What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

Had a dream last night that a vendor on here made an OTT rack for a Softopper but it was modular so you could drop it below the roof line if you weren't running a ST.

Who does Make a Wish on TW?

 

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Getting my custom sliders installed by @Proline4x4

PM me if interested they will do custom work for 2 gen and 3 gen tacos.

 

I like those fill plates! Are they no angle? And are they bolt on?

 

I haven't posted in quite some time, but figured my latest failure on my '09 TRD was worth sharing.

As many have read, and/or experienced first hand, I was graced with the squealing, rubbing/electrical burning smells of my A/C magnetic clutch failing last week. After some research on TW and the Googlemachine, I came to the conclusion that I could probably just get away with replacing the Clutch hub/pulley/coil assembly, and not undertake an entire compressor replacement.

Bought this part of Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D7OSFTI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Stated that it "Fit" my Tacoma, however, I found that there is a thin line between "fitment" and "compatibility" are when it comes to buying autoparts...

The assembly is the correct size and everything else checks out, however I missed that the new coil (electromagnet) and the original coil had a major difference. (Unfortunately I found this out after having installed the new assembly with the new coil.)

All came off the compressor fine, (the spring clips are literally the hardest to remove/replace IMO), and all went onto the compressor fine. At a glance, it was correct. Even initial tests seems to prove we were finished and the A/C was blowing cold, the clutch hub was engaging and disengaging correctly, but I noticed that the wires that come from the back of the coil were dangerously close to the pulley and serp belt. Re-positioning the ground wire clip that is screwed to the side of the compressor allowed me to "pull" the wires out of the way of the pulley just enough to where I felt comfortable enough that they won't shear off and/or wear down from touching the pulley.

boy...was I WRONG!

After cycling the A/C on/off a few times to ensure we're good, I hear some noises that I shouldn't. Come to find out, the wires that power the coil DID get caught up in the pulley (at least pulled out by the pulley) and frayed the ground wire, and sheared off the hot wire at the base of the coil (see pics). By doing this, it also forced the wires to wrap around the back of the coil lifting it off the compressor just enough to spin the coil a few rotations as well. flap flap flap flap!

I was able to shut off the truck just in time before an absolute catastrophe happened (well...more of one that what had just happened I guess...), and we removed the clutch assembly to find the below:


THIS IS THE BACK SIDE OF THE NEW COIL. NOTICE THERE IS NO PROTECTIVE 90* CLIP THAT KEEPS THE WIRING OFF OF THE PULLEY AND OUT OF HARMS WAY.


NOW NOTICE THE ORIGINAL COIL BELOW. SEE HOW IT HAS THE 90* PLASTIC CLIP THAT FORCES THE WIRES TO PROTRUDE IN A SAFER MANNER?


AND HERE'S A PIC OF THEM SIDE BY SIDE. ORIGINAL ON THE LEFT, NEW (AND DAMAGED) ON THE RIGHT:


So, as you can see, this created a HUGE difference in spacing on the back side between the Clutch assembly and the compressor.

Needless to say, the new assembly is going back to Amazon today and getting replaced. I have opted to exchange for the same assembly, however I will be using the ORIGINAL coil next time, and not the one in the box...

With these NC summers - I NEED AIR CONDITIONING!!!


Now, for fun, here's the rest of the pics of the original failed clutch, and the newly failed clutch....they just got fried from opposite ends (Original one fried from the hub failure, new one fried from the coil, forward)

Original assembly


new assembly

 

That sucks! Another fine example of Chinese reverse engineering. Seems like they have no clue about making sure their products are safe.
Glad you were able to shutdown the truck before anything really bad happened. I would check with Camelback Toyo here on the forums and get a good OEM replacement.

 

Nice find. Im starting to get what sounds like a knock in my compressor. I may have to look into this. The compressor isnt short cycling, its just a little noisier than it has been in the last 6 years

 

Alright...heres a little Flex for Friday and a good example of factory shackles vs inverted. Both mine and @dustin19d have the BAMF shock relocation kits. Hes on 35's and Im on my little 33s.











Photo credits to Mrs @dustin19d

 

Guess what? it WORKED!!

 

Great shots! Mind if I use them as outro backdrops in some of my vids?

 

New Tacoma bed mat from @gunny1005 Didn't come with any installation instructions

 

Simple! Remove the bed, pull the truck forward, jack up the mat, slide the bed under it, lower the mat into the bed, back the truck up under the bed and bolt it all back together again! usual installation time; 6-7 hours...

 

Black side up.

 

Hell no I don't mind at all! @dustin19d

 

Took a sawzall but got her in

 

Mine are not angled... my intention was also to be able to use them as steps for the wife an kid.

Thanks... they are custom so they can put what you want if you are interested.

 

Awesome, how does the family like them?

I will eventually be buying bolt-ons from Mobtown but have them with no angle for the same purpose.

 

I will find out today, just go them on.

 

It looks upside down.

 

Thanks! I don't think anyone would ever say "no don't show-off my truck for everyone else to see" but you never know.