TomTom's '03 TRD Xtra Cab (SOLD!)

Nice Tom.

I see you leave the inner door handle in place when you removed the panel.

I took mine off entirely, and like I said am having trouble getting it fully seated back in those holes.

Maybe I need to take the panel off, but the handle on first then reassemble the panel.

Is it a serious PITA to get the panel off with the handle in place?

 

It really is quite easy, just angle it at a 45° angle...

 

As Scott eluded to, it is a bit tricky but not hard. What I do is:

1. Take off the "vent window" triangle and window/locks control panel
2. Undo the armrest and door handle screws.
3. Slide the door handle back and out of the tab slots.
4. Pop all the door panel fasteners.
5. Lift up at the tail-end of the door panel (near the lock pull) to 30-45 degrees.
6. While lifting up the back end of the panel, twist the door handle and slide through the hole. (takes a bit to figure it out but it will go.)

If this doesn't help, I can see about taking some pictures to illustrate.

 

What's the "vent window?" The sail panel?

Either way, the problem I have is getting the handle's barbs to sit back in those slots.

So I don't know if this will help or not.

 

Yeah, the sail panel thingy. Where the vent window would be if there were one.

As for getting the handle back in the tab slots, I just press and slide. Granted, I bench 315 so I'm not sure if my pressing is overkill. It does take a little effort on my part but doable.

Have you made sure you have the correct door handle on the correct side? (I think this is a yes since you can seat them without the panel in place.)

Also, have you tried pressing the door panel around the handle area while attempting to slide it in place?

Edit: it did take a bit of effort after installing the soundproofing stuff. However, after the initial install, it has gotten easier. Figured it was due to the soundproofing stuff getting mashed down.

 

Never thought of this.

I labeled every thing with tape when I disassembled my interior... maybe I didn't do the door handles? I dunno. But like you said, pretty sure the barbs/slots wouldn't line up whatsoever.

This spring/summer when it's warm I'll investigate this all.

 

Well, I'm to the point where I'm deciding if I want to sink any more money into the IFS, start a solid axle conversion or go buy something already equipped with a solid front axle. Decisions, decisions.

 

With time off from work, starting to look at solving some small issues that have come up:

The reverse lights have become intermittent. Thinking it is the switch at the transmission.

When they don't work so well:

They light up but faintly.

When they work:


Oddly, they weren't working consistently while I was testing. I turned on the hazards to check them. After turning off the hazards, the reverse lights started working consistently. This is going to be a pain to track down.

Got around to testing the blinker bulbs. This is in prep to doing the turn signal relocation. The dual filaments work and figured out which leads work which filaments.

The blinker filament:


The parking light filament:


From left to right, Ground, Turn Signal, Parking:


Ordering new corners and turn signal housings after the 1st of the month. Going to be doing some surgery.

Finally, started looking at getting my Elite bumper mounted correctly so I can add a winch. Need to get the nose end of the cab up a half inch or figure out how to sand down the bottom of the grill evenly. Might try some new body mounts.

 

Got back into the dashboard to replace the burnt out bulb:





Getting way to good at taking the dash apart.

And I serviced my Uniballs:



Soaked the caps in paint thinner to get the adhesive off:




All cleaned up:


and back together:


Looks like the back-up switch at the transmission is going out. Need to order a new one. Should only take a few minutes to swap out.

 

Worked on replacing a torn CV boot. Found out that there is a hidden snap ring underneath the tripod.





No mention of it in the FSM and took a conversation with Silas and finding a decent write-up to finally solve the riddle.

 

Tricksy snap-ringses

 

Dude! One of the guys in the office is big on fishing. We were joking about the Smeagoll Fish scene and how he should re-enact it the next time he's wading in the stream. "So juicy sweet!"

Got my first SST



For doing the CV boot bands. Got some pliers and they sucked. I know there are better pliers available but I said to hell with it. If I'm keeping the truck for another decade, might as well spend the money on the tools.

 

Got the CV axle rebooted today.

I am a bachelor. All up in my kitchen:


Outer boot pulled and cleaned:


Pinching the band clamp with the snazzy Toyota tool:

Boot slide mod in effect:

Got the tripod back on:


And I realized too late to wait and do the small clamp on the inner boot last:


Now I have to waste that perfectly good clamp and replace it with a regular ol' hose clamp. Good times.

 

How much one of those snazzy tools to do the clamps are and where do you get them. I'm thinking about rebooting mine and doing the boot slide come spring.

 

swallow your coffee, soda pop, water or whatever you're drinking...

Part No. 09521-24010

Cheapest I could find it was through autotoolworld.com and seems I grabbed the last one there as they aren't showing in stock anymore.

http://www.autotoolworld.com/product.asp?itemid=159969&gclid=CLeTgJnl97sCFcpDMgod6XEAkg

$185 + $8.85 shipping.

Yeah...

I know some guys use CV pliers or plain ol' pincers.

 

Son if a bitch good thing I was layin down when I read that. I might be trying to make something or hope a friend has one.

 

I'll get a coupe better pictures up so you can see. A very simple device, kind of like a little teeny vise with special shaped jaws.

 

You need more supplements

 

That's what I was thinking after attempting to use the $12 pair of CV boot pliers I had bought from Napa.