RFI Interference

[Sodium Duck]

Does anyone remember reading in the manual anything about RFI interference from an amateur radio?

I've been reading on sites that when you key up, some radios can be powerful enough to set off airbags, seatbelts, etc.

Going to call my dealer tommorow and see what info they can offer, or who else to contact.

[IsLNdbOi]

Why? Have your airbags spontaneously deployed before?

[Sodium Duck]

Not personally, but it has happened before.

Some radios are ridiculously powerful. They can talk over drive thru's, set off touch lamps, talk over other peoples radios at intersections, talk over store PA systems, and yea -- set off their own airbags.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Sodium Duck

Does anyone remember reading in the manual anything about RFI interference from an amateur radio?

I've been reading on sites that when you key up, some radios can be powerful enough to set off airbags, seatbelts, etc.

Going to call my dealer tommorow and see what info they can offer, or who else to contact.

This is from the owner's manual:

As the installation of a mobile two−way radio system in your vehicle could affect electronic systems such as multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection system, electronic throttle control system, electronic
engine control system, anti−lock brake system, SRS airbag system and seat belt pretensioner system, be sure to check with your Toyota dealer for precautionary measures or special instructions regarding installation.

I was at a conference last week on Active RFID, Real Time Location Systems and Sensor Networks and had dinner with a gentleman from National Semiconductor, who designs analog ICs. He spoke about the impact of RFI on analog sensors (causing them to report erroneous data). You can shield and add filters the ECUs and cable harnesses, but it is quite difficult to do so to analog sensors (like all of the ones mentioned above) without negating their purpose.

So, what the heck does this have to do with a CB or HAM radio? Basically, to avoid popping your airbag, confusing the ABS or throttle control system, etc. keep your RF emissions as far away as possible from the sensors for these systems.

Your concern is not the CB in the dash being close to the actual airbag - It is with the CB antenna being close to the sensors that determine that the airbag should pop.

[Sodium Duck]

Call to Toyota revealed the same information. Tech said to keep my antenna as far away as possible from the passenger side dash (where the ECM and other things mostly are).

Hopefully it won't cause any problems. I decided to go with a ham radio instead because no CB's would fit in my dash. The ones I'm looking at are doing around 75 watts. =]

BTW Scott, long time no talk. Did you get your remote starter/keyless entry fixed up? I saw your post about another different tach wire a while ago.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Sodium Duck

Call to Toyota revealed the same information. Tech said to keep my antenna as far away as possible from the passenger side dash (where the ECM and other things mostly are).

Hopefully it won't cause any problems. I decided to go with a ham radio instead because no CB's would fit in my dash. The ones I'm looking at are doing around 75 watts. =]

BTW Scott, long time no talk. Did you get your remote starter/keyless entry fixed up? I saw your post about another different tach wire a while ago.

Is that a 2 meter rig doing 75 Watts?

I did get the remote starter completed. I received my key bypass module and hooked it up, and while doing so, I just had to resolve the tach wire question for my own piece of mind...

[Sodium Duck]

Yup, I'm probably going to go with a 2-meter. I'm going to go talk with a local Ham though and find out where the chatter really is around here. Will most likely be 2-meter, but who knows.

That's great they finally sent you the right one, haha. Any chance you got a link to the post where you identify the right wire? It's bothering me somewhat too, I feel the urge to fix things that aren't broken, lol.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Sodium Duck

Yup, I'm probably going to go with a 2-meter. I'm going to go talk with a local Ham though and find out where the chatter really is around here. Will most likely be 2-meter, but who knows.

That's great they finally sent you the right one, haha. Any chance you got a link to the post where you identify the right wire? It's bothering me somewhat too, I feel the urge to fix things that aren't broken, lol.

Here is the link to the correct tach wire (towards the bottom of the page):

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/sho...ch+wire&page=3

[Sodium Duck]

Thank you much. So when's the next meet? haha

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Sodium Duck

Thank you much. So when's the next meet? haha

We'll have to have another one soon -I finished the last of the Paper City beer...