Cheap/free mods

[replica9000]

Ok I did the foglights on anytime mod today after work. Took about 5 minutes.



I used a wire with a pin from an aftermarked GM radio wiring harness.




The GM wiring harness uses a thinker gauge wire than the green wire in the fusebox, so I cut the pointy part of the pin off, and the rest of the pin fits around the pin of the green wire. I didn't have to cut the green wire. I like to keep things as reversable as possible.

[wiscdave]

Finally got around to doing this one last night. Worked great!! Thanks again!!

[dbbd1]

I keep meaning to get a pic of it but...

You know those power cords for your radar detector and GPS and all that crap? Well, my wife would not let me put little sticky clips on her car to "dress" up those cords as they drape down the dash, so I used some hairpins (black bobby pins) to capture the wire at the loop end then just slide it onto the vent louvers. Keeps the cords tucked up and away. I promise "someday soon" I will get some pic's to post.

[007Tacoma]

Originally Posted by dbbd1

I keep meaning to get a pic of it but...

You know those power cords for your radar detector and GPS and all that crap? Well, my wife would not let me put little sticky clips on her car to "dress" up those cords as they drape down the dash, so I used some hairpins (black bobby pins) to capture the wire at the loop end then just slide it onto the vent louvers. Keeps the cords tucked up and away. I promise "someday soon" I will get some pic's to post.

That's a really great idea! Rep for you!

[mainerinexile]

Has anyone figured out how to wire the power windows to be hot even when the key is off? Every car in the world should be wired this way.

[replica9000]

Originally Posted by mainerinexile

Has anyone figured out how to wire the power windows to be hot even when the key is off? Every car in the world should be wired this way.

I attempted this on my 2000 Grand Am once, it worked, but the side effects were random dash lights would come on until I inserted the key and turned on the ignition. Could be different with the Taco though.

[dbbd1]

I did it on my Acura. Really had not thought about it. I will start working on it for you, but I will be on vacation for the next week plus. It should just be a matter of running power to the window fuse. On my Acura, I had it wired through a switch, so I cold disable it, should I choose to. Stay tuned...

[Drew793]

I bought 2 packages of foam link pads at Lowes for $19 each
Each package contains (4) 2' x 2' pads. These are the pads that can be linked together like a jigsaw puzzle. They are made out of foam and are used to cushion the floor in workout / play areas.

Well, everytime I climb into the bed of my 2008 Tacoma, the composite bed kills my knees. The other thing is that if I put something in there and it shifts around, it scratches the bed. I kinda like keeping my truck new looking as as scratch free as possible.

So I laid out the pads in the bed and cut out the areas for the wheel wells and ties downs. I made it a nice tight fit that it doesn't move around. It just lays there. Can be removed at any time to clean the bed. The foam doesn't absorb water it kinda repells it.

I had a little bit left over so I made a piece to fit on the tailgate. Here I used a few self tapping screws to secure it to the tailgate. If I climb in via the tailgate when it's open, it doesn't kill me knees.

I know that bed rugs are available for our trucks but $36 is a lot cheaper than a few hundred and if a section of it gets ruined,,, can just buy another package and replace it.

Drew

[zombot]

good idea-
that stuff's really light though-
i'd be afraid that some air might get under and lift that up doing 60!
pop a smalls screw in the four corners (of the whole thing)- maybe?
saw this kind of thing on sale at big lots. may still hurt your knees, but it's heavy and will drain the rain.

this one isn't exactly what they had

they had it in interlocking squares as well.
dang, i might just do this myself.!

[Drew793]

Originally Posted by zombot

good idea-
that stuff's really light though-
i'd be afraid that some air might get under and lift that up doing 60!
pop a smalls screw in the four corners (of the whole thing)- maybe?
saw this kind of thing on sale at big lots. may still hurt your knees, but it's heavy and will drain the rain.

this one isn't exactly what they had

they had it in interlocking squares as well.
dang, i might just do this myself.!

I have a Roll-N-Lock cover and aways have it closed but good point about anchoring it down as well.

Yep, I saw the same stuff you're talking about. Very heavy duty and the washdown feature is a plus. It just wasn't as cushiony as you mentioned. I put a piece on the floor in the store and kneeled on it and although it's much better that not having anything at all it was still a little hard on the knees. I'm a heating and air conditioning tech and it takes a toll on my knees. So they hurt a lot.

If the foam doesn't hold up well,,, I may switch to the rubber ones.

Thanks for the reply.

Drew

[zombot]

not so much a mod- but cheap and handy.

got a reg cab tacoma with the bench seat and the ridiculous dip in the middle made for a kid's feet you're never going to drive around?
been struggling to find something to fit in there? so far, i haven't found one console or unit that does.
until i brought a sterilite mini crate full of tools into the cab, and lo and behold, it fits right there. note these are NOT full size crates, but MINI crates made for cd's and dvds.

the dimensions of width are dead on for fit.
take into consideration how deep you have your seat set back, leg room,etc..
as it is, my perfect seat adjustment left the right size to drop one of these in there.
you can find them in several styles and colors and manufacturers anywhere, office depot, walmart. esp around back to school time. $3 bucks max.
my black one with holes matches several interior accents.

great for holding that mcdonald's bag, and other loose items.

[Imrubicon]

My first mod was to flip the rearview miror upside down as I am taller and it gives you about a inch more to see under out the front

[jhodge83]

hey PT, u can add 09's the the seatbelt chime mod as well. i've got a few more to do on here as well. definately a great thread and i'd give more credit, but it says i have to spread it around...i'll get back to ya again.

[jhodge83]

back again....just did the fog lights on anytime mod and it seriously took maybe 2 minutes. the hardest thing was to get the 2 way connector on. i'd do the drl and chirp mods if i didnt already have em stock. next thing is the cigarette and aux plug always on mod

and another cheap thing to do is to remove the black aluminum covers off the front of the horns to get a lil more db out of em. not a big thing, but it makes em a lil ouder.

[piercedtiger]

I thought the seatbelt chime was in here.... Maybe not. Feel free to copy/paste it you want. Or send me a link and I'll update the TOC.

[jhodge83]

Originally Posted by piercedtiger

I thought the seatbelt chime was in here.... Maybe not. Feel free to copy/paste it you want. Or send me a link and I'll update the TOC.

yeah, its in the list, but says 08 only

[piercedtiger]

Originally Posted by jhodge83

yeah, its in the list, but says 08 only

Fixed.

[jhodge83]

Originally Posted by piercedtiger

Fixed.

still says i gotta spread it....that BS!!! gotta be some crazy canadian themaster rule or something

[jhodge83]

and that seatbelt chime crap has to be redone if u remove the power cable going to the fuse box...just some common sense FYI