What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Dunno if there are other sources, at $400 I'm not sure the higher resolution and radio tear down to install is really worth the effort vs just swapping out the whole HU with one of the Amazon Dasaita units.

Hamilton CarPlay unit: https://www.hamiltonmotorcompany.com/products/2014-2019-toyota-tacoma-apple-carplay-upgrade-module

 

https://www.hamiltonmotorcompany.com/products/2014-2019-toyota-tacoma-apple-carplay-upgrade-module

Someone said there was a 50 dollar coupon, 'welcome50' which makes it 350.

Still not sure if I can justify the upgrade for the price, especially after I just installed the generic one.

 

Holy cow - I just installed my Expedition Essentials 3TPAM today... two days after you did, LOL

We had heavy snowfall 2 weeks ago and it's been freezing until yesterday and the snow finally started to melt. It was still cold and chilly but at least I could pull the taco out into the driveway where it was light enough to install it.

It is super sturdy and so much better than the filmsy vent-mounted phone holder that also obscured access to controls etc.

Question: is there a trick to pushing the USB connector out? I couldn't find any tabs or way to push it forward. After a few cuts on my hand, I gave up. I felt very inadequate... LOL. So my 3TPAM is not powered.

 

How do you mean pushing the usb connector out?

Here is how I installed the USB outlet:
I used the provided wire taps to tap into the 12v outlet with the extension wires, connected the extension wires to the USB outlet, routed the wire around the radio, put the radio bezel back on with the wires coming out of the notch I cut in the radio bezel, attached the USB outlet to the mount using the smallest screws with the silver lock washers, then installed the mount onto my dash with the extra wire tucked under the mount.

I really wish they would have provided printed instructions, I hate watching YouTube videos on how to install stuff.

 

Thanks for your fast reply!

Sorry, I was referring to the USB plug beside the cigarette lighter. I was able to unplug the power line/plug behind the cigarette lighter (that was easier than I thought it would be), but I couldn't push the USB connector out, in order to push the 12v connector out to make more space to splice the lines.

After a few cuts to my hand, I gave up...

 

Ahh, all you should need to do is push down on the top tab of the usb port from the backside and the plug should pop out top first, from there you can pull the whole thing out.
Or if you have a blank plate you can pop that out
Or with the AC controls removed there is enough slack in the 12v wires to tap them in the cavity. I was going to do it this way but was worried about dropping a part of the taps behind the dash so I popped out the USB plug.

 

ok - thx again - I’ll give it another whirl after I’ve worked up some more courage

 

120 000 km's. Oil change + PCV valve change (was on back order, funny, but seems like all lower 48 and Canada were short on supply); takes 3 weeks for my dealer
to get one for me.

 

thanks – I'll check those out

 

Added some pinstripes…



Took it to a car wash this afternoon and later hit a couple panels with light duty polish/compound. They mostly came out- will prob hit the rest tomorrow.

 

My clutch reservoir seemed to be leaking. I've had to top it off a few times in the last year. I finally decided to investigate/troubleshoot it. Initially I couldn't see anything but I also had a power block and a bunch of wiring and relays for lighting tucked in the way. So I removed all of that and replaced it with an 8 channel Auxbeam switch panel. That cleaned up so much and let me put my reservoir back to the stock location and sitting completely upright again. I think the relocation spot from the initial power block and the pinching of the fluid line were the culprit for my leak. So time will tell.

Out with the old:





In with the new:

 

I know it’s dull and cheapest on Amazon which made me question, but the part number matched and it states “stainless” material !
When I go to your link it’s the exact one I bought in May 2024. I included a picture of the one I received and a picture of a plastic one on Amazon for comparison!
If you look at the link you sent it’s has machined areas for the rubber O rings, it’s just a bad cast, dull one, a plastic one or a bad picture, but they sent the aluminum one!

 

It's time to start shopping. I changed my pads (only) right around this point... Maybe a little less meat, but I didn't wait longer because I was trying to get all the maintenance finished so I did't have to crawl under the truck all winter. Figured if I went another 10-12 I that would have taken me right to the point where the temps were 20 degrees and there was snow on the ground, so I decided to just get it done in a t shirt vs a jacket.

Everyone drives different, but I had about 70k on the odometer.

 

I get it, I've been there - in Ohio, so the 20 degrees hurdle is familiar.

I think I'll wait till the end of this summer theorietically, and just keep inspecting every 5k miles as I normally do, so that I finally change with about 1.5mm on the thinnest pad.

 

I finally did the brakes on my 2017 TRD OR access cab around 140000 klms last summer. Looks like you have plenty of life in the pads still.

 

Appreciate that, looks like I got ~1.5 mm to go before I pull the trigger. Looks like you got your money's worth on that set of shoes. Did you replace the rotors as well? Just asking because they don't make them as thick as they used to. [That's about 86,991 miles, for us Mericans.]

 

Yes, I replaced with more HD ones for towing since I drag around a max. load 7000lb tandem axle dump trailer sometimes in the summer.

 

Not done just today obviously but over that last couple months so far. Def. more to come.

 

Took the truck into local Toyota Dealership Service Department for a Spark plug replacement and power steering service. Everything looks good. Auto Technicians there seem pretty competent... Don't know if its because of the service or if it's just a placebo, but the truck seems to run and drive a bit better.
I fricken love this truck!!!

 

Haha. I felt like new plugs felt much better, on the first start after replacement. I don't know..then got back to normal real quick.