2014 Auto Dimming Mirror - NEW

Well I finialy pulled the plug and purchased a GENTEX AUOT DIMMING MIRROR w/Compass and Outside Air Temp displays and HOMELINK from "Bob's Automotive Mirrors and More, LLC" a.k.a. RJP869 here on Tacoma World and hereafter referred as Bob in this post.

As attested to by others who have done business with Bob I too can only speak highly of the quality and completeness of his product. EVERYTHING is included, you just need to supply a few tools. My package did not come with printed instructions but instead provided a reference to a PDF file on one of Bob's web sites, http://www.weendoggy.com/tacoma/gentex_mirror.pdf . These directions are complete and you can complete the job with these alone but I suggest you read over the following thread as additional hints are contained therein, http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...mp-sensor-install-2014-off-road-pictures.html

I would like to add a couple of hints (some may be in the above links but bear highlighting) to aide your endeavor...

1. To remove the Overhead Counsel "remove the Philips head screw and pull down on the FRONT to disengage its mounting clips then slide the Counsel forward to release it from the Headliner." You can let it dangle from the attached harnesses but I found that disconnecting the harnesses and setting the Counsel aside worked best for me.

2. Feed the Mirror connector through the headliner BEFORE connecting to the mirror because you're just gonna have to disconnect it before you hang the mirror and it's a SOB to get that plug out of the mirror...

3. You HAVE TO REMOVE the foot rest to remove the drivers side Kick-panel. Just grab that sucked and give it a good yank and it will come off fairly easy. After the footrest is removed there is a little black conical nut thingy that has to be screwed off (it's a slip type nut and is just finger tight).

4. You do not have to remove the parking break pedal as stated in Bob's PDF file if you don't want to, I left mine in place and had no problem working in that area...

5. As per the PDF file I pulled the top radiator shroud (real simple job) and I disconnected the upper mounts of the grill assembly, pulling it forward a couple of inched so I could easily reach the Mirror temp probe's mounting location.

6. My temp Probe did not have a mounting bracket like those shown in the instruction or the previous posts but had what can best be described as an "S-Clip" installed. I am a cautious person but I am not "faint of heart" so although this caused me pause it did not deter me. Using Bob's PDF file I found the bracket he referred to and located the A/C Temp Probe as indicated in that file. I located a hole above the A/C probe and attached the Mirrors Temp probe on the opposite side of the bracket with a "down-up-down" motion to affix the probes "S-clip" so it can not work its way out of the hole on its own.

7. I use an Electrical Fish Tape to pull the temp probe wires through the nipple under the wire bundle described in all the directions posted above. I did not use the loop method favored by most but instead I pushed the fish tape trough the nipple from the cab side of the firewall. I DID NOT PRESLIT the nipple on the firewall side as recommended by others I just forced it through, it really didn't require much effort. A straightened wire coat hanger would do this just fine also. I then tightly taped about 6 inches of probe wire to an equal length of the fish tape wire atop of the fish tape, I use Duct Tape in my installation but Electrician's Tape would work well also (I just couldn't find mine ). I lubed the taped section with Silicon Spray (liquid soap would work too) and slicker than snot it easily pulled through the nipple.

My kit came with wire crimps for connecting the upper probe wires with the lower probe wires and would have worked well but I opted to solder and heat shrink mine...

Total time with "Wife mandated" lunch plus a couple "Old Guy" Head Breaks (that's latrine to you Soldiers and bathroom to you civilians) tools put away and floor sweep, 3.5 hours...

 

Another feature you may not know about...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...able-auto-dim-gentex-mirror-when-reverse.html

 

I ran across this after I ordered my mirror from Bob and I am still considering it as a option but my Tacoma has a backup camera that has a pretty large display on the radio's touch screen so I'm going to stick with that for now.
BTW, this is not my first auto dimming mirror, as a matter of fact, the Tacoma was the first vehicle I purchased since 2002 that didn't have this feature. It has been an annoying last six months without this mirror.

 

Temp display for 2016 Taco has been added in the gauge cluster.
At least they're paying attention.

 

SUBd

 

I have the auto-dimming mirror with compass and Homelink that came stock in my 2015 Limited but I really miss the temp. Wonder if this mirror would be a decent replacement?

 

I have the Compass/Temp/Homelink mirror, it is a great mirror. Bought it from Bob last year. He's a great guy. Price was very fair too.

However, for you is it really worth $300 to get a temperature readout?

 

Agree. Not worth it.