ZachAttack's Build Thread - 2004 Sport Edition

[ZachAttack]

Removed Front Mudflaps

I had some rubbing with my 1" level plus the Spidertrax spacers.

I ended up figuring out it was on the front mudflaps, so today, I took them off.

I'll attach a couple pictures. I'll leave it to you to figure out which one is "before" and which one is "after."

Also, I washed the car today and used some tire dressing on the tires. Looks really good, but I have a lot of years of neglect on the clearcoat. I'm going to go read JA's writeup on detailing and probably put some time into getting the paint looking good again.

 

[ZachAttack]

After the wash...

I still have a ways to go, but the car looks good without the front mudflaps and after a good wash.

 

[BobbyZee]

I still have a ways to go, but the car looks good without the front mudflaps and after a good wash.

It looks great and I will definitely not call it a "car"!

 

[ZachAttack]

Urban Runner Roof Rack

Well, I got an email this afternoon from UPS stating that my Urban Runner Roof Rack had arrived, so you can imagine my excitement upon seeing the HUGE box at the front door.

Anyway, I got it unpacked and got to work taking off my current rack. (I think I am going to try to sell my current (stock) rack in the classifieds, so I'm going to take a couple pictures. Here's the original rack, still in pretty good condition. (It has a couple chips of paint missing, but otherwise is in great condition.):

Then, I spent about 45 minutes trying to figure out how to pop off the covers in the four corners. Once that was done, I got the rest of the rack taken off. The runner looks so naked without a roof rack.

Once I got the new one mocked up on the ground, I snapped this pic for comparison. (Sorry, should have included the decorative pieces on both racks. Use your imagination.)

And of course Toyota decides to use a (T40-size) star bit for the attach bolts for the Urban Runner rack. Do I have a star bit? YES! Is it a T-40? NOPE.

So, off to Autozone to buy a whole set. By the time I got home, I got everything installed, but the pictures at night didn't do it justice. I'll try to grab one before leaving for work tomorrow.

But, I'm very happy with the new rack. It actually looks much more rugged than the normal rack, which is a little too sleek (and silver) for me. If you are interested in the old rack, let me know. I don't want to make a lot of money off of it, just want to get it out of the garage, and figured someone here would be happier with it than the garbage man.

More pics in the morning, I promise.

EDIT: Here they are!

 

[gaterose]

Glad you like it, I'm sure it looks great! I know it looks better than the silver one! And I think it's rated a little higher as far as capacity too, only ~20 lbs but that's still something... Had the same problem with the T40, but I just bought the one instead of the set.

Good luck with the rack sale! I held on to my silver one for about 8 or 9 months before finally finding a buyer... FYI it was only about $35 shipped USPS to an APO in Germany so shipping isn't prohibitively expensive, just make sure you keep the box your new rack came in... it's hard to find one that big!

 

[ZachAttack]

Had the same problem with the T40, but I just bought the one instead of the set.

Of course Lowe's was across the street, and I should have gone there, but Autozone only had the set. Oh well, it was only $15.

I can't wait to see it in daylight tomorrow...

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I have the hella supertones on my ack and debated putting a set on my 4Runner, but like you said they're a bit higher pitched. Did you look into the hella trumpet horns at all that look like the stock ones? Which ones did you end up going with?

 

[ZachAttack]

Did you look into the hella trumpet horns at all that look like the stock ones? Which ones did you end up going with?

I did look at the Hella trumpet horns like the stock ones, but I ended up trying the Fiamm El Grande horns. I'll let you know how they look/sound when they get here.

 

[TravisT]

Zach,

Just recently picked up an 04 V6 Sport 4x4, and ordered this same HU to install (tomorrow hopefully). How do you like it now that you've had it for a little while? Any tips on the install?

Have you installed the steering wheel adapter yet? I wondered about getting this because I hate having the controls there that don't work. Is it worth it in your opinion?

Looks like you may have a different dash kit than I do. My order shows item# 0000530079, but your link shows a different one. The link for yours shows that it doesn't fit my vehicle, so I'm wondering if they changed designs or something.

Anyway, just wandered what you thought of yours.

TravisT

 

[ZachAttack]

Just recently picked up an 04 V6 Sport 4x4, and ordered this same HU to install (tomorrow hopefully). How do you like it now that you've had it for a little while? Any tips on the install?

No tips on the install, other than it took me about 3 times as long as I thought it was going to take. I'd taken out the radio a few times before to do an ipod adapter before, but it was still a little confusing with the JBL kit.

Have you installed the steering wheel adapter yet? I wondered about getting this because I hate having the controls there that don't work. Is it worth it in your opinion?

No, I haven't installed it yet, but I know it will be worth it. I love having steering wheel controls, and I miss them. I should really do that this weekend...

Looks like you may have a different dash kit than I do. My order shows item# 0000530079, but your link shows a different one. The link for yours shows that it doesn't fit my vehicle, so I'm wondering if they changed designs or something.

I can't be sure on the dash kit. I was at a small audio store who gave me a great deal on the HU, and they happened to have the dash kit in stock. I trusted them, and it happened to work out.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[TravisT]

Thanks for that info. I assumed that since you linked crutchfield parts, that you ordered from there as well. I guess I'll see tomorrow. I wish the toyota radios would just ISO mount like they used to...


How do you like the head unit overall now that you've had it for a while?

 

[ZachAttack]

How do you like the head unit overall now that you've had it for a while?

Travis, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. By now, you've got yours installed.

My only complaint is that for the first two minutes after booting up, it seems to be a little slow (just like windows, even though it looks ready, it kinda lags.)

After those first two minutes, though, it's lightning fast, and even though the directions sometimes takes you to weird places, I'm impressed by the sound, features, and the fact that every POI I've ever searched for has been in the database.

 

[ZachAttack]

By the way, I'm going to try to give away my stock roof rack.

(No profit intended, just your shipping and packaging, which I'll have to buy.) $50 should cover shipping and packaging, but it's free for pickup in central NC.

I posted up on the classifieds.

 

[4runnerlabr]

Did you notice an increase in wind noise while driving after you installed the urban runner roof rack?

 

[ZachAttack]

Did you notice an increase in wind noise while driving after you installed the urban runner roof rack?

No perceptible change, but I don't drive around with the moonroof open all the time.

The crossbars are the same as stock, so I put them in the same "low noise" position as the stock one. Seems to work well.

 

[4runnerlabr]

OK. I'm assuming you assembled the new roof rack. Did the instructions indicate or was there any indicator stating that each crossbar had to face a certain direction? Meaning that you had to make sure that the proper side of the crossbar was facing the front of the truck?

I just installed the same rack (except mine is a sport edition rack) and I'm getting a lot of wind noise. I have the crossbars placed in the same position as my SR5 rack had them and they are also lined up with the little black indicators that are on the SE racks, but I'm still getting a decent amount of wind noise.

My only other thought is that maybe the crossbars are supposed to be oriented in one direction only, i.e., that there is a preferred side of the crossbar that should face toward the front of the 4Runner. I know the SR5/Limited racks have an indicator showing which side of the crossbar should face forward, but there isn't any type of indicator that I'm aware of on the urban runner/sport edition racks.

 

[ZachAttack]

There weren't any instructions, but they are kind if airfoil shaped, so I put the thicker side forward, and the thinner side aft.

 

[TravisT]

I did already install mine, and I've noticed the same thing. Obviously I haven't used it too much yet, but I like it so far. I think as I get used to the interface, it will get easier to use.

Where did you install your gps (and XM if you're running that) antennas? I'm having reception problems with XM (no noticeable problems with GPS yet) so I'm thinking of moving them to underneath the front roof-rack mounting covers. Have you had luck in another location?

 

[ZachAttack]

Where did you install your gps (and XM if you're running that) antennas?

I ended up running my gps puck straight up from the radio, and out the center speaker cover just above the radio. One of the forward edges has just enough give to it so you can fit the cord through. It's basically at the bottom center of the windshield, and it sits so you can't see the cord or the puck from the driver's seat while driving.

You can still see it if you are looking into the runner from the front.

I like the roof rack idea (except my new rack doesn't have any space for that).

I've also heard people going up the pillar on the passenger side, inside the headliner, and then sticking the GPS to the back of the rearview mirror.

I don't think I'll keep mine in my current location, but I do know that it gets very good (pretty instant) GPS reception.

 

[ZachAttack]

Scratch the Pioneer AVIC Z130BT.

For some reason, whenever it was hot out, it wouldn't see my docked ipod.

After 10 minutes of A/C blasting, I could stop, turn off the car, turn the car back on, and it would work, but that sucks.

I pulled it out, checked that it had good (relative) airflow, tried again. Failed.

I pulled it out and sold it on ebay. Back to stock.