Cheap/Free Mods

I have a 2011 prerunner that does not have an outside tempature gauge and would like to add something that does not look like a cobbled up mess.

Have any of you guys figure out how to add an outside tempature gauge?

Thanks

 

For a ballpark, at least on cold mornings, I go by the intake air temp on my Ultragauge.

The UG also has a "UG temperature" that theoretically displays inside air temp, but I've found it to read quite high.


But for true outdoor air temp that looks factory, the best and least expensive way to go is to scout the junk yards for an SUV with a Gentex compass/temp rearview mirror. Make sure to get the sensor from in front of the radiator, and as much of the wiring harness as you can access.

Double-whammy... you get compass, outdoor temp, and also a self-dimming mirror. 4 wire connections... power and the temp sensor. If you'd like, you can connect a 5th wire to your backup light, and that turns off the dimming feature.
Some of the junkyard scroungers on Fullsizedchevy.com used to put these things up in the marketplace for as little as $35 to $45 all the time.

 

sub'd

 

Just used the tutorial on adding the intermittent windshield wiper switch. So easy. Only took about 10 minutes. There is an extra plug, next to the 2 for the wipers, that isn't being used. Anyone know what that is for? Thanks to Roland for the great post.

 

Top center is the horn ground and cruise control conenctions.
The one you're talking about might be for the steering wheel audio controls.

 

Ah yes, I forgot about that. Thanks.

 

Here's a little mod I added to my bumper that was cheap, functional, and easy. I found these diamond plate style rubber mats at Harbor Freight for about $5 a pop. They're self-adhesive backed, and each sheet will make a perfect set of two pads for the two large flat areas on an ARB bumper. This gives you a perfect grippy spot to lay tools, recovery gear, etc, on the bumper.

 

Sweet idea.

Cool to see those at HF now.
I put some on the side panels on my dirtbike... I probably paid $40 for what you paid $5 for.

 

Nice. Good idea.

 

holy shit that is a phenomenal idea! great work with that

 

Awesome idea on the arb bumper!

Any one know if you can run the backup cam full time . I'm constantly hooking up trailers , using a ditch witch and post hole digger and it would be nice to not have to go from drive to reverse every time I want to check my placement !

 

Do you mean fullsizechevy or fullsizedchevy? Fullsizechevy......the really old days

 

Ya... Fullsizechevy.com

 

nice mod! bet you could also us it as a step for something as well.

 

I'm dumb with puters and have yet to find the mod!
Any help

 

My 2011 Prerunner was not equipped with an outside temp gauge. I ordered a $10 digital panel meter off E-bay (http://myworld.ebay.com/sure-hifi/). The meter is powered off 12VDC and came with a 9ft thermo couple. I made a panel that sits in the storage area in front of the cup holder out of 1/8” hard board that I painted flat black and finished the edge with rubber edge trim that I also purchased off e-bay (http://stores.ebay.com/SPKR-PARTS-2007?_trksid=p4340.l2563).he

I ran the thermo couple through the rubber grommet for the hood release cable and mounted the thermo couple just under the front grill. The thermo couple still picks up radiator heat at a traffic signal but works fine when the truck is moving. The only non-reversible mod I made was to drill a ¼” hole in the lower left corner of the storage bin (pull the cup holder out so you can see what u r drilling into) to run the thermo couple through and power.

I picked up 12 VDC off the power for the cig lighter (I inserted a 1 amp in-line fuse on the way)

Total cost was under $20. Works great.
.

 

Nicely done!

 

Just did the fog light mod, it took 10 minutes tops. Thanks