. I personally believe someone has a jammer and are somehow pushing the panic button remotely or it's possibly the rear latch instead.
What kind of splice did you use?
What kind of wheels size and brand please ?
Also tire size ?
Thank you for this, your video was very very helpful :)
Thank you for this
Thanks...you just shorted two wires right?
Essentially
Thanks!
Will this work on a 2004 toyota sequoia sr5
So how do you know if its particularly hood sensor only and not any other sensor?
I mean it can be one of the doors or trunk door sensor, no?
From what I read online on the Toyota Forums and that my car alarm still works! Haven't had any issues with this at all since did this change.
Thank you what about On a Lexus G420
Hi has your alarm gone off since you cut the wire?
It has not! Been sleeping through the night for months now!
@@EasthoodRacing think I’d better cut mine lol been having this problem for over 2 years now
@@anacocker3243Same! So frustrating
So you just disable the alarm switch for the hood? How about replace the switch from DigiKey for $3+SH? Then you retain the security for your underhood things, like battery, ECU, etc.
How hard this to do? Is it really $3?
@@srosscnm I have the switches, they are in stock. Haven’t done the work yet because it’s been so hot outside
Thank you it worked!
You're welcome!
The alarm goes off when you pop the hood because the theif might try to part out your engine and sell the parts for money
My alarm would go off at random places except at home. I really dont get it. Will probably try this one.
Thank you so much
What size was it to take the grill bits out
Thank you
Can I use a standard twist wire connector?
I don't see why not!
It’s a dirty sensor not shorted and your alarm system ain’t work again without hood sensor it will only lock
Brother, is there a way for a permanent solution to this rather than just disabling the feature?
This is the permanent solution. I have not found a better way to deal with this for almost no cost!
@@EasthoodRacing yeah I guess you’re right, a dealer tried to quote me $300 to fix this issue. Thanks again.
so you just cut the wires and hooked the two wires together to complete the circuit?
Correct! Now the ECU thinks the loop is closed and the hood is always closed. The door alarms still work just fine.
Which cables do you put together?
What is your wheel offset?
Offset is +22🤙🏿
You can lock your car with hood up BTW..
Great
What kind of splice did you use to make the full loop?
I just fed it back into itself and then used the electrical tape.
So you just tied the two together?
Back in the day, people would steal batteries out if cars.
My 08 still locks with the hood open so this isn’t entirely true
2019 highlander here they did not fix it I newer models
can you not just clip the wire?
can you make a video of the alarm?
No, its all been done now
@@EasthoodRacing can you use the panic button?
You didn’t have to cut the wire man.
You could just unplug the S Horn fuse from the under the hood fuse box that would resolve your problem.
Will that disable the normal horn on steering wheel also?
@@realfast7274 no, the s horn fuse is only for the security system
Where is the s horn fuse
Tried that first and it didn't solve the problem
Tried that and it didn't work for me either unfortunately. So I'll try cutting the cable.
I dont care fix, just want to disconnect the alarm
Thank you so much! Very useful!
So you did a hack not a fix.