Hello from Savannah, GA

Just picked up a maroon 2003 PreRunner Double Cab, V6, SR5, TRD with 170,000 miles. Frame appears perfect. Interior is about 8/10 especially for those miles.

I need to put in a new a/c condensor (something kill me first please) into my ex's 2000 Jeep XJ and then I can start to work on "refreshing" this Tacoma.

Before I really start driving it I'll do a complete fluid replace, timing belt change, brake system flush/replace all wear surfaces. Somehow the skid plates are missing so I need to source a replacement skid plate to protect the too-exposed radiator.

After (or during) the mechanical sort out I need to find a radio, probably double DIN with apple play, and install a backup camera.

Having been a part of very close automobile forums in the past, Miata, Prius and Land Rover, I can already say a thank you to all those who will be helping me sort out and enjoy this Tacoma.

First impressions are that I am happily surprised with how good this vehicle drives at 170,000 miles. I was prepared for a rattle trap but this thing is tight and I am pretty sure that it still has its original suspension.

Looking forward to being a part of this community for a very long time. I'll post pictures eventually but I have it parked in the parking deck at work until I can get the Jeep apart and back together.

Tacos, John

 

Welcome to TW John

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Born and raised in Savannah (Wilmington isl). Living in Ohio now. I miss home.

 

Welcome to TW. Sounds like you have a solid plan for your truck!

 

Welcome to tw

 

Ordered a kit to do the timing belt change. I guess I'm committed now.

Worked my night shift Saturday night. Went home and somehow got the entire dash apart and the heater core / evaporator box out of the ex's jeep. I had to stop there and go in to get some sleep. I didn't want to chance making mistakes on reassembly while I was so tired. If I can just get the box back into the jeep tomorrow I'll be in good shape. I can leave hooking the rest of the dash back up for Tuesday. I can't wait to get the Jeep out of the way so that I can start on the Tacoma.

Even if all I do is replace the anemic interior dome lights with some brighter LEDs I'll be glad to get started. I'm really looking forward to working with the Tacoma and driving it.

Thanks for the welcome.

Webdr - how long ago did you move? Lots of crime here now. I love the city and the architecture. I live about 3 miles from the river so I can hop on my bicycle and be downtown in a flash. Great place to live but oh boy! the crime. I'm a nurse at Memorial with lots of friends on Wilmington.

 

Welcome and congrats on the truck. Grew up in Savannah myself, in Athens now.

Next time you're in Employee Health, tell nurse Reed I said hello - she's my mother

 

Was just up in Employee Health just last week. I lived in Athens also. My daughter was born there.

 

Hey Jc, welcome and glad to have ya! What options were you thinking for a new radio (w/ Apple play and rear view)?

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Love me some savannah! Wife has friends in augusta and we go to savannah with them, and Tybee island. Can't get enough of Sweet Melissa's at 2am

 

Don't know on the radio yet. On Crutchfield I put tacoma in the selector, Double DIN, CarPlay, and I don't need a DVD player. About 8 stereo possibilities popped up. The

Sony XAV-AX100
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158XAV100/Sony-XAV-AX100.html?avf=Y

has good reviews and is cheap but I'll wait until closer to Christmas and see what is on sale. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158XAV100/Sony-XAV-AX100.html?avf=Y

I don't want my backup camera tied into the stereo. The stereo is too low. I have a backup camera in the Prius which plays through the dash monitor. It is annoying to switch focus from the rearview mirror down to the dash, check the left and right mirrors, etc. I am going to try monitor / rearview mirror combination. I found this article helpful.

https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-backup-camera-and-displays/

I like the idea of a camera in the license plate surround but I think it will be too low and more importantly I carry my bike on a hitch mounted Yakima rack. The rack will sit midline and so will the camera if it is in the license plate surround. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to see through the carrier with a midline camera. So, the article's second choice for camera is the Pyle PLCM38FRV I want to epoxy the camera somehow onto the tailgate latch. But if that wont work I'll drill a hole into the tailgate and flush mount it slightly off of midline. For display I think I'm going to try the Audiovox rearview mirror suggested in the article. You could try to find one from a later year model Tacoma on ebay but for about $150 you can have the camera and rearview mirror referenced in the article.

Let me know what your ideas are. -John

 

Those are some great articles, especially thewirecutter. You make some great points with having the backup camera playing through the dash monitor. I've wanted to have mine that way for a little while now just to cut down on clutter and give everything a clean look. I currently have a hand-me down backup I got from a friend that works, but has poor visual. The camera is a similar style to this, but not as nice:
Which again does the job but isn't the greatest. I have a good field of view but I'm blind if anything is around that area. It also covers the top portion of my license plate so you can't see what state I'm from. I think I'm gonna take after you and do the mirror monitor as well. Curious on how the wiring will be and how to connect it all because my current display plugs into a cigarette lighter. As for new cameras, I've toyed with the idea of somehow rigging a Gen2 tailgate latch camera to fit my Gen1 but I don't know the quality of those cameras either.

 

As said, I have a backup camera on the Prius, original equipment. I like it. Tons. But I find that I look at the display and peripheral vision is gone. If something moves quickly, like a child or dog, I never see it unless it enters the field of vision on the display. I never had a problem when just looking at the rearview mirror because my peripheral vision would pick up the movement of anything at ground level outside of the vehicle. I think with the display in the rearview mirror that it will solve this problem. We will see

For wiring, google "backup camera in a generation 1 tacoma" I think that is where I started. The best I remember was that the display simply requires power and a ground. The camera will wire into the reverse light circuit and that reverse light circuit is where you'll get power to the display. I don't think I wrote that very clear but I have a splitting headache right now. You have dome lights in your Tacoma. If the display requires continuous power then I would draw from the dome light.

I hid the Tacoma from myself so that I would finish the ac on the ex's car before I start on the Tacoma (doesn't stop me from thinking about it). My question is how (or where) will I get the wires out of the tailgate and keep it looking OEM. -John

 

Hey John,
The rear view backup mirror option is probably what I’m going to go for as well. I’ve seen a few projects for wiring Gen1’s with a backup camera but they used a stand alone monitor instead of a mirror screen or dash monitor.
Is there a way to wire the camera so that you can turn it on without being in reverse? I’ve wanted to check out what’s going on behind my truck before without giving the signal that I’m preparing to reverse. For example if there are shady people afoot and you wanted an extra view...
How do you hide your taco from yourself? Since you hid it, it will be on your mind even more. What I would do to keep the wiring OEM is just look at a Gen2 tailgate on how their wiring harness is set up because that’s essentially what you’ll be doing. Hope that helps and good luck with AC unit

 

I agree with wanting a switch to turn it on. I have wanted that a few times already. Should be pretty easy just wiring in a switch. But I'm pretty far away from that project.

I'm a nurse at a hospital with parking decks. I left it in one of the parking decks. I can see it when I walk into work. I just didn't want it at home because it would have been a distraction and I would have to park it on the street.

AC finished last night and delivered this morning. Walked to the hospital and retrieved my Tacoma. She is at home now. And here she is. The pinstriping has to go. I don't like the wheels and I'm meeting someone tomorrow to hopefully buy some of the original style. First major task is to replace the timing belt. Parts will be here Friday but I work Fri, Sat, Sun nights so it won't be completed until next week. I expect that I'll also be replacing the valve cover gaskets too. I'm hoping that my leak is there.

She had side steps but those were taken off and put into the for sale pile. I need some new badges, SR5, badges on the tailgate and the TRD Off Road decal for the hindquarters. But all in good time.

I'm going out to take off a few parts now.

 

I’m glad you got your baby back! So what’s the next phase to complete on her? I’m currently going back to OEM air intake, just waiting on parts now. But after that I want to get a new receiver and backup cam set up. Probably roof mounted led bar after that. I’d like to get it all done by the end of the year. Here’s my rig
I just hit 140k on it the other day. Work in progress but it sure is fun and keeps ya challenged.