Another expensive repair on Toyota's version of the infamous Chrysler TIPM

The video shows something from a 2023 Tacoma, but it really doesn't look much different from the instrument panel junction block in my 2010 Prius, which itself wasn't that much different from before. Old contributor hobbit partially disassembled one from a Gen 2 Prius here.

It is nice that starting in 2010 they made the body ECU a separate part that just snaps on the side, so either the fuse/junction block can be replaced separately.

I'm not sure how comparable that is to a Chrysler "totally integrated power module". I'm just seeing a big mass-produced bunch of junctions and fuse sockets with a handful of relays inside.

If that number of circuits and fuse sockets and interconnections and relays were all built with discrete wiring and individual sockets, it would probably take up five square feet under the dash, and the added factory labor would mean everybody pays $750 more for the truck, instead of just the people who fry their fuse box.

The video pins the blame on aftermarket taillights and resistors, but I'm leaning more toward human error while installing same. I'm guessing there was a short circuit happened somewhere in that process.

 

$750. seems pretty reasonable for a replacement

 

That's really cool that Hobbit's work is still online after all these years!

And the concern raised in this thread is a chronic problem in modern tech products... But more because miniaturization of the circuit boards has created a situation where repairing boards requires specialized equipment and that's assuming you could find a way to buy the components for the board. These days replacing the whole board seems to be the only option.

 

User error, and probably more to the story as to what the owner did or had done in the fuse block with the 7.5 amp, as they tried to make it work again.
I think my 96 Toyota truck has all it’s original bulbs. It has a 7.5 amp fuse for the same circuit. I can’t see anything wrong with the bulb tail lights. I prefer them.