Hi All,

New to trucks and to Tundras having just bought this 03 Tundra to tow my race car before the roll cage kills me on the street. I want to hardwire my Valentine 1 radar with accesory power from the dome light (which is what I did on my ex-M3 and WRX) but I couldnt' get the light out of there and it seemed I might break something if I pulled harder. I took out the two visible phillips head screws and it comes down some but is hooked near where the control switch is up there... any tips? If anyone else has done this do you know what wire is ignition controled power up there?

I found and unpluggd the obnoxious beeper that the keyless entry made it's sound with and everything still works nicely without the noise. I also used the factory pigtail to wire in a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller and run it over the steering column to down above my right knee. It almost fit in the cigarette lighter area but was not quite right so I went to the kickboard.

Thanks,
Dave
Natick, MA

 

Well I can answer the question of headlight removal and first you must remove the side marker, reason why is you access a housing retainer bolt on the bottom side outboard side of each headlight and obviously the side marker lights get in the way of trying to see them. That comes out with a retaining screw ontop and them it's sort of held in by clips so maybe take a screwdriver (flathead) cover the end with a rag, place in between the body and light, and sort of pry the side marker light forward and then pull out or wiggle out with your hand. After you get the side marker out, the FOUR retaining screws are three atop (one on the side and two on the inboard side of the light) and one on the bottom (outboard side of light housing).

 

That will come in handy if I need to remove the headlights but I am trying to remove the domelight in the front of the access cab. It's hung up on the bits behind the "door" switch up there that controls when the dome light comes on.

Dave

 

OOPS okay I am retarted :pat:

I still don't quite understand which dome light you're talkin about, the one that has the garage door/sunglasses storage, the one in the middle of the roof, or the one on the door sides (near the edge of the panel)? Or are you talking about the dome switch?

 

You and me both! I can't even get the dome light out of the roof! The one I am stuck on is the big one witht he sunglass case or garage door opener deal in it. I got it almost out of there (as mentioned in first note) but not quite and was afraid something was going to break.

Dave

 

oh okay, well that i don't know, I imagine that items are held in by clips, I would definitly remove the two clear map light plastic covers and see if there are any other screws missing. Make sure you take out the light bulb and see if there is anything behind it.

If you can wait a week, I am getting the Tundra manuals (for a lousy $221) and i am sure it will have the info in there.

 

I didn't remove those light covers so that is a great idea. If I can get to it I will and let you know but if you get those manuals (damn that is pricey) I would love to hear what it says or shows.

Thanks,
Dave

 

Just fyi...wedge a flathead screwdriver in between the two map lights in the middle crack and pop them loose.

 

I tried the screw driver in the center but they don't come loose easily. It looks like the dome light covers pivot on two attachment points each on the sides of each light toward the center of the dual light setup.

I did managed to catch the peive on the outer edge and slide it past it's regular detent so I could see in there a bit. I didn't see any further attachment screws but then again I couldn't see everything.

Dave

 

Okay sorry it took so long, another "finally" is i got my tundra manuals and for front personal light removal here goes:

1) Using a screwdriver, remove the left side lens. HINT: Tape the screwdriver. In the picture it shows the left side lens as the one near the "DOOR" switch.

2) Remove the two screws. The one on the side of the housing that you said you saw, and the one inside where you place the garage door. Total of two

3) Using a screwdriver, rotate the clip (there is supposedly one inside the left side lens housing that might be black color) by 90 degrees and remove it. It uses a philips head by the way. It's just one according to the diagram.

4)Remove the front personal light, then disconnect the connector.

Now it also shows in the manual that there is three lips that extend off the top of the housing that secure the housing to the top, so you may have to lift one end up to slide it out. Let me know if you need anymore help. Thanks!

 

Thanks! I will check this out very soon.

How do you like the manuals? This looks like great info but man those are expensive considering only a few "home users" need them and we already bought their truck for huge bucks. On a CD it should cost them $1.

I ask because I am going to installed heated seat kits and getting seats apart is easy IF you know how some things come off them. On my wife's Impreza WRX for example there is a handle that you have to slide off... slide means pull as hard I could with both feet braced against the seat and plenty of clearence behind me for when it finally came loose. I never would have pulled that hard without knowing for sure that was what i was supposed to do.

Dave

 

Well if you compare them to a Haynes (they are like light years so much better), if you compare them to a Chilton's (they are better), if you compare them to those CD's you can buy off ebay (they are somewhat more descriptive)...so essentially they are better, but like you said it depends on application. I plan to keep my truck for a long time, so the manual was a good investment so I can avoid the dealer in certain repairs and maintanence.

Also may I remind you that most dealership techs are willing to answer your questions in regards to repairs in your vehicle, although I recommend going down there yourself with the vehicle so they can point it out to you. You sound mechanically inclined and probably will keep your truck for a long time also, so my recommendation is if you plan to do your own maintenance and future pulling, taking apart, and put back together type projects, definitly invest in them and get them.

Seats though in a vehicle have been really easy to remove as I have noticed, usually four bolts to the ground or racks and various methods of lifting out the seat. Let me know if you need anymore help.