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TIL - Holding down the voice button on the steering wheel activates google assistant (rather than just pressing it once, which triggers the car's in built voice services). I'm using AAWireless with my Pixel phone
TIL 2021 Sienna Edition (TIL = Today I Learned)
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I have a 21, and its an LE, and it doesn't have the "le plus package", but it still has both remote start and the remote lock/unlock/remote start from the app. If you can add the car in the toyota app and have access to it there, it should work with the fob, otherwise, the remote start won't work because toyota hides it behind a useless server check to force you to subscribe to their services. and toyota's claim is that the LE doesn't have the DCM, which has been proven patently false here over and over, with several owners both here and that I have met IRL that have called their dealer for service, and the dealer is able to pull up the exact mileage of the car, and any warnings that are on it. this is supposedly on a car that doesn't have a DCM which is required for the remote start.
What is a DCM? Does it store and communicate the whereabouts of the van as well? How? Using cell phone networks?
Data Communications Module. It sends certain data via the AT&T cellular network from the van to Toyota. For the most part, the data it communicates is data needed for display in the app. As mentioned above, it also allows data to be viewed by dealer service departments. The position of the van is tracked for use in the app. This position data is displayed on maps that are delayed by about 2 hours. However, the current parked position is available to help you find your car in a parking lot. Position data would also be used by Safety Connect when an accident is reported or if the car is reported stolen.
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My 2023 LE doesn't have start stop option in the app, not sure if newer siennas have it.
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it also sends toyota a whole host of other info, like your driving habits, all sensor data, and anything else that is connected. also, I found out that the "last parked" is broken in the app and can be used to live track the vehicle by closing the app on your phone and reopening it. it will update on where the car actually is now. its only behind by about 15 seconds. good to know if your shit is stolen you can track it right now before the thieves disable the DCM.
yes, toyota can still access it even if all the services expire, as they collect all kinds of data from the van.
yes, for some reason, toyota has decided that the LE will not support remote starting unless it has the LE plus package, except in some cases like mine, I don't have the LE plus package, but the remote start still works. this also means that the remote start from the keyfob will also not work because that still does a server check.
I believe that you have to subscribe to Safety Connect to get stolen vehicle data sent to the police.
If you have the LE Plus option, you still have to sign up for connected services and accept the data privacy disclaimer for the Start/Stop to be shown.
Any easy way to disable the device and/or disable this data sharing?
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no, its tied to the head unit, and it breaks a lot of stuff removing it or unplugging it. there is no easy way to opt out either.
You can disable quite a bit of data from the app. Of course, if you disable a lot of the data, then the app does not show anything useful. If you select the human icon at the top right, then select account, the Data Privacy Portal, you have the ability to decline sharing of data. Note that when the car is first set up, these data sharing items can be accepted or declined.
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You are declining sharing data in the app, not the car. The car still shares the data with no way to turn it off.
From the Toyota privacy policy Privacy and protection
How We Use, Store, Share and Secure Data From Your Vehicle Equipped With Connected Services.
When you purchased or leased your vehicle, your vehicle may have been equipped with an active Connected Services system which operates by collecting data from you and your vehicle, including vehicle location, health and driving data, to support navigation assistance, emergency services, remote engine start, maintenance alerts, infotainment apps and more.
When you lease or buy a vehicle equipped with Connected Service, data collection is active. You may deactivate Connected Services at any time by contacting us; and we will no longer collect your Personal Information, Location Data, Driving Data and Vehicle Health Data.
By purchasing or leasing a vehicle equipped with an active Connected Services system, you specifically consent to our electronic collection and use of your account information and vehicle data and our storage of such data wherever we designate. You are in control over the Connected Services system. You can choose to opt-out of Connected Services. You can also request deactivation of data transmission, which disables our collection and use of vehicle data and certain account information.
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Do they give a way to contact them? I would bet that they specifically give an opt out that is via snail mail.
edit: this also proves my point, that the app is only controlling data sharing to the app, and that the car itself still shares data until you opt out by contacting toyota. no where does it say you can opt out from the app on your phone, and if you read the phone app opt out like I did, it quite literally says that its only opting you out of sharing data from the phone app, not the car.
I would expect that you contact them via 1-800-331-4331. Toyota Customer Care.
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right, but then I bet customer care doesn't know how to opt out, and will have to get ahold of someone else. every single one of these opt outs usually require snail mail.
Toll tix I think. This was before EZpass. I had one flew out on me and had to pay 25 bucks instead of 2.50.
may be paper maps too.
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