What did you do to your 2003-2008 Corolla, Matrix, or Vibe today?
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Why? I hated the look of the stock spoiler. Looks 10x better without a spoiler. I may get a lip spoiler at some point.
New head unit installed in the Matrix -- Pioneer DEH-6600BT.
Bought the head unit off of eBay ... mfg refurb ... $89 ... not bad for a full bluetooth/handsfree unit.
Bought the install kit off of eBay ... $16 incl shipping. The wiring harness took an hour or to make ... I soldered and heat-shrunk each connection, then wrapped the entire harness including plug ends in sticky tape. It was a straight color-for-color matchup of the install kit to the Pioneer wiring harness. Only the illumination wire was unused.
The install frame had many side pieces with different tab locations. I had to cut a lot of unneeded tabs off the kit so that it would fit the cavity in the dash.
The kit allows for DIN-style mounting, which is so much better than using that stupid sleeve. The radio is mounted tightly with two screws on each side of the chassis.
I mounted the microphone inside the pocket of the install kit, drilled a hole in the back to let the cord out, then wrapped the cord tightly and taped it in the rear of the unit. Makes for a nice compact unit installation. And the mic sounds pretty good from there because the entire radio assembly is so high in the car. So no mic cords running around the dash and windows
Removal and installation in the Matrix dash was really easy -- it took my about 10 minutes in all to replace the radio once I had the new one ready to go. Unfortunately right after I finished the job I remembered that I had put a CD in the stock unit ... so I had to pull it out again and plug in the stock unit to get the CD out ... don't you love doing everything twice?!
Bought the head unit off of eBay ... mfg refurb ... $89 ... not bad for a full bluetooth/handsfree unit.
Bought the install kit off of eBay ... $16 incl shipping. The wiring harness took an hour or to make ... I soldered and heat-shrunk each connection, then wrapped the entire harness including plug ends in sticky tape. It was a straight color-for-color matchup of the install kit to the Pioneer wiring harness. Only the illumination wire was unused.
The install frame had many side pieces with different tab locations. I had to cut a lot of unneeded tabs off the kit so that it would fit the cavity in the dash.
The kit allows for DIN-style mounting, which is so much better than using that stupid sleeve. The radio is mounted tightly with two screws on each side of the chassis.
I mounted the microphone inside the pocket of the install kit, drilled a hole in the back to let the cord out, then wrapped the cord tightly and taped it in the rear of the unit. Makes for a nice compact unit installation. And the mic sounds pretty good from there because the entire radio assembly is so high in the car. So no mic cords running around the dash and windows
Removal and installation in the Matrix dash was really easy -- it took my about 10 minutes in all to replace the radio once I had the new one ready to go. Unfortunately right after I finished the job I remembered that I had put a CD in the stock unit ... so I had to pull it out again and plug in the stock unit to get the CD out ... don't you love doing everything twice?!
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/1...-2003-2008/741466-diy-brake-line-install.html
Finally got around to completion and DIY post on the SS brake-lines after a problem with the passenger front removal on Friday.
I did a small rip around for function and brakes have become really sensitive at low speeds. Definitely reduced pressure and travel needed for normal stopping.
Finally got around to completion and DIY post on the SS brake-lines after a problem with the passenger front removal on Friday.
I did a small rip around for function and brakes have become really sensitive at low speeds. Definitely reduced pressure and travel needed for normal stopping.
Just added fog lamps to my base model Matrix:
Bought:
* used headlight/turn signal stalk with fog switch ... $45 shipped
* used relay ... $5 shipped
* new aftermarket pair of fog lamps ... $68 shipped
To install:
* pulled off the front bumper (needed to get to a little fender bender anyway
* pulled out big black plugs from fender, popped in fog lamps
* freed up fog lamp wires from headlight wiring harness on either side ... they're just taped up in there, sitting out in the open once the bumper is off
* installed bumper and plugged in fog lamps
* inside the car, removed the steering column cover (3 screws, the top and bottom covers pop apart, then fineagle them off the column)
* unclipped wiring harness from existing headlight stalk, popped stalk assembly from steering column bracket, popped in new assembly and plugged in wiring harness.
* Under hood, opened up drivers side fuse box and placed relay in top right position.
* There should be a 10A fuse just to the left of the relay. In my car there was already one in place for some reason.
That's it ... the fog lights look so much better than those black plugs
Fyi you can do this without removing the bumper. You will need to remove the two bottom bumper screws on each side that hold the dust cover, then you can swing the dust cover down and out of the way to get to the lamps
Bought:
* used headlight/turn signal stalk with fog switch ... $45 shipped
* used relay ... $5 shipped
* new aftermarket pair of fog lamps ... $68 shipped
To install:
* pulled off the front bumper (needed to get to a little fender bender anyway
* pulled out big black plugs from fender, popped in fog lamps
* freed up fog lamp wires from headlight wiring harness on either side ... they're just taped up in there, sitting out in the open once the bumper is off
* installed bumper and plugged in fog lamps
* inside the car, removed the steering column cover (3 screws, the top and bottom covers pop apart, then fineagle them off the column)
* unclipped wiring harness from existing headlight stalk, popped stalk assembly from steering column bracket, popped in new assembly and plugged in wiring harness.
* Under hood, opened up drivers side fuse box and placed relay in top right position.
* There should be a 10A fuse just to the left of the relay. In my car there was already one in place for some reason.
That's it ... the fog lights look so much better than those black plugs
Fyi you can do this without removing the bumper. You will need to remove the two bottom bumper screws on each side that hold the dust cover, then you can swing the dust cover down and out of the way to get to the lamps
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Well, i dont know if this counts but i just got done installing the Injen CAI for my buddies rolla XRS and i gotta say, that lift kicks in loud now! He loves it hahaha too bad he has no knowledge of how to drive it like he stole it, he just knows to shift when it hits redline and then i was the driver and all hell broke loose. LOL. Its not everyday i get to drive a car with lift since mines a 1zz hahah.
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688 Posts
Yeah spring has finally arrived!! Washed the undercarriage to get rid of that nasty winter salt. Cleaned the engine & re-adjusted the grill blocks to address the warmer weather. Surprised how well the headlights are holding up. Still look like new since treating them last summer.
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I spent the day working on the '06 college car, prepping it for it's first SF-LA trip next week. At 93k miles, today I did the following preventative maintainace:
* new PCV valve ...
* new orange intake manifold gasket (and throttle body gasket)
* new water pump, thermostat, and radiator hoses
* replaced a bunch more fasteners for the under engine covers, which were brittle, broken or missing.
I also changed the oil today and adjusted the fog lamps that I installed last week.
* new PCV valve ...
* new orange intake manifold gasket (and throttle body gasket)
* new water pump, thermostat, and radiator hoses
* replaced a bunch more fasteners for the under engine covers, which were brittle, broken or missing.
I also changed the oil today and adjusted the fog lamps that I installed last week.
Part 2 of the weekend's activities:
* flushed PS fluid .. removed reservoir from car and cleaned it out. This took a while as there was actually sludge inside! Pretty gross. Replaced the old clear fluid with Valvoline Dex/Merc, using the manual steering wheel left-to-right method. It looks pretty good now, but I will likely do another flush this summer after the system has had a change to mix in whatever I didn't get this time around.
* transmission fluid exchange. The tranny is a factory reman with 30k miles on it. Drained 3.5 quarts, and then I flushed another 4 through the return line. I probably could have flushed one or two quarts less ... but at $4.60/qt and all the hoses already connected I figured now is the time to get as much of the old fluid as possible out of the system.
* I also started conversion from manual to power side mirrors. All wiring harness connections are already in the car -- you just need to replace the dimmer wheel bezel at the left side dashboard vent with one that holds the mirror switch (and install a mirror switch), then swap out the side mirrors and plug them into the harness in the door. Got the passenger side done last night -- you don't know how useful power mirrors are until you have to live with manual ones for a while!
*** update ***
Oops, almost forgot about the headlight bulbs. In the midst of all this weekend work the left headlight went out. Since both headlights were shining at different intensities I bought a fresh pair of Philips.
* flushed PS fluid .. removed reservoir from car and cleaned it out. This took a while as there was actually sludge inside! Pretty gross. Replaced the old clear fluid with Valvoline Dex/Merc, using the manual steering wheel left-to-right method. It looks pretty good now, but I will likely do another flush this summer after the system has had a change to mix in whatever I didn't get this time around.
* transmission fluid exchange. The tranny is a factory reman with 30k miles on it. Drained 3.5 quarts, and then I flushed another 4 through the return line. I probably could have flushed one or two quarts less ... but at $4.60/qt and all the hoses already connected I figured now is the time to get as much of the old fluid as possible out of the system.
* I also started conversion from manual to power side mirrors. All wiring harness connections are already in the car -- you just need to replace the dimmer wheel bezel at the left side dashboard vent with one that holds the mirror switch (and install a mirror switch), then swap out the side mirrors and plug them into the harness in the door. Got the passenger side done last night -- you don't know how useful power mirrors are until you have to live with manual ones for a while!
*** update ***
Oops, almost forgot about the headlight bulbs. In the midst of all this weekend work the left headlight went out. Since both headlights were shining at different intensities I bought a fresh pair of Philips.
New floor mats , and put LED strip on fog light cover which didn't turn out the way I hoped it would. Anyone know where I could get LED fog lights ?
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Nbozich, what kind of car do you have?
our '06 Matrix base model appears to be wired for everything ... I've already put in fog lights and power mirrors. There is an extra plug on the left side of the dash that I believe is for the Tire Pressure Monitor reset switch, and I may put in cruise control if I get bored later this month.
our '06 Matrix base model appears to be wired for everything ... I've already put in fog lights and power mirrors. There is an extra plug on the left side of the dash that I believe is for the Tire Pressure Monitor reset switch, and I may put in cruise control if I get bored later this month.
Fixed the clock this morning.
About 10 minutes of assembly/disassembly, 10 minutes of actual soldering, three attempts at heating up different things on the board, and my clock was working again
Fyi, on the Matrix you need a small torx bit to remove two screws on the back of the clock assembly.
About 10 minutes of assembly/disassembly, 10 minutes of actual soldering, three attempts at heating up different things on the board, and my clock was working again
Fyi, on the Matrix you need a small torx bit to remove two screws on the back of the clock assembly.
I used Armor All protective wipes on my interior, it was LONG overdue, my interior was getting gross. Plan on getting it washed and waxed and interior shampooed this weekend. My car severely needs a wash and wax. Unfortunately I live in an apt in Los Angeles and dont have my own garage to do all of this, so I will have to get it professionally done.
Also, replaced the air filter, gas cap and cabin air filter. Taking it to get smog checked this afternoon, and then have to register my car tomorrow to get my CA plates.
My next thing I want to do is get my passenger mirror fixed. I was involved in an accident back in July 2011 (not my fault) so my passenger mirror is cocked a bit and the glass section is being held on by tape, its been like that for almost 3 years and I'm finally sick of it.
I also plan on getting dark tints before the summer, California sun bakes the crap out of your car. And plan on installing 2011-2013 Corolla S 16" rims.
Time to give the Corolla a make over.
Also, replaced the air filter, gas cap and cabin air filter. Taking it to get smog checked this afternoon, and then have to register my car tomorrow to get my CA plates.
My next thing I want to do is get my passenger mirror fixed. I was involved in an accident back in July 2011 (not my fault) so my passenger mirror is cocked a bit and the glass section is being held on by tape, its been like that for almost 3 years and I'm finally sick of it.
I also plan on getting dark tints before the summer, California sun bakes the crap out of your car. And plan on installing 2011-2013 Corolla S 16" rims.
Time to give the Corolla a make over.
Parked the Corolla in the garage today and took the other car to get some much overdue maintenance done at a friend's indy garage. The Corolla gets a few days off to let the tires cool off. Also due for an oil change, so that'll be happening next weekend.
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In case you were still wondering, OEM fog light housing are 188$ EACH at discount. Most of us just have a full set of aftermarket ones that were usually less than fifty,but aren't as good quality.
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4,186 Posts
Earlier this week I installed my cruise control switch that another forum member had gotten for me, the hole was rough so I finally fixed that today, also today I received and installed my intermittent wiper blade switch from Vanagon40 from his part out. I'll be looking at buying a new center dash piece soon, to fix my broken one, and sending my clock in to be permanently repaired on eBay.
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