What have you done to your 2nd gen Tundra today?

It is definitely climbing the mod list but not at the top yet….

 

Replaced my front passenger strut (probably the original!) with a Fox 2.0 to level it and hopefully smooth out the awful CT roads.



I'll do the driver's side tomorrow but for now I'm tired!

 

Finally got the factory head unit swapped out and added a backup cam to go with it. This was the last of my really "essential" upgrades after buying the truck.









Somewhat long list of less essential truck projects I still have to do:
Replace a bad TPMS sensor, swap out the chrome emblems for the blackout ones I've already bought, install the running boards I've got sitting in my living room, give the upholstery a proper cleaning, ceramic tint all the windows, add a switch to enable MPG display on the main clock area, install led brake/turn signal bulbs and resistors for the turn signals, and install this when it arrives next week:

 

Doesn't look half bad to me! Then again my only successful auto painting attempt was to repaint my faded wiper arms to their original black.

 

All four black shocks of my suspension were leaking (78k miles) and handled terribly over bumps. Got a set of the trd bilsteins with the UCAs from a 2021 with only 6k miles on them for 400$ last fall. Finally got to the install yesterday. I will say the fronts were pretty easy, but those top nuts for the rear were a bear to get off. Both studs shredded while undoing the nut. The passenger side i had to cut to access a better material for the vice grips. Happy its done, and it made the world of a difference. Ill be having the alignment checked next week. Also since its finally spring here in AK, i swapped my winter studs out for the all seasons

 

I've got a TPMS that has gone bad. My only problem is I have know idea which one it is since all four tires show proper inflation. How do you know which one or do you have to replace all four at once? 2012 CM

 

At that age, replace all 4 tpms. The batteries in them will continue to fail in succession and you will just continue to chase the issue. Had the same thing happen in mine about a year ago. Had all 4 replaced and good to go.

 

you could replace all, or have a local tire shop scan to see which one is not reading and replace that one.

Or just disable the system. I followed one of the guides on here and bypassed the light.

 

Finished installing the Fox 2.0 front shocks. I still need to get an alignment but I'm shocked (pun intended) at how smooth they ride compared to my 15 YO shocks. Before every bump in the road is jarring and now I don't feel anything except the biggest pot holes. Truck looks nicer levelled, too.



I have the most basic black rear shocks and maybe I'll upgrade them some day but for now I'm sick of dealing with rusted nuts. I had to Dremel the most inconvenient of the top nuts because it just disintegrated when I tried to turn it! PITA.

 

I have the most basic black rear shocks and maybe I'll upgrade them some day but for now I'm sick of dealing with rusted nuts. I had to Dremel the most inconvenient of the top nuts because it just disintegrated when I tried to turn it! PITA.[/QUOTE]

I don't even live in the rust belt and it was pretty rough for the rear. My best advice is have a quality racheting 17 mm wrench for the top nut, quality vice grips, and pb blaster. Honestly next time I would remove the dust cover right away and place vice grips at the top of the shock as well as one on the stud for added support. That way you have a better chance of not having stud strip. If that fails have that sawzall ready.

 

Tensioner started squealing under throttle. 134k on her. Dayco is the oem. Used my AAP perk dollars and basically got it for half off. 30 mins and a bunch of scratches on the arm.

 

Oil change and all that good stuff today, found the water pump is leaking. Hasn’t been running hot and isn’t low on coolant but I’m sure I’ll be replacing it. What (if any) are some things to go ahead and check/replace while doing the water pump? Got 187k miles on it.

 

This is on my to-do list. Did you remove the skid plate? Had enough room to get tools and belt on/off?

 

I hope my truck looks that good when it hits 187k miles!!

 

Flush coolant out fill with new, replace thermostat, idler, tensioner, and belt. You can buy the ilder tensioner and belt as a kit from most auto parts retailers I got mines from rockauto.

 

Yeah you have to go at it from the bottom. There's a few videos on the youtube. Remove the skid plate. A long ratchet is your best friend. It's a 12 mm and 6mm allen bolt holding the tensioner. Careful with the 6mm allen. Make sure it's completely bottomed out before you attempt to crank it out. Your arm will decently get tore up by the radiator. There's a plastic radiator tab that'll find every opportunity to scratch your arm.

 

Thanks!

 

As well as upper and lower radiator hoses.

 

Added a key fob.

 

Added a little grill badge.

 

Well...I didn't get much use out of the new head unit. I drove my truck to work like usual this morning and everything was working as it should. Then I drove somewhere to get some food on my lunch break, heard a couple of pops and the screen went black.

Just called Crutchfield and they're sending a replacement unit.

 

Can you post a link to your blackout emblem's? I'm considering doing this myself

 

did you check the fuse on the back?

 

Beautiful truck and grill!

 

I have a super basic truck shell. The existing battery powered light that was in the shell finally rotted away. I added one of these. Put Velcro on the back of the light and it sticks perfectly to the headliner. Best part is the light is charged via usb.

 

So as this is a new truck to me from my father in law, I started with a new rear bumper (sorry no pic) to replace the damage that he caused it, and then started to do some chrome delete with the badges. I used plasti-dip to see if I like it or not, and if I do, will remove and do them properly. Still have to get some of the plasti-dip between the letters off. Once I did that, ended up doing the chrome in the front of the truck. I got some new seat covers. Basic things now, but more to follow.

 

And that’s how it starts.

 

When I replaced the AC compressor after it siezed at 105k, using a breaker bar on the tensioner was a serious PITA. Suggest a 12 point socket as fitting it at the starting location (bound by some obstacle) and achieving belt removal used all the travel I had. However with the belt off and the tensioner retracted, my breaker was stuck on the bolt. Once off it was hell to get enough travel to get the belt on. And yes, only done from the bottom.

 

I designed / 3d printed a Magsafe Cubby for my phone... (with my carplay head unit, no need to see the phone really) and all the vent holders block the ac (needed in houston).


Wired up a new USB-C PD charger behind it, so it charges just fine too!


Also installed one foglight so that I can see the difference at night...


Then at night it was impressive...

 

3d print a switch plate holder for under the ac controls between the 12v port and cigarette lighter. That’s a useless area and would fit oem style switches easily!!!!