1999 Tacoma SR5 TRD Imperial Jade Build, Sweat and Tears

Next up, CO to Moab


Getting tired of the battery problems with the diesel heater. I caved and decided to find an Anker C300 last second before I leave. I found one an hour away and went and grabbed it.

 

And Im off

 

First a stop in Aspen

 

Stayed over night, then headed out in the morning.


Stopped in Rifle for gas and then seen a thrift store. Stopped in and scored. I need the end of this splitter to use for the Anker C300 to the Diesel heater. I was actively looking for something all through Aspen. Stopped at couple different places but nada. Got lucky with this one and only a dollar.

 

Took the back way into Moab

 

Road was a little bumpy. I was over aired to try and save gas so I air down to 30 from around 45psi.

 

Made it to the campground. 5 days here. Lets go.


Time to get the diesel heater setup.


Cut the double cigarette lighter adapter and solder it into the diesel heater wire.


Tested it. Nope, not even close to starting. Great.


Tired to start it off the truck, nope. e01, lower power.


I scarified my inverter. It has a 20amp end on it. Im thinking maybe that old adapter I bought cant handle the power.


Wired it. NOPE! Well this sucks.

 

Time to eat.


Back to this game. I tired to start the glow plug off the jumper then switch over to the cigarette lighter after the glow plug settles down.
NOPE! Error, overpower. This is crazy.


Back to this game so I dont freeze.

 

After starting it off the battery with the jumper attached, I was able to switch over to the Anker.

 

So next day while driving around I tried to recharge the Anker off my USB charger setup.


Not getting enough watts off this charger. Im only getting 20 watts max and the charge time it way too long. It says like 10hrs at this rate.


I put my inverter back together and tried to charge it with my macbook charger via AC and nope. It would just click and nothing.


This is what I have


Looks like Im going to need to upgrade to this one when I can.


Eventually Im going to get a 100w solar panel for the Anker to recharge, but just incase I need a higher USB output charger in my truck.

 

So at this point Im thinking theres something wrong with the Anker. Ive seen someone start a diesel heater with this same Anker C300. I seen someone say there was a firmware update. The cigarette lighter output is supposed to go up to 120w and even spike to 130w, but it always cuts off at 67w.

I went to a radio shack and bought a different cigarette light end and 12 gauge wire.

Pulled the diesel all apart and wired it with 12g wire.


Wired 12g all the way to the new end. Fully soldered too.


Also bought a AC/DC power supply just to run in case I cant get it going. NOPE!!! WTF. Still underpowered.


That night I froze my ass off. No heat. All this, Anker, deep cycle and jumper couldn't get it going. All this and the diesel heater is falling to 10V. WTF legit losing my mind. There was so much power going through it cooked the 12v cigarette lighter plug.

 

Woke up super annoyed. Barely slept. It was like 35 degrees f and I dont really have any good blankets because I was banking on the diesel heater.

Found a coffee shop to recharge the Anker and try and get the firmware updated.

Firmware failed a few time but got it. Still didnt matter. Would not start.


Was doing a ton of research and I seen someone say use an Xbox one power brick. Moab doesnt have anything like this. Called around and found a Gamestop had one in Grand Junction. 115 miles away. Dont really want to drive 230 miles but Im not gonna freeze anymore. I already wasted 2 days in Moab trying to fix this. So I went.

As soon as I got back I hooked it up while there was still day light. If this doesnt work I need to get a hotel.

I had to research the wiring. If you cut the end off where it plugs into the xbox one theres 6 wires. 2 black 2 red and then 2 different colors. You need to splice the 2 different colors together in order for it to send power to the red and black wires. If you dont it wont work.

Like this


The xbox one brick works!!!!


So I wired the 12v cigarette lighter and the xbox brick into the one diesel heater line. My plan is to start the heater on the xbox brick and as soon as I see the watts drop on the Anker Ill switch over to the 12v dc power.

It all works now!!!! Just like I wanted stated above. 3 days wasted though. It shouldn't have been this hard!!!

 

Did a similar road trip a few years ago before my oldest son was driving. Now that he’s driving and has his own Taco we’re going to do it again. Enjoy the journey and love the pics

 

This thing is sick

 

Awesome. Its been a great time, now that its set up somewhat for sleeping. All the driving miles have been fine, oddly enough since the factory seat isnt exactly luxury.

 

Thanks