Blacked Out Dash Chrome

He tried sanding, found the plating too tough, then sand blasted them to get some texture for the paint to stick:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-no-more-chrome-on-air-vents.492587/

After making a shift knob, I found that the boot chrome had to go:



Like mesojdm posted, the plating is hard as nails. I sanded as much as I could then gave it a couple coats of matte black. After a decent drying time, while getting it reattached to the boot, a couple spots came off. No enough to notice while driving.

 

Yeah, I didn't have that problem, but when I said sanded, I actually scraped and filed the chrome plating off to the plastic below then I used my fine air brush to paint it up.

 

I'm thoroughly confused... I went over there to see what he had done and tried and I read....

You must be referring to the chrome on the shifter collar, I gather. Not the chrome Toyota logo on the airbag/steering wheel.

 

I've noticed every time I look to the passenger mirror, I'm distracted by the chrome ring around the air vent creating a reflection on the window... I didn't really notice until I tinted the windows.

 

I was just referring to his whole effort. He went with paint on the chrome except for the steering wheel badge.

Yes. The only chrome that I painted so far was the boot trim. The only other chrome that I plan to paint is the grille.

I tried swapping the mirror control out of my Wife's Forester, but it seems to be fastened to the door panel. The controls don't just pop off like the Taco. I'll try again some other time.

 

Thank you for investigating and sharing that. I was wondering how I was going to paint that ring. Thank you.

 

Yeah, it literally took no time at all to just lift it up a bit, push the boot through and snip the tie then voila, off. I didn't even remove the console completely, just enough to get it twisted and get my hand under.

 

Toyota should redesign the whole console. It was a poor design from the start. Why did they have to put the parking brake within the console area. To me it takes up too much space and that plastic fake leather around the parking brake collects and hides a lot of dirt. Also the console storage area lid should open up left to right instead of up and down. When I am driving and need to get something from the storage area it feels awkward opening up the lid and reaching in to find something. PISS poor design in general

 

Because it allows for the possibility of a lot more fun!

 

I am old enough to remember when nearly all smaller cars had this type of E Brake, and also old enough to remember that when you went to drivers ED they taught you to use it to brake in an emergency, when your primary brakes fail. At the time drifting was not a thing but little did they know, they were teaching you how to. LOL. Now, with that said, you can use the newer versions to do the same thing and it does work because I had to do it on a 1999 Dodge Ram that the brakes went out on while on the off ramp of a highway. But the console E Brake is much much easier to use. There is also a technique when you are wheeling to apply brake and throttle at the same time to keep forward momentum and prevent wheel spin. An E Brake like the Tacoma has makes that easier as well. If you have an Off Road or Pro with craw control you don't need that. I don't so I do.

I do agree with you though on the console lid but I think they hinge them in the rear to offer access to the co-pilot as well as the pilot and by doing that to encourage the co-pilot to do the searching so that there are less distractions for the pilot. At the same time, it would make it safer when there is no co-pilot. Now for the life of me, I don't understand the three cup holders up front, and then there is that one little area that is completely useless unless you have the Meso coin holder mod. I don't use coins for anything so for me, a waste of space. They should have eliminated all that and made the console longer so you could actually put things in it.

 

The MT console is well done IMO. We don't have the front cupholders, the front pocket just behind the shifter is nice for cellphones, credit cards, or a wallet. The hinge on the console lid is fine with me. I've used it many times without taking my eyes off the road, including getting stuff under the OCD tray.

Edit: I also like hand brakes. The Taco one is just right, IMO.

 

I have an AT and I too am able top use the console lid while driving without taking my eyes off the road.I think the center console was done well. I like the hand brake placement, cup holders, and I use the Qi area to store my phone while driving If I need a charge it seems to work well with my current phone.

The one wish I would make of the lid is that it have the built in tray like the Rav4. The wife's Rav has a split release trigger. One side opens the bucket, the other side opens just the lid to the tray. It is a VERY nice feature that allows easy access to either's contents. My tray must be removed to reach items below it, a bit tricky while driving to say the least.

While our interiors have some flaws, I think the lid of the center console is very low on the list of possible WTH were they thinking list. Things like the chrome interior trim, Driver's grab handle, buttons/controls back lit while others are not, lack of glove box light, cab vents, etc.

 

And on that note, I only have ONE piece of chrome left. I bit the bullet this morning and got the mirror control from a Sienna from an online wrecker.

 

How much did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

 

Well, everywhere I was able to find it on its own was upwards of $80 to $100. I grabbed it from a wrecker in NY through eBay as the whole panel with window controls and all but I only paid $50.

 

I don't know what he paid, but I've seen them in the $50 range (https://www.ebay.com/itm/362276151818 ). I would assume if you wanted to cut the cost... insert your old one and list it back up for $40.... when it sells, your cost will be minimal.

 

Great news! My dash blackout kit now includes a decal to blackout the chrome ring around the shift knob. For those that have already purchased the kit and would like this piece please send me a PM for a special offer.

 

Hey, Rich.

Do you have one for this:



Sorry, I couldn't resist!

Just happy to be done messing with chrome.