Easy Weekend Mods

[Ngonerogwu]

I have a 2003, where did you get the ones with the projector lights? can you tell me? thanks.

Off of a 2006 4runner

 

[rypajo]

I like that. Here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/Ashtray-Lighter-4Runner-Toyota-Accessory/dp/B0056C1DNU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503639436&sr=8-1&keywords=4runner+oem+ashtray

Thanks. A bit more expensive that I was expecting.

 

[OliviasDad]

Thanks. A bit more expensive that I was expecting.

Cheaper via ebay

 

[AuSeeker]

Thanks. A bit more expensive that I was expecting.

Cheaper via ebay

Yes they can be had for just under $25 with free shipping on eBay.

 

[CJ1982]

Headlight Assembly and HIDs

Swapped out my headlight assemblies on my 2006 T4R Sport Edition for aftermarket halos I found on Ebay for 215$ as well as Morimoto HIDs in the highs, lows, and fogs, which set me back about 500$ for all 3 systems. I couldve saved a little money and tried baking open the assemblies I had and custom fitting a projector kit in them but I didnt want to risk it. The assemblies were a piece of cake, even the bolt in the fender well wasnt that hard to get to. Only took off one trim piece in the engine bay and loosened the plastic wheel well covers to do the install. The rough part was finding decent space on the drivers side to mount the relays and ballasts for that side. I ended up mounting them just below the drivers side headlight assembly mounted to the frame with holes I drilled and tapped. It was still pretty rough to get the right spot so that the harness would reach across the engine compartment to the other assembly in an inconspicuous route. The passenger side had massive amounts of room directly behind the assembly. I ended up mounting the low beam relay set on the drivers side and the high beam and fog relays on the passenger side. The Morimoto HIDs are amazing but if I had to change something about them Id want longer wires for the far ballast connection coming off of the relay and longer battery leads.
It took me roughly 4 hours, start to finish and when I initially had everything hooked up I was getting nothing to any of the lights which I thought was weird. After some quick troubleshooting I removed the optional Anti-Flicker capacitors I ordered with the system and once I did that everything powered up beautifully. I have no idea what was causing the capacitors to interrupt power but I just figured I wouldnt worry about it since they were optional anyway. I didnt take many pictures while I was installing them as it was a Friday and I had just got off of work and I was trying to beat the darkness. Next project Ill get much more detailed. I just figured Id share my install of the Morimoto HIDs and the problems I ran into as a first time installer of them.

Before shot of the factory headlight assembly on the drivers side

Headlight Assemblies from Ebay 215$

Mounting the ballasts and relays on the passenger side

Top view after the install. All wiring running across is hidden under the plastic trim covering the radiator

Finished product

 

[ZebRuaj]

The bigger question .. how's the cut off with those Ebay projectors?

 

[Flash Runner]

I don't know if someone mentioned this since the last time I checked this thread, but I saw this recently and I'm about to do it once my kit comes in:

4th gen Attic cargo net

 

[84ability]

I don't know if someone mentioned this since the last time I checked this thread, but I saw this recently and I'm about to do it once my kit comes in:

4th gen Attic cargo net

I would be a little worried about stuff flying at the back of your head in case of an accident.

 

[Flash Runner]

I would be a little worried about stuff flying at the back of your head in case of an accident.

I thought about that, and so did some others as mentioned in the thread. Most people seem to want to use it mostly to clear up floor space when camping (car is stationary). I plan on reinforcing it with bungee cords, and only storing soft stuff up there.

I normally keep a packed up rain coat, shorts, and shirt with me in my trunk area in the envelope style net, I feel this is a good adjustment for when I normally have other stuff in the back

 

[Gabriel777]

Swapped out my headlight assemblies on my 2006 T4R Sport Edition for aftermarket halos I found on Ebay for 215$ as well as Morimoto HIDs in the highs, lows, and fogs, which set me back about 500$ for all 3 systems. I couldve saved a little money and tried baking open the assemblies I had and custom fitting a projector kit in them but I didnt want to risk it. The assemblies were a piece of cake, even the bolt in the fender well wasnt that hard to get to. Only took off one trim piece in the engine bay and loosened the plastic wheel well covers to do the install. The rough part was finding decent space on the drivers side to mount the relays and ballasts for that side. I ended up mounting them just below the drivers side headlight assembly mounted to the frame with holes I drilled and tapped. It was still pretty rough to get the right spot so that the harness would reach across the engine compartment to the other assembly in an inconspicuous route. The passenger side had massive amounts of room directly behind the assembly. I ended up mounting the low beam relay set on the drivers side and the high beam and fog relays on the passenger side. The Morimoto HIDs are amazing but if I had to change something about them Id want longer wires for the far ballast connection coming off of the relay and longer battery leads.
It took me roughly 4 hours, start to finish and when I initially had everything hooked up I was getting nothing to any of the lights which I thought was weird. After some quick troubleshooting I removed the optional Anti-Flicker capacitors I ordered with the system and once I did that everything powered up beautifully. I have no idea what was causing the capacitors to interrupt power but I just figured I wouldnt worry about it since they were optional anyway. I didnt take many pictures while I was installing them as it was a Friday and I had just got off of work and I was trying to beat the darkness. Next project Ill get much more detailed. I just figured Id share my install of the Morimoto HIDs and the problems I ran into as a first time installer of them.

Before shot of the factory headlight assembly on the drivers side

Headlight Assemblies from Ebay 215$

Mounting the ballasts and relays on the passenger side

Top view after the install. All wiring running across is hidden under the plastic trim covering the radiator

Finished product

Me likey


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Oklastate19]

Nice!

Exactly what I'm wanting. Thank you.

 

[sport2004]

Couldn't find a good place for my sidearm so I decided to make my own spot. Sits flush and is very convenient, only took a couple minutes to secure into place.

I like how that turned out.

 

[PeteZ06]

Looks great!

 

[DreamRun08]

Got my color keyed grille today and decided to install it. I was too anxious to wait for the weekend. kept the smoked chrome center.


now i just gotta restore my headlights

 

[earthrealm]

[MENTION=176623]CJ1982[/MENTION], nice stuff, could you post pics of the halos in daylight. want to see how bright they are

 

[TrexRunnerGirl]

The Homelink mirror and extra sockets were the first mods after buying mine. Best $12 spent at pick n pull thanks to that post!

When you go to the junk yard to pull pieces, how do you know what wires to cut and/or pull out to do some of these mods?
I am definetly NOT an electrician.

 

[773_T4R]

When you go to the junk yard to pull pieces, how do you know what wires to cut and/or pull out to do some of these mods?
I am definetly NOT an electrician.

For the extra 12V sockets, there are usually only 2 wires (pos & neg) and for the Homelink mirror, it depends on the type of mirror. There's usually a harness plugged into it so I made sure to pull some wire out of the headliner to make sure I had extra. The mirror I grabbed from an Infiniti(Gentex brand) had 3 wires (pos, switched pos, and neg). I had to do some digging online to find out which colors are linked with each one.

 

[Gonzo318]

LED bolt lights to replace running board lights

This was a super easy install. Did it all in one afternoon.
More details in the link: Running board lights without running boards

 

[ZebRuaj]

For the extra 12V sockets, there are usually only 2 wires (pos & neg) and for the Homelink mirror, it depends on the type of mirror. There's usually a harness plugged into it so I made sure to pull some wire out of the headliner to make sure I had extra. The mirror I grabbed from an Infinity (Gentex brand) had 3 wires (pos, switched pos, and neg). I had to do some digging online to find out which colors are linked with each one.

Correct. 12V sockets, just be selective where you tap them into your car. Don't overload a wire harness.

Most Gentex mirrors I've seen are 3/4/5 wires. Grab as much of the pig tail as you can. Rip it out of the headliner if you have to, then snip the wires. Make sure to grab the wire cover that goes between the mirror mount and the headliner. You can test the wiring right at your battery. Ground, power for autodimming, power for Homelink garage buttons, and depending on model, power for another fancy add on (temp, compass) ... but it's most likely one ground and all the rest are power. How you hook it up on your rig is up to you. I've grabbed about 5 or 6 from the junk yard and wired in to the family fleet.

*Don't need autodimming on constant power. It'll just stay on all the time even with the truck off.

*Some don't like having the garage buttons to a constant power to prevent unauthorized garage break in should someone find their way into the cabin

 

[Todapwr]

Took out the dated amber and put some cool white LED my gauge cluster