Hood Lift Strut Mod (2001-2004)

Hey Dudes,

Here's a very cool and affordable mod you can do on your 2001-2004 1st Gen Tacoma. Spiker Engineering also makes a kit for 1995-2000 Tacomas as well. Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2fp5r8N9Hzg

 

14:25 Zip tie to wiper motor wire? Really. C'mon you can do better than that.

 

There's never any strain on the wires neither when the hood is closed or fully open. It's a window washer hose. So, I'll copy your verbiage, C'mon, do you really think a lite window washer hose is going to do something to the split wire loom or the wires inside it? In the directions, Leon suggested to zip tie it to the actual connector but I thought that would stretch the hose out to much and put a strain on it. The reason for using the wire loom as a location to zip tie to is because it's the nearest thing you can connect it to without stretching out the washer hose and putting a strain on it.

I'm fully capable of admitting when I do something janky or stupid but this isn't one of those occasions. If the window washer hose was actually tugging on the wires every time the hood opened, I would agree with you that my choice of zip tie locations was stupid. But, with no torque being applied to the wires, there's no chance anything bad is going to happen. So C'mon, give me a break here.

 

I've viewed just about every video that Timmy made and have performed many of them myself (injector replacement, water pump replacement, coolant flush, etc.) I have nothing but respect for him and his videos, and I don't think there is any way that they can be improved. His attention to detail, his working conditions, and his narrations are all 100%. Anybody contemplating working on his (or hers) Tacoma or 4Runner owes it to himself to watch the videos he's made.

 

@RysiuM is actually a big supporter of our YouTube channel. I understand the way he is because I can tend to be very detailed oriented too. I've often referred to myself as being anal or suffering from OCD. As I've gotten older though, I have learned to relax a little and not sweat the small stuff as much. I still lose my shit from time to time for stupid things but I think I've mellowed out a bit with age. Being detail oriented and focused can be a good thing. But, when it starts to affect you and the people around you in a negative way, that's when it's time to reevaluate things and maybe learn to let go, take a deep breath and relax a bit. Maybe do a few rounds of meditation Ohms to chill yourself out.

 

Def a good mod, I'm glad I did it. I did it with a diff kit though but its worth it.

 

Great video Timmah!
I did this mod years ago but did not change the plumbing at all.
Perhaps the Redline struts mount in a different location on the top of the fender well?

Keep up the good work.

 

No offense, I am not questioning functionality. Just after watching almost all of your videos and your attention to details and elegance that zip tie does not fit. Like it's not you and not Toyota style. You didn't use zip tie when you put Leon's strut on your 4Runner. That one detail changed my perception of this video from "Sic Mod" to "Marketing Material" (like many videos type "it's that easy"). I enjoyed more the video when you and Jordan instaled that strut on 4Runner.

I know the 4Runner strut is different but still my OCD would not let me slap a zip tie there. If needed I'd rather spend time on "relocating" that corner in "Toyota style". This is Toyota for the God's sake, not a Ford or Kia.

And finally is the relocation of the washer pipe necessary? I did not need to do that i my 95 Tacoma for Redline instalation and both kits mount the same way here.

 

I actually replaced my window washer hoses and I tried to give one line more slack, it ended up getting bent so I'll have to replace it with something a bit shorter.

 

Lol

 

No offense taken. When I installed the kit on my 98 4runner with Jordan, I did zip tie the washer hose out of the way but we failed to video it. Leon recommended in his instructions to relocate the hose and it did look like the strut would hit it if it wasn't relocated. I guess we're at different lines of thought with something like this. A freaking window washer hose is a pretty insignificant piece of the workings of the rig. Sure, you want it to send water or window washing fluid onto your windshield when you need it but I would never spend time relocating the line to make it look more "OEM". I don't give a sh*t. If it works, that's what I care about. Like I said, I use to be more anal but life is short and it's not going to bother me when I lift the hood and see a zip tie holding my washer hose.

This install video was a favor to Leon because he's a good dude and I like his product.

 

I recently installed Leon’s kit on my ‘03 Tacoma and found that after the passenger side strut was installed, I could reinstall my windshield washer tube in the factory location. The hood lifts and closes without pulling too hard on or damaging the tube.

 

Glad you found my post entertaining.

 

I wish you did not film that zip tie on your last video. Such "shortcuts " are good for improvised repairs on the trail not a Sic Mod.

It reminds me the video from a guy showing how to replace sealed beam headlights in Tacoma and he was using zip ties to hold the grill because all factory clips were broken.
There are things that cannot be unseen .

From my conversations with Leon I agree that he is "good dude" and his struts are at least equaly good as the one I have (with extended range even better than mine). If I find it before I installed mine I would get them fore sure.

 

I agree that the example you gave of the guy not bothering to get new clips for his grill and using zip ties is pretty janky. But, the relocation of the washer hose is a different thing entirely. We can't just buy another clip to fix the issue. The issue is we are no longer using the existing location for the washer hose, and short of reengineering the washer hose route and connection to the body, I think it's acceptable to use a zip tie. It's going to be the easiest solution and most will find this perfectly acceptable to their level of OCD.

 

Just stumbled onto this thread - thanks for the video Timmy .

As for the zip-tie "controversy" - it's a fair comment, but truth be told, there are plenty of factory underhood wiring harnesses held together or attached to mounting points by plastic tie wraps.

Better news yet - in the installations that I've done and seen, the Taco actually allows you to keep the windshield washer hose connector in its original location (unlike the 4Runner), so no need to relocate! Problem solved .

 

The best answer ever

 

I reckon you'll be making a correction to installation instructions then if you haven't already done so. I thought it was necessary to relocate it because I saw it mentioned in the instructions but I guess I should have done my due diligence and checked first. Oh well, my buddy Alex got a free hood strut kit so he has nothing to complain about. Plus, I did a front brake job for him at no cost too.

 

You might have received an earlier version of the instructions. The current version says:

"The struts normally clear the passenger side windshield washer tube connector (see figure below). However, if there is interference, remove the tube connector and tie it to a secure location away from or behind the passenger side ball stud with a zip tie or other means (one convenient tie down location is shown below)."

There's no harm in doing what you did, it just may not have been necessary.

And yes, Alex has nothing to complain about

 

He can always cut the zip-tie and put the line where it belongs to. No harm done