Sp8Ball’s Mod Thread (Stealing Other Poster’s Ideas Since Mid-2010)

[Awynt]

When I was buying my TE, I sent my girlfriend at the time a picture of it while I was at the dealership...the first thing she said was "You need to get some black wheels on it!"...in hindsight, I might have let a keeper slip away.

You done goofed, son.

 

[3x4runnerOwner]

You done goofed, son.

I'm typing an apology email immediately and ordering flowers immediately!

By the way Sp8Ball, you inspired me to mod my interior lighting with LED's...turned out awesome.

 

[deekoi]

Modification: Switch for Backup Camera (cont.)

We elected to use one two-wire bit of speaker wire, and one single-wire. This also helped us keep track of which wire did what.

Then we soldered the wires to the posts, and (of course) shrink wrapped them for excellence.

View attachment 42939

... Tap your wire from Post 1 on your switch to the blue wire in the overhead connection.

Wanted to thank you guys again for this! AWESOME WORK!!!

I'm super noob when it comes to all this. My first time doing mods and I've taken care of all the easy ones... This one looks pretty tough for me but fun and cool. :reddance:

This is probably a dumb question but for the switch post 1, 2, & 3 I'm a little confused on which is what and which taps to the blue or the two red wires.

I'm assuming post 1, 2, & 3 are left, middle, right (where left and right are interchangeable? or not??? then which ones taps into blue? & red on clip/harness side?

I have Navi and would love to connect the back up camera to the screen (I was a sucker for the screen and the limited tech features. & none of the TE around me came w/out navi) I think I have this part figured out from some diagrams on where the camera adapters are, but before I start taking everything apart I wanted to double check to make sure I know (or at least think I know) what I'm doing.

 

[Antman]

The important points are that middle post (#2) goes to the clip side of the red wire. The end posts are interchangeable- BUT make sure you get a switch that says SPDT (single pole double throw) not just any 3 prong switch. Lighted single throw switches have 3 prongs but won't work in this application. Hope that helps...

 

[sp8ball]

When I was buying my TE, I sent my girlfriend at the time a picture of it while I was at the dealership...the first thing she said was "You need to get some black wheels on it!"...in hindsight, I might have let a keeper slip away.

:jaw drop: GASP! :jaw drop:

 

[sp8ball]

Can you say PHOTOCHOP? With you knowing your way around the keyboard (manicured nails? ) I'm surprised you haven't thought of this yourself! Give it a try, it's easy! :thumb3:


Mike :artist2:

I am terrible - TAR...E...BALL - with Photoshop. It is my nemesis.

 

[sp8ball]

I'm typing an apology email immediately and ordering flowers immediately!

By the way Sp8Ball, you inspired me to mod my interior lighting with LED's...turned out awesome.

:banana:SWEET! Glad that someone, somewhere, actually got something useful out of this thread! :banana:

 

[sp8ball]

Wanted to thank you guys again for this! AWESOME WORK!!!

I'm super noob when it comes to all this. My first time doing mods and I've taken care of all the easy ones... This one looks pretty tough for me but fun and cool. :reddance:

This is probably a dumb question but for the switch post 1, 2, & 3 I'm a little confused on which is what and which taps to the blue or the two red wires.

I'm assuming post 1, 2, & 3 are left, middle, right (where left and right are interchangeable? or not??? then which ones taps into blue? & red on clip/harness side?

I have Navi and would love to connect the back up camera to the screen (I was a sucker for the screen and the limited tech features. & none of the TE around me came w/out navi) I think I have this part figured out from some diagrams on where the camera adapters are, but before I start taking everything apart I wanted to double check to make sure I know (or at least think I know) what I'm doing.

The important points are that middle post (#2) goes to the clip side of the red wire. The end posts are interchangeable- BUT make sure you get a switch that says SPDT (single pole double throw) not just any 3 prong switch. Lighted single throw switches have 3 prongs but won't work in this application. Hope that helps...

Ummm...what he said.

He's the smart one.

 

[Black T]

Has anyone with a Trail tackled the rearview camera mod yet? How do you get the trail version crawl controls removed in order to access the screws to remove the console?

 

[Awynt]

I want to do the interior LEDs as well, but I'm having a hard time peeling the husband from his Bronco to help! Gah, doesn't he know the WIFE'S fun mod stuff comes before HIS fun mod stuff!?

 

[SeattleMike]

I want to do the interior LEDs as well, but I'm having a hard time peeling the husband from his Bronco to help! Gah, doesn't he know the WIFE'S fun mod stuff comes before HIS fun mod stuff!?

Why are you waiting on him? Grab a heat gun and some wire and get to it. :zoom:

 

[sp8ball]

I want to do the interior LEDs as well, but I'm having a hard time peeling the husband from his Bronco to help! Gah, doesn't he know the WIFE'S fun mod stuff comes before HIS fun mod stuff!?

If you're talking about these LEDs...Those you can do by yourself - no problem! It's just popping off covers, pulling out lightbulbs, and replacing them.

If you're talking about these LEDs...they're a little more involved, but not much harder than wiring a home stereo. Just have to be brave about popping off panels (panels, that I have learned, that were designed to be popped off) and finishing off connections.

By the way, Broncos are cool!

 

[Awynt]

You underestimate my ability to break things... :lmao:

But I just might go ahead and try!

 

[Johnny Utah]

You underestimate my ability to break things... :lmao:

But I just might go ahead and try!

Don't pop the bulbs. They are a ***** to get out. Use electrical tape and just shimmy back and forth.

 

[philsey]

..... but I'm having a hard time peeling the husband from his Bronco to help!.....

Surely you can think of some way .... diamond necklace perhaps?

 

[sp8ball]

Attention Thread Readers, Followers, and Contributors​

We've hit a milestone! When I packed it in for the night last evening, we were at about 970-something "views" of this thread.

I realized "Wow, we're getting close to 10,000 views...how bored are these people?" I also thought it would take several more days to creep close the 10k mark, and that I'd try to post a nice note next week and make it "Number 10,000".

arty:Then I logged in this morning, and we're at 10,500+! Wow!arty:

I never imagined, ever, that this thread would grow to 17 (and counting) pages, with 10,000+ (and counting) views. In all honesty, I expected to get derisive comments from most of you, telling me I was a stupid amatuer with no skills (which would be true). Or the moderators would ban me for life for wasting bandwith.

So thanks to everyone for following along, adding comments and posts, and making this super fun!

(note: I'm aware that, of the 10,000 views, about 8,500 are most likely "sp8ball" looking at his own thread. But whatever.)

 

[sp8ball]

Don't pop the bulbs. They are a ***** to get out. Use electrical tape and just shimmy back and forth.

What he said.

 

[ckon]

Don't pop the bulbs. They are a ***** to get out. Use electrical tape and just shimmy back and forth.

A short piece of appropriate diameter soft rubber hose is a big help removing the bulbs that you can't quite get a grip on. Just push it onto the lamp as far as you can and pull briskly and the lamp will usually just pop out.

 

[sp8ball]

Hm. This is quite the conundrum. You could always go with the method of hanging a diamond necklace from one of the tires when you take her out to show her the new wheels?

She's too practical, and I'm too stupid/problematic/troublesome.

Here's what I mean...

She hardly ever wears nice jewelry, except for her wedding and engagement rings, and a diamond cross I bought her.

So...if I screw up and buy another nice necklace (which I have done), I get told it's a waste of money because she wears her cross all the time.

I've already gotten her a bracelet (a Christmas gift) and a nice ring (a baby/screwup gift), and she doesn't wear them.

So, I'm out of jewelry locations. There's a line of jewelry pieces, just waiting to be worn. I'll just be chastised for buying more, and get in more trouble!

 

[sp8ball]

surely you can think of some way .... Diamond necklace perhaps?

ha ha ha!