I replaced my clock with a thermometer

Hello. I'm here to share a a pretty handy, simple upgrade to a Tacoma with the digital clock display on the dash (mine's a 2014). Like I imagine is the case with a lot of folks, I have an aftermarket head unit which also has a clock display, obviating the need for the existing one in the dash. Similarly, I'll be a lot of people have found it super handy -- maybe in their other vehicles -- to have a thermometer reading the outside temperature. Well, I decided I'd try to deal with both of those things using the same solution: replacing the clock display with a thermometer.

I wish I'd had the foresight to take pictures throughout the process, but hopefully the description of it will help. At any rate, the most important photo is the final result:


Step one was ordering this product from Amazon, currently $11:

$10 KETOTEK Digital Thermometer Temperature Meter Gauge Waterproof Sensor Probe Aquarium Car PC case Incubator Temp Meter 4 Pin Power Supply Celsius/Fahrenheit LCD Display

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DVSIYN2?ie=UTF8

Step two was removing the clock from the dash, which on my 2014 model necessitated the removal of the HVAC dial apparatus, and the trim piece that surrounds the head unit (the clock/hazard lights/seatbelt indicator unit is screwed and snapped into this trim piece). Both the HVAC apparatus and the trim piece just pop out with a little leverage. There are wiring harnesses that need to be disconnected from both, too.

Step three: remove the clock/hazard lights/seatbelt thing from the trim piece, and remove its back. On mine, the back was a yellowish plastic piece with one screw and six snaps. A circuit board will come with it, so be careful not to manhandle it too much or the circuit board could be damaged. Set it aside.

Step four: there's a smaller circuit board in the center of the clock/hazard light/seatbelt unit held in by two screws. This is for the clock display. Remove it, and be mindful of the two small posts that also hold the board in position.

Step five: remove the clock LCD from the circuit board. It's held in place with one tiny screw and some snaps. Once it's removed, get rid of the metal pins that remain on the circuit board. NOTE: the circuit board will be reused just to hold the thermometer display in place, so it's no big deal that you've damaged it.

Step six: looking at the back of the (empty) clock/HL/seatbelt unit, cut two small notches in the left of the cavity that used to contain the clock. These will be used as a path for the thermometer wires.

Step seven: drill a small hole (I used a 1/4" bit) on either the top or bottom of the clock/HL/seatbelt unit for the thermometer wires to exit. I drilled the hole just to the left of where I cut the notches in step six. Make sure that the hole is close to the "face" of the clock/HL/seatbelt unit...it needs to be further "forward" toward the face than the circuit board you removed in step three. You may need to drill a similar hole or notch the clock/HL/seatbelt unit "surround" that screws into the larger head unit trim piece, too.

Step eight: put the thermometer display inside the clock/HL/seatbelt unit so that its face aligns with the window for the old clock. To get it as close to the window as possible and for a snugger fit, I trimmed the top and bottom "frame" on the thermometer with an Xacto knife so they were flush with the "body" of the thermometer housing. I used some small pieces of foam to fill in the empty space around the thermometer unit to keep it aligned with the window, but there are many things that could do the trick (wadded up paper, tape, etc.). BE SURE TO REMOVE THE SHORT CAP FROM THE BACK OF THE THERMOMETER DISPLAY IF YOU WANT IT TO BE IN FAHRENHEIT!

Step nine: run the thermometer wires through the notches and hole(s) you cut in steps six and seven.

Step ten: replace the smaller circuit board removed in step four using the two screws. Be sure to keep the thermometer display in place while you do this!

Step eleven: replace the circuit board/back cover that you removed in step three.

Step twelve: re-attach the clock--err, thermometer/HL/seatbelt unit to the trim piece for the head unit.

Step thirteen: assuming you have some wiring abilities...tap into a hot, ignition-controlled wire (I used the power wire for the stereo...brown or light blue on the harness, I think...one's always on, the other is ignition-controlled) and a ground, and make connections to the wires from the thermometer. For the temperature probe, you'll probably need to splice into the wire to extend it--it's just two strands of silver wire...I just used some similar weight stuff to add an extra 10 feet. I snaked it through the dash, under the steering wheel, along the drivers' side door, and out the bottom of the cab through a rubber plug, then zip-tied it to some other wiring to the back of the bed. I'm not sure it's necessary to go that far, but I figure it's further from any engine heat that way. I also wrapped the probe in some foam to insulate against any weird effects from exhaust or whatever. Again, probably not entirely necessary.

Step fourteen: snap the trim piece back in place once you've verified that everything works!

That's it. It took me about 2-3 hours.

 

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