What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

I attempted this with some EBay headlights to no avail. The housing literally crumbled every corner that I tried prying. I think I did 250 for 7 mins like what the retrofitsource said to do.. then after putting back in 5-6 more times I got angry with it. The sealant just would not soften up at all!

I’d like to find some half decent Oem lights to try again..

 

Were they sealed with permaseal. That crap is the worst. I've had no issue with butyl.

 

This may be the most Taco thing I've ever seen. A Taco hauling half of a Taco so it can be installed on another Taco. It's beautiful.

 

Yeah it must have been. Cause I’ve opened about 3 sets of headlights before no issues. These were just not budging…

 

im about to do a tran fluid change on my 3rz auto, i was told that the filter isnt ever changed. is this true? just a drain and refil

@gearcruncher what do you say

 

@YotaGangYotaGang

I tried to do the filter on my first drain and fill. I discovered there are apparently several different ones, and they are not interchangeable. Returned the 1st, and got a second wrong one.

I ended up cleaning the original (it's wire mesh) and using it again.

Since then, only drain and fills.

 

I was planning on doing a retrofit but nobody makes decent clear housings for the 98-00 front end so you're stuck with using reflector housings (bad) or cheap spyder/anzo housings (may not hold up). see https://www.carid.com/1998-toyota-tacoma-headlights/

Now I'm just buying new OEM headlights and doing the ultimate headlight upgrade with high wattage bulbs.

 

Easy install???

 

You could always convert to the better looking 01-04.

 

It's not that bad. The smell goes away very quickly.

My wife didn't even realize what I was doing till I was baking them the second time (had to heat them back up to finish opening them)

 

You aren't hitting a temp that will actually melt the headlight housings. (or... if you are, you haven't done any kind of research on it what so ever and you're doing it way wrong)

 

Even the cheap Depo/Spyder housings don't give off that much smell. It shouldn't be an issue if done correctly. Some panel clip pliers help a lot

 

For some reason I had really no problem with the clips.

Only tool I used was one of these, to split them apart and also to scrape all (most) of the old glue out.

 

I don't mean for the clips on the headlight, I just meant the tool used for interior clips. Anything flat and semi sharp will work though if the butyl is heated enough.

 

Gotcha... Ya, I was wondering how that thing would help on the headlight clips LMAO

 

Replaced my driver's seatbelt with a brand new non-shredded and non-lazy one. Wish I did it years ago.

 

I need to do this. My seatbelt has two positions, across my lap or slammed in the door.

 

About two weeks ago, I looked out the kitchen window and saw my add-on fog lights on. I pulled the fuse. Today, I got around to investigating.
I confirmed power to the switch and relay input. Pulled the 2 yr old relay connector and found this:



This connector is in the space between the battery, headlight, and the fender. Pretty well protected from rain and splash. But it is Chinese.

I cleaned it up and still got no function.

Pulled the relay cap.



Again, this relay is only about 2yrs old and not in a truly wet zone.

I didn't have a replacement in my salvage yard scrounge stash, so I cleaned up the contacts and it worked fine.

 

I used TYC headlights for the original retrofits and they’ve held up great these last seven years. No fading or anything.

 

It is worth doing. First time I use it I just grinned. Almost enough to make me forget the expense...