Do first GEN tundras any”secret” features?

Indeed it is!

There's a specific model of Subaru out there (@The Black Mamba may recognize this) with bendable upper part of their doors that lets people stick things down inside easily. I think it has the same protection, but not even a week ago, I saw ANOTHER case of it on Reddit, where someone tried using a tent support down thru a door to tap the unlock button in one. And failed. But I guess the tent-camping likely-high-on-drugs genius knew about the bendable door, but not about the safety feature. Or was too high to care.

 

I love that my Tundra will lock and unlock all the doors with the key on the outside. On my Corolla, the key only unlocks all the doors when I put it in on the driver side. If I want to use the key to lock all the doors from the outside, I have to go to the passenger side.

 

But don't leave them that way and not start the truck for several weeks. It will eventually drain the battery. That's what happened to mine when I was getting it back up and running. No battery issues since.

 

I can confirm this as true...

 

I can too, b/c I wrote an article showing one way to sneak a USB port inside there, which I originally used with an iPod, and currently use to push firmware updates to my head unit. https://www.tundras.com/threads/howto-add-flush-mount-usb-aux-port-in-center-console.70236/

 

Not true for my 2000 AC. The headlight switch on the stalk has been ON for 20 years and it’s never discharged my battery. I find it convenient that my lights go out when I turn off the engine and open the door.

 

You can change nifty features like that in Techstream. Adjust keyless one touch unlock to do all doors and others. At least I was able to on my '06. Also changed the driver's door to lock/unlock all doors with one turn. I have kids, just makes it easier.

Only thing I wish I could figure out is how to use keyless to lock the truck while idling. I usually keep my truck running when getting my youngest from school. And have to lock it using the spare key in the door.

 

Add a turbo timer. No key left in the truck, just lock the door before shutting it.

 

Since there's no key left in the truck, you could lock the steering wheel then? Depending on where I leave the truck, I'd still use a club as a visual deterrent

 

"The Club" can be defeated pretty easily, just cut the steering wheel, remove The Club, and one can still drive the truck. Visual deterrent? Certainly.

Driver's front door: one turn to right, door unlocks. Two turns to right, unlocks all doors.
Passenger front door: one turn to left, both passenger side doors unlock. Two turns to left, all doors unlock.

Our truck didn't come with a fob and what's the point of any car alarm when literally NOBODY pays attention? I'm glad not to have keyless entry. Wife carries a spare key. I may even hide one underneath somewhere but we are almost always together when the truck moves.

 

After the club there is the regular steering wheel lock, which can be defeated too I am sure.

 

Driver door key.... 1/8 turn to the left locks both doors. 1/8 turn to the right unlocks driver door, a second 1/8 turn to the right unlocks passenger door. Keyfob one press both lock, one press both unlock.

The expception to the above is the damn alarm that came with the truck new. If ya lock it with the keyfob then unlock it with the key, then open the door.... the alarm goes off. Ya have to get in the truck, close the door, insert the ignition key and try to start the truck twice or some such nonsense to stop the alarm. grrrrrr. At the time I asked the salesman if it could be disarmed or removed. He answered no but removed the price of the alarm system which wasn't cheap back then. The alarm thingie has happened to me twice in the past 25 years... 'secret' gadget. sigh. Although... maybe the stickers have discouraged a would-be thief.

 

The seatbelt light in my Tundra has been flashing for the past 300,000 miles!

 

Must be, steering wheel lock standard since mid-1970's and yet, car theft still a thing?

(For the record, I oppose steering wheel lock, should be an option).

I have heard of the "brake jack" that makes the brake impossible to use and cutting the brake pedal off might, with any luck, self-correct that thief's career permanently.

The Club is visible though and visible deterrence is a great thing. After I put bars on the windows and "made the house look like a prison," neighbors have not noticed any more break-in attempts.

 

So unplug the harness under the seat to open the circuit and the light will go out

 

Get one of these. Also doubles as a bottle opener for those drive home from work beers.

 

Best way to be nice and relaxed, for when you fly thru the windshield!

 

https://youtu.be/H_aaECIey0M?si=leAM8JebqxvdNJES

 

Going for Guinness record.

 

My belt light was fine until I tried to fix the button on the drivers seatbelt... then the light came on and stayed on
I went under the seat and unplugged it and haven't thought about it since. BuhBye babysitter.
Checkmark in the "if it aint broke don't fix it" category for me.

 

Good 'ol Bill. Between he and George Carlin, I'm glad I grew up and got to watch them both, and let them have some influence on my formative young brain.

 

Bill Hicks and Greg Giraldo both died too young. They were my two favorite comics.

 

My seatbelt light flashes like Morse Code...maybe it's trying to tell me something...

 

there’s a hidden dual cup holder under the dash clock, i didn’t notice until a few months after I bought the truck.

 

That's the dog water holder.

 

There's an ash tray to the left of that.....I don't think the "cup holders" will hold much of a "cup." Maybe two Styrofoam cups but I don't drink coffee...

Your last pic though, it answers a question I've had since I bought the thing....what those deletes are to the right of the big tray in the center. Yours looks to be front seat heaters. I think my seats are heated but my controls are not where yours appear to be.

 

yep, mine is an ‘05. I’m sure there are other variations within the 1st gen model on different years. BTW, I’ve got a couple deletes (as you call them) right above the center console,..what are those??!

 

I actually love this feature on my 2004 AC! I don't think my 2000 had it, but i'm not 100% positive.

 

My 2006 does it, but it’s important to note the lights don’t turn off until the driver door opens. I found this out the hard way when I turned my truck on via the passenger door to test something, then exited thru the passenger door, and the lights stayed on.

 

ahhh....how bought that, i just checked and you're right! I didn't ever pay attention that. And knowing's half the battle.