What have you done to your 1st gen Tundra today?

Yeah, plus I kinda want Jason's bumper and could retrieve it myself.

 

I’m going to try to get a quote to mail it to Chicago tomorrow. Looking expensive as shit…. If it doesn’t work out it’s all yours, J.

 

Thanks. Turns out they belonged to the factory amp that had to be removed as part of the install.

 

I love you too J-man

I kind of like the dark brooding scream at the void energy that he gives off

This is MY mangy mutt and I love this thing. He receives the best love I can afford now

Dad ruined that one on the silver truck, and I told you before I left your house that it won't be long lived with me

I agree, I NEED a steel bumper, but I won't be able to afford one for quite sometime.

 

Shifty - I’d chip in $10 as well.

 

Went on an exploratory ride today to see how much snow and ice were still on our county roads. Thought it would be a blast with the new JVC head unit installed. As soon as I got out in the sun, I couldn't see the display. I pulled onto a side street, leaned over where I could see it, and started running through the controls: Brightness - Maxed out; Viewing angle - Set for my height above the unit; Dimmer - Auto.

So, I gave Crutchfield a call for some of that stellar service. The guy who answered pulled up my order and walked me through the settings I'd already made, but suggested that I turn off the auto dimmer, which I did. It made no difference. He then said that brightness is an issue with basic resistive touch screens like this and that I'd need to purchase a different head unit. ??????? That's it? I've got no options except removing this unit and buying / installing another one? How do I know the next unit won't have the same problem?

I used the Crutchfield vehicle filter to select a unit that was supposed to work for this truck. Has no one installed this in a Tundra and figured out that you can't see it during the day? I never had any trouble seeing the 15 year old infotainment touch screen on my Lexus sedan. I am a bit ticked right now and less than impressed with Crutchfield. Maybe that will change by the time this is all over. I'm tempted to just buy an Atoto F7 off scAmazon like this guy and move on.

 

So, what I'd tell you is this.

Any shiny/glossy screen in a vehicle is going to have an Achilles heel of glare. Shiny screen = glare. It's inevitable. This is why the vast majority if OEM screens use matte finishes, to help with glare reduction via light diffusion. That same diffusion also reduces resolution, making the display less-sharp. It's a double-edged sword. The few manufacturers who've put out matte screens years ago got so many complaints about poor display quality that nobody really makes them anymore. It used to be, back in the days of LCD single-DIN units, many of those used lightly matte units.

Before you get all uppity and throw scAmazon garbage in your truck, I'd mention a couple things.

First, JVC/Kenwood is, sadly, in the realm of "budget" brand these days. You bought a semi-budget stereo, and you're experiencing the side effects. Buying an even budget-er stereo off scAmazon likely won't resolve the issue, unless they're using a semi-matte screen, but then you're stuck with lower-budget audio.

Second, there are a ton of screen overlays/protectors you can buy for most touchscreen stereos. You could even get some semi-matte vinyl and probably cut out your own. I'd spend $10 on a sheet of that vinyl to test it before I spent $$ for a new radio.

My Alpine is pretty bright but I've seen others bitch about glare. I've thought about throwing on a matte screen protector, but Alpine only makes them for their HALO units. Nobody is making them for the ilx-650/670/770 anymore it seems. So I may find suitable vinyl and cut my own.

 

Saw this years ago with the quote, "Why Women Live Longer".

 

Yep, that's how my dad taught me to change a tire. Soon as the bad one comes off, it goes under the frame until the good one is mounted.

 

Hmmm. Looks legit. 2x4 “jack stands” propping a precariously balanced truck while the “mechanic” welds on the gas tank.

 

My KO’s are twice that old and still at 65~70% tread. I keep my speeds at about 55mph and don’t drive on the really hot days.

 

You’re driving on 20yr old tires?

 

The chrome bumper on my tacoed tundra looked just like that. A few minutes with a sawzall and the bent portion was amputated.

 

Maybe even a little over 20? I’ll have to check the date code. They could be old enough to legally drink alcohol. They're well proven to say the least.

 

So a sledgehammer won’t bend it back in shape?

 

Not very well. I took a couple whacks at it with a sledge then promptly gave up.

 

But, it'll tarnish the chrome!

 

This guy had the right idea. Took the pic over a decade ago on my potato flip phone.

Can't afford a bumper?, Make one!

 

Installed Tailgaters lever and camera, along with @shifty` tailgate clip info, along with DIR harness. Works great!

Also installed green bulbs behind my HVAC controls from super bright LEDs.

Didn't get to the rear view mirror harness to power an auto dimming Gentex.

 

I need to do my gentex one of these days. Let us know how it goes

 

Bobsmirrors made up a harness that goes from the one tucked in the headliner to the one on the Gentex so I'm plug and play. Should be quick!

 

I think only the DC's have that option. Mines and AC and iirc the harness I got from that same guy has to be run to the battery. But it's been like two years since I ordered it lol. I don't drive that truck that often.

 

Sounds about right. I struck pre-wire gold on my truck haha.

 

Paint it black. That's always the solution for chrome, post-1989 vehicles.

 

Any photos of the green LEDs? I want to replace all of my bulbs but I don’t want to lose the soft green look.

 

Here's the ones I got from the same source.
Reminds me I think I need to clean the contact on one. It blinks sometimes and I'm pretty sure I've already changed the led out a few months back. The green isn't a match to the 06 gauges, but it doesn't bother me. It's closer to the radio green and the clock.

 

The screen in my 08 Lexus was matte and IIRC angled slightly up. I'm guessing that's what made a difference in minimizing glare. I am not an auto audiophile. I like a clean sounding stereo, but I don't need IMAX/THX in the front seat. I only need hands free calling and a backup camera display. This experience just reminded me of when I purchased a Macbook for my wife many years ago after the slick demo at the store. We got it home and it was slow as Christmas. Took it back to the store and the salesman said, "Well you're not going to get your best experience with just 8G of RAM". No kiddin? Why didn't your sales pitch include that tidbit? And with that, I'm done complaining.

Just spent more time on the phone with Crutchfield this afternoon and pulled the trigger on another JVC unit (KW-M590BT). This time, it is a new (not refurbished) unit with a capacitive (not resistive) display. It's about $80 more than the first one, but they're going to give me a full refund on the first one. I kept all the packaging and will send it back to them as neatly as it was received.

The new unit uses the same external microphone as the first one. So, I don't have to uninstall and reinstall a mic, which is what took up the majority of my time previously. Also, I think it uses the same wiring harnesses as the first unit, which will allow me to reuse the harnesses I've already connected and return the new harnesses to them with the first stereo. Had to give up CDs with the KW-M590BT, but my brother (who actually owns the truck) says he's okay with that.

 

What was the "shifty tailgate clip info"? Was that the clip he was using to hold the DIR harness relay? If so, I'd like to know where to get that part, too.

 

The clips are this, and they are just for the tailgate function: https://www.tundras.com/threads/how...gate-clip-repair-overhaul-beef-up-lube.94180/