What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

Rick_Taco · Apr 9, 2020

EatSleepTacos said: ↑

You know me too well lol
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I can just tell your a projects never really finished kind of guy. And I appreciate it!

wmg · Apr 9, 2020

srspicer said: ↑

Save your money on PD and save up for a proper wiring job! (unless you can do that yourself) That is a problem waiting to happen.

Now that's funny!
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thats the winter version....

wmg · Apr 9, 2020

EricOutside said: ↑

Completed my DIY "Head display and backup camera integration improvement" project on my 2014 DCLB.

Here's what was wrong with the original setup:

1. The head unit dimmer for night time mode sucked. There are two brightness levels, but selecting one or the other is tied to the running/head light switch. So, when driving in a "daytime headlights on for safety" section, the display is too dark to see. I thought it'd make a LOT more sense to have the day/night mode determined by the dimmer for the dash lights - duh, right?

2. I'd installed a backup camera on the tail end of our camp trailer and to see it I mounted an after market rear view mirror with a monitor. Which means there are two monitors, one on the dash for the stock backup camera, and the second up in the mirror for the trailer.

3. I have a canopy on the back making the center rear view mirror pretty much useless. And, it blocks an area of the windshield I'd rather see out of.

What I wanted instead:

1. Make use of the head unit monitor for all camera feeds - tailgate backup camera, trailer rear view, and (eventually) a grill mounted front view camera.

2. Make a reasonable selector that fits the style of the existing knobs on the dash rather than push buttons.

3. Change the day/night display mode toggle when the dash brightness is adjusted up or down.

To start with, the camera selector dial. I wanted it to match the 2 - 4 WD selector and fill the vacant spot on the other side of the head unit (Some of the pics are out of order - work with me here)

Since I've been doing the social distancing thing by not leaving the house, I decided to see how much I could make on my own or with stuff already on hand in the garage. So, I turned a close match out of aluminum in the lathe. (I did order a replacement dial, breaking the found-in-the-garage rule. Sue me)

I doodled around with a pen spring and ball bearing to give the dial 3 detents while turning a potentiometer:

Then cut a hole to match and roughed up some spot putty to match the other side:

Then turned a disc for a push button for switching in/out of video monitor mode (as putting into reverse also does):

Along with painting the silver dash black, the end result is:

I still need to make some graphics for the now-painted-over "2WH --- 4WH --- 4WL" as well as "Front --- Tailgate --- Trailer" and a camera icon for the button.

To make it all work, I used an Arduino UNO with a custom shield for all the inputs/outputs. It lives in a box up under the dash near pedals so when I run the wire for the front camera it'll be easy to plug in, no need to disassemble the dash again. Plus, if I change anything in the firmware it'll be accessible for upload.

There are spots for 5 relays (I had 4 on hand, will need to order another when I get my hands on the front camera). Three of the relays switch between the video feeds to the single head video input. (Arduinos don't work at the right signal levels to switch video, so I used relays. There are chips out there that'd do the job, but I haven't played with them yet). The remaining two relays switch the 12v inputs to the head that switch on video and day/night modes.

A local mechanic looked up the wiring harness details for me so I could trace down the connections. Here's the dash open to find the various points to tap:

I haven't written up details in a blog post yet, but I'd be happy to if there's any interest out there. Plus I'll open source the code for anyone that wants it. (Gotta remember my github credentials as it's been a while)

-Eric
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Pretty impressive, and nice work!!

wmg · Apr 9, 2020

dpele said: ↑

Battery was letting me down so I upgraded!

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are you going to upgrade your alt output or use an external charger to top it off?

Rick_Taco · Apr 9, 2020

wmg said: ↑

are you going to upgrade your alt output or use an external charger to top it off?
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That's part of the reason I didn't end up going with the Northstar.

Gruber1922 · Apr 9, 2020

Also trimmed up my fenders and flares. Just Did the front for this week, rears next week. Driver side isn't as clean because the jigsaw caught on something while I was trimming my bumper cover. Oh well, hopefully getting a new bumper soon anyway

Sredna · Apr 9, 2020

Cleaned underneath the hood.

wmg · Apr 9, 2020

Rick_Taco said: ↑

That's part of the reason I didn't end up going with the Northstar.
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sorry misunderstood, thought you were going to the NS..my bad

PoweredBySoy · Apr 9, 2020

Gruber1922 said: ↑

Also trimmed up my fenders and flares. Just Did the front for this week, rears next week

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How much is that trimmed??

Plan on doing any sort of liner replacement??

Chris P Bacon · Apr 9, 2020

Well, a few days ago actually. Swapped out my LCAs (with factory LCAs) because my ball joints and bushings were horrible. Wasn’t too bad of a job. Only got one pic and that’s of the old ones as I’m prepping them for new bushings. Thinking white line or energy suspension. Maybe just OEM because they lasted 119K. Who knows.......

Gruber1922 · Apr 9, 2020

PoweredBySoy said: ↑

How much is that trimmed??

Plan on doing any sort of liner replacement??
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About 2.5" on both sides. I actually just hacked away on my old liner and was able to zip tie it up in a few spots. I cut scores into the actual fender and made tabs. I bent them back and up so it holds the liner somewhat. Just temporary for now

super_white · Apr 9, 2020

My 16ga. wire came in today
Going to stop at the hardware store tomorrow and figure out how to bolt the fuse boxes to the bracket.

This_taco_obsession · Apr 9, 2020

'14RC said: ↑

cleanup day

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Where’d you get bucket seats?

tbr3345 · Apr 9, 2020

Think it’s about time to change it. Changed it 10K ago but live with big tree in front yard

EatSleepTacos · Apr 9, 2020

Did some more cuttin

Darkgoatracer · Apr 9, 2020

EatSleepTacos said: ↑

Did some more cuttin

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Poor betty white....

EatSleepTacos · Apr 9, 2020

Darkgoatracer said: ↑

Poor betty white....
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Your truck is next. I’m coming for it

Darkgoatracer · Apr 9, 2020

EatSleepTacos said: ↑

Your truck is next. I’m coming for it
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This may or may not have made it on the to-do list. Just need to figure out how to shorten the cap.

EatSleepTacos · Apr 9, 2020

Darkgoatracer said: ↑

This may or may not have made it on the to-do list. Just need to figure out how to shorten the cap.
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Now that would be a hell of a project

pahaf · Apr 9, 2020

"plasti dipped" my chrome bumper and front grill. almost matches. might be a good thing to do for some people who dont like their chrome.

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